FUNDING OF PUBLIC LIBRARY:A CASE STUDY OF IMO STATE LIBRARY BOARD, OWERRI

This study examined funding of public libraries in Nigeria, a case study of Imo State Library Board Owerri. The general purpose of this study is to examine funding of public libraries in Nigeria, in respect to Imo State Library Board Owerri. Four specific objectives and four research questions were posed to guide this study. The study adopted a survey research design. The population of the study is eighty nine (89) library staff. The entire population served as the sample because it was small and manageable. The instrument used for data collection was the rating scale. Data collected for this study were presented in tables, and analysed using simple percentages. The findings of the study revealed that government subvention, endowment, reprographic services and internally generated income within the library are the major sources of funding of public libraries; donation, fines for overdue books, reprographic services and philanthropic organization are the funding of public libraries; lack of current materials, poor research, poor reading culture, poor patronage and un-satisfaction by users are the effects of poor funding of public libraries; provision of ineffective services, dereliction of duty, staff not encouraged to work hard are the implications of poor funding on staff morale of public libraries. Based on the findings, it was recommended that the government should improve its financial allocation to the state library board to enable them purchase new mobile vehicle therefore, enabling them market their services and repair the broken vans and as well acquire new materials; the management board should not always wait on government to provide funds rather the library should look for other services that will yield fund; public libraries should be funded properly to enable the management acquire current materials and as well improve patronage, encourage reading culture for users satisfaction; the funding rate of public libraries should be improved so as to encourage the working morale of the staff.