ABSTRACT

The study was “Public library services to children in Imo State Public library, Owerri”. The main purpose of this study was to identify the various types of services provided for children in the public library. The study examined the programmes and activities organized for children, the various types of literature provided for the children in the library, the audio-visual and Information Communications Technology (ICT) facilities provided for the children, the adequacy of the services provided for the children and also identified the problems that militate against the provision of library services to children. The survey research design was used to carry out the study while the questionnaire was the major instrument that was used to elicit data for the study. The population of the study was 241 made up of 236 children and 5 librarians, data collected were analyzed with frequency counts and percentages. Some of the findings are that; literature, circulation/lending services, reprographic services, reference services are provided to children: Extension services, audio-visual services are minimally provided while library services for the physically challenged, internet services and mobile library services are not provided at all. It was found that the problems hindering provision of library services to children are poor funding, inadequate provision of equipment and furniture, unconducive library environment, lack of staff motivation and government neglect of library development. Based on these findings, the following recommendations were made: that library services should be provided to the physically challenged children just like their adult counterparts, that the public library should improve on their provision of programmes such as drama, film shows, excursions and television programmes, that computers with access to internet should be provided to enable them use internet resources and also learn how to operate the computer, that audio-visual resources should be adequately provided for children and that the government should fund public libraries adequately to provide all these services.