ABSTRACT

Information is an essential ingredient in the development process. Most rural

dwellers do not have effective access to information due to certain factors such as

high level of illiteracy, poor financial resources, language barriers, poverty, lack of

physical infrastructure, poor transportation and communication systems. The

research design for the study was a survey design. In this design, the researcher

used questionnaire instrument to obtain the desired data from the field. The

researcher settled for a purposive sampling technique to select a sample size of 200

rural dwellers. The study discovered that the information needs of the rural

dwellers include health, agriculture, employment, skill acquisition, recreational

political, work enhancement, business enhancement, birth and death, educational

enhancement, development in government. Based on the findings of this study, the

following recommendations are hereby made.-

Rural libraries should strengthen their collections in both print and electronic

sources especially journal collections.

Internet access should be developed in the rural areas to enable rural dwellers

access information relevant to their needs.

Communities in partnership with governments should provide adequate

accommodation for rural libraries.

Qualified and competent librarians and commensurate support staff be posted to

take charge of the rural libraries and information centres.

Displays, exhibitions and film shows are included in the strategies to publicize and

attract the rural dwellers to the library.