Enhancing library patronage through public relations by polytechnic libraries in north central, Nigeria

The study focused on enhancing library patronage through public relations by Polytechnic libraries in North Central. Five objectives guided the study which include, to identify the services provided by the library and patronized by library patrons, to find out the public relations practices used to enhance library patronage, to determine the facilities employed in public relations to enhance library patronage, among others. The research design adopted was the descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised of 96 library staff drawn from six polytechnic libraries in the North Central, three each from Federal and State Polytechnics. The instrument used for the collection of data was questionnaire, while the data collected were analysed using mean score. The findings of the study revealed that the categories of library services provided include: circulation service, reference service, Library Orientation/Information Literacy, photocopying service, Current Awareness service; the public relations practices used in the libraries studied to enhance patronage are display of new arrivals in the libraries, attending to users’ enquiries on the public information desks, provision of directional services; the facilities employed in public relations by the libraries are computer system, polytechnic website, Library Website, library notice board, Social Media Platforms, among others. Based on the findings, it was recommended that, the library services provided by the libraries studied should be overhauled while new ones are added to the services provided in order to enhance library patronage among the patrons; the public relations practices used should be sustained and further improved for optimal performance; the lowly ranked facilities employed in public relations to enhance library patronage such as public address system, exhibition and display need to be overhauled and put into more frequent use to enhance library patronage, among others.