Research article

Public Private Partnerships in the Establishment and Running of Community Library in Osun State: A Case Study of Agbeye Community Library in Odo Otin Local Government of Osun State, Nigeria

*Obadare Sunday Olurotimi and Aderinto Christiana Olufunmilayo

Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria

*Corresponding Author E-mail: soabadare2003@yahoo.co.in, christianaaderinto@yahoo.com 

Abstract

The researchers investigated how Agbeye community library was established at a time it was uncommon in Osun State. Community libraries are very few owing to the perception of the people to library issues as non essential hence it is not on the top priority in the scheme of things. The researchers employed interview, observation, documentary evidence and review of literatures as methodology. They revealed that the Osun State Agency for social and community development involved Agbeye community right from the inception of the project to the completion and commission stage. It was quite participatory and really democratic in approach. The Agency contributed N3, 600, 000.00 (90%) of the total cost while, the community only contributed a paltry sum of N400,000.00 (10%) . It took the community a period of four months before the project was finally approved by the Agency. Every segment of the community was interviewed on their needs and viability of the project. The approach was quite democratic and participatory in nature and there is no fear about its sustainability. It is a good model for all the communities in the state that desire community library in their localities.

Keywords: public, private, partnership, community and library