THE MARKETING OF THE INFORMATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN THE LIBRARIES

ABSTRACT This work, study the marketing of the information products and services in the libraries, with aim of finding out the prospect and challenge of marketing of the information products and services in the libraries. Literature review method was adopted to collect and analyse related findings of researches with views to marketing of the information products and services in the libraries. Various promotional tools use in marketing of information product and services in the library were identified by the study in. Library resources and services that are available for marketing was also identified. The prospect of marketing information product and services in the libraries includes, improve library services, improve the economic base of the library, create value, make the library profession known, brings about sustainability, improves patronage/usability and encouraged feed back. The study reveals that challenges facing the marketing of information product and services includes, Inadequate budgetary allocations for library services, Non-automation of library operations, Irregular power supply, Inadequate infrastructure, Understaffing, Low computer literacy among staff, Lack of professional training in marketing, Limited media access, Death of library materials to market, lack of marketing policy. Based on the finding the study recommended that, Library should look inward and take advantage of fee-based library services to augment inadequate budgetary allocation coming to them for effective library services. Also, Library should as matter of urgency automate their library and make it functional to attract good number of users once marketing is done