Influence of public relations and reference services on academic library services

Abstract

This paper analyzed the influence of public relations and reference services on academic library services. Libraries and Librarians in any academic institutions are made to serve users, services in academic institutions includes among others: reference services, public relation services, lending services, user education services etc. The paper revealed the following as public relations activities in academic libraries: agency for the conservation of knowledge, information agency, educational agency, agency for research and development, agency for recreation. Reference materials are intellectual work that is designed to be read through and has an array of disjoined entries which are generally alphabetically arranged e.g. Dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias etc. the following were identified as factors militating against reference services. Inadequate funding, shortage of experience manpower, underdeveloped infrastructure.

Keywords: Academic Library, library services, Public relations, Reference Services