Abstract:
This research work investigated book exhibition as a marketing strategy for improving library services in three academic libraries. A descriptive research design was used for the study. The area of the study was North–East Nigeria. The total population for this study was 5312 persons (68 librarians and 5244 library-users) in Modibbo Adamawa University of Technology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Federal University Wukari. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to draw a sample size of 367 respondents which constituted the sample. Six research questions guided the study. Three instruments were used for data collection, namely: a structured questionnaire, an interview, and an observation checklist. The instruments were validated by research experts in the field of Library and Information Science. A total number of 367 copies of the questionnaire were distributed to the sampled respondents. A total of 314 copies of each of the questionnaire and observation checklist were correctly filled and returned. This number represented 97% of the number given out to the respondents used for this study. In analyzing the data gathered using the instruments; frequency table and mean score were used for the questionnaire and observation checklist, while the data from the interview were presented in prose narrative form. The findings revealed that book exhibition on “architecture and arts” and “promotion of library to users” are occasions in which books are being exhibited. The component of book exhibition which had the highest mean score was “to establish assessment and success criteria” while “celebrating and reflecting upon achievement” was not to a great extent a component of book exhibition. It was also found out that the benefits of book exhibition include: creating and enhancing the image of the library and enabling library research by the users. “Limited number of collections”, “inadequate display space for book exhibition”, “lack of appropriate infrastructure” and “limited opportunities for training of library attendants”, are some of the problems that hinder effective book exhibition. The study recommended that the managers of Nigerian academic libraries should operate separate budgets to make book exhibition a regular feature in their libraries. Libraries should also create awareness for their collections by linking book exhibition to their collections and services.
