Assessment of the roles of Oyo State public libraries in supporting national development

This study assesses the roles of public libraries in Oyo State, Nigeria, in supporting national development, with a focus on education, economic empowerment, and community engagement. Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 203 respondents, comprising library users and staff across selected public libraries. Findings revealed that while public libraries play a significant role in educational development through the provision of books, reading spaces, and reference services, their contributions to other development domains — such as employment generation and digital inclusion — are limited. Key challenges identified include inadequate funding, poor ICT infrastructure, lack of current information resources, and low public awareness of library services. Despite these limitations, user satisfaction remains high in areas such as staff responsiveness and access to information. The study recommends increased funding, infrastructure enhancement, staff training, and alignment of library services with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Addressing these gaps will enable public libraries to become more effective instruments of national development in Oyo State and beyond.