Strategic Planning and Library Development in State Public Libraries in Katsina State

This study examined the practice of strategic planning and its influence on library development in state public libraries in Katsina State, North West Nigeria. Strategic planning provides the directional framework within which library managers allocate resources, develop services, and respond to changing user needs. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were collected from library directors, senior librarians, and library board administrators in six public library branches through structured questionnaires and interviews. The study found that strategic planning was either absent or conducted informally in most branches, with priorities set on an ad hoc basis in response to immediate administrative demands rather than long-term user-centred objectives. Where plans existed, they lacked measurable performance indicators and were not reviewed regularly. The study recommended that the Katsina State Library Board develop a multi-year strategic plan with input from user communities, appoint a planning officer, and establish an annual review cycle to monitor progress. Keywords: strategic planning, public library, Katsina State, library management, North West Nigeria.