ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICES IN THE SIX NORTH EASTERN STATE OF NIGERIA

Abstract

Libraries in general and public libraries in particular, play an important role in all aspects of societal development especially when viewed against its users, which consist of all categories of people in the society. Public library has been defined variously. Many see it as a place built for the collection of books and other printed resources and the personnel to provide and interpret such resources as required to meet the information, research, educational, recreational, cultural and aesthetic needs of the varied users and it is usually financed with public funds. According to Ranganathan, in Gupta, (2012), Public Library is a public institution or establishment charged with the care of collection of books and the duty of making them accessible to those who require the use of them.  while Gates (1976) defined a public library as “that authorized by law, supported from general public funds or special taxes voted for the purpose of administration, for the benefit of the citizens of the country, town, city or region which maintains it on the basis of equal access to all.”