Strategic Implementation of Public Relations Practices for Users' Satisfaction in Public University Libraries in South-East, Nigeria

AbstractPurpose: This research examined how public relations strategies are used to enhance user satisfaction in public university libraries in South-East Nigeria.Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive research design, involving a population of one hundred and sixty-eight (168) academic librarians from six (6) public university libraries—three (3) federal and three (3) state—in Abia, Imo, and Enugu States. The total enumeration sampling technique was employed since the population was small. Data were collected through theresearchers’ self-developed structured questionnaire, which was validated and pretested for reliability using Cronbach's Alpha, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.87. The questionnaire distribution achieved a 95% response rate, with 159 respondents completing and returning valid copies that contained the requested information. The data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, including frequency counts, charts, mean scores, and standard deviations, with a criterion mean of 2.50.Findings: The finding of the study revealed that librarians in public university libraries in South-East, Nigeria, are still preoccupied with the implementation of traditional public relations practices such as library publications, orientation programmes, lending services, library notice boards, reading promotion campaigns, It indicated that librarians in the public university libraries have fully recognised the essence of acquiring a variety of skillsets such as research skills, marketing skills, collaboration skills, digital and social media skills for enhanced implementation of public relations activities for users’ satisfaction.Conclusion: The study suggests that public university management should enhance funding for libraries to acquire modern tools for various activities and public relations. Properly implementing public relations practices can increase user satisfaction and help establish a positive reputation for libraries and librarians among users and the wider public.Study Type: Empirical