Title: Libraries as Centre for Community Development/Transformation: A Case Study of Raji Oke-Esa Memorial Library, Iseyin, Oyo State
Author(s): Agbeniga Kazeem Abiola & Akinyoola Oladoyin Grace
Publication Year: 2023; Volume 18, Issue 2, pages 72-82

This study examined services provided by Raji-Oke Esa memorial library, Iseyin, Oyo State as centre for community development and transformation and challenges to the services. Two objectives and two research questions were raised. The population for the study were all the twelve 12 staff of the library and forty 40 library users that were randomly selected. A questionnaire developed by the researchers was the instrument used to collect data for the study. The data generated through the instrument were analyzed using the descriptive statistics of frequency count and percentage. Findings indicated that Raji-Oke Esa memorial library is rendering public services to its community such as various resources on education, employment, cultural activities and so on but faced with numerous challenges like erratic power supply, Insufficient resources, inexperienced staff and lack of supervision of the services of the libraries, inadequate work force, Lack of public enlightenment and illiteracy of community dwellers. The study therefore recommended that the government should support this type of libraries owned by individuals in the society to enable them procure sufficient current books and other information materials, staffing of qualified and experienced librarians is very important in achieving the set goals of Raji- Oke Esa memorial library, Iseyin, Oyo State, extensive public enlightenment campaign should be involved by the staff of Raji- Oke Esa memorial library, Iseyin, Oyo State to acquaint the rural dwellers on the importance of libraries in community development so that they will largely embrace their services.