Community Engagement through Library Collaborations: Strengthening Relationship with Local Organisations and Institutions in Rivers State

AbstractPurpose of the Study: This study examined community engagements through library collaborations and strengthening relationships with local organisations and institutions in Rivers State. It further aimed to enhance faculty deliberative dialogues, research engagements, and workshops through library collaboration, which strengthens institutions.Methodology: The study was guided by three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses. The study adopted a correlation research design. The population of this study consists of 40 lecturers from the two state universities in Rivers State. The censors sampling technique was adopted for this study, so the entire population was used as the sample size. The researchers developed the structured questionnaire called Community Engagement through Library Collaboration: Strengthening Relationship with Local Organization and Institutions Questionnaire (CETLCSRWLOIQ). The instruments distributed were analysed using the Cronbach Alpha to establish the coefficient reliability of the instrument of 0.71. Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis was used to respond to the research questions, while the hypotheses were tested at a 0.05 level of significance.Findings: The result showed, among other things, a positive and high relationship between faculty deliberative dialogues through library collaboration and institutions in Rivers State. It was also found, among other things, that community engagement through library collaboration promotes relationships between local organisations and institutions in Rivers State.Recommendations/Conclusion: In conclusion, the study notes that faculties’ deliberative dialogues, research engagement and workshops through Library collaboration independently have become a powerful force in enhancing community engagement through library collaboration to promote relationships between local organisations and institutions in Rivers State. The study recommended, among others, that Faculties should always liaise with the Library in all their deliberations.Study Type: Empirical study