ABSTRACT

This study investigated the influence of public library services on rural farmers information needs in Abia State. The study was aimed at discovering the public library services provided and the influence it has on rural farmers information needs. Research questions for the study includes what are the rural farmers information needs, what are the services provided by public libraries to the rural farmers, to what extent does the public library services influence rural farmers information needs, what are the problems affecting meeting the rural farmers information needs and what are the ways of enhancing and meeting the rural farmers information needs. Hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Literature in relevant areas was reviewed. Ex-post facto design research design was adopted for the study. The population of study is 21,996 rural farmers in Abia State.  Sample size is 393 rural farmers from six rural areas in the local government of focus which is Umuahia north. Structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. Data were quantitatively analyzed and presented using descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation. The major findings of the study revealed that rural farmers’ information need include loan and credit facilities, weather forecast, information on marketing, pesticides and insecticides, among others. Poor road network, public libraries do not organize workshop and seminar, non provision of referral services, non provision of library extension services, among others are the  factors affecting meeting their information needs. Ways of enhancing and meeting the rural farmers information needs include: provision of adequate power supply, provision of referral services, presentation of information in local language of the farmer, provision of current awareness services by public libraries among others. Based on the major findings, it was recommended that the public libraries should strive to know the information needs of rural farmers. It was recommended that provision of adequate power supply, provision of referral services, presentation of information in local language of the rural farmer, provision of current awareness services by public libraries among others, are ways of enhancing and meeting the rural farmers information needs in Abia State.