ABSTRACT

This research work investigated the Strategies for Generating Revenue for Public Libraries in Nigeria: A Case Study of Enugu State Library Board. The study was guided by five objectives which includes to; investigate how Enugu State Library Board is funded, ascertain the extent of funding of Enugu State Library Board, determine the different avenues through which Enugu State Library board can generate revenue, identify problems affecting revenue generation in Enugu State Library Board, and proffer strategies for revenue generation in Enugu State Library board. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The area ofthe study was Enugu State, Nigeria. A total population of 85 respondents consisting of the library staff of Enugu State Library Board and all were sampled. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire. The instrument produced in accordance with the research questions, were face validated by the expert lecturer from the Department of Library and Information science, who is the researcher’s supervisor. The researcher distributed 85 copies of the questionnaire to the respondents personally, and all were correctly filled and returned, representing 100% return rate. Frequency tables, and mean scores were used for data presentation and analysis. The results ofthe findings revealed that the Enugu State Library Board has two (2) major strategies of funding; Enugu state library board is majorly funded through state government budgetary allocation and through internally generated revenue; donations and bequeath from individuals; people out of their magnanimity organise seminars, and other orientation programmes; philanthropic support; funds from internally generated revenue; assistance from international organisations are methods of funding the Enugu State Library Board; problems facing revenue generation in Enugu State Library Board these include: the insensitivity of government, economic crisis, political instability, appointment of non-librarians as board members etc, Strategies for better revenue generation in Enugu State Library Board include: attracting the support of philanthropists, good funds management must be in practised, and government should pay proper attention to funding public libraries. The study made recommendations such as; Enugu State Library Board should introduce more effective ways of revenue generation, the various means of funding the library should be improved upon, other avenues for generating revenue should be adopted and increased funding should be provided by the State Governments for the proper management of public libraries.