Management of Reference Services in Borno State Government Libraries

This study evaluated the management of reference services in government-operated libraries in Borno State, North East Nigeria. Government libraries serve officials, policymakers, and the public, making responsive and well-managed reference services central to their effectiveness. A descriptive survey design was adopted, and data were gathered from reference librarians and library users in the Borno State Library Board and three government ministry libraries through structured questionnaires, observation, and interview. The study found that reference services were managed reactively without written service standards or user needs assessments. The reference collections were inadequate in scope and currency, and reference staff lacked specialist subject training. Digital reference tools were unavailable, and the majority of reference interactions were handled verbally without follow-up documentation. The study recommended the development of formal reference service policies, training of reference staff in information interview techniques, procurement of current reference databases, and introduction of a user satisfaction monitoring mechanism for reference transactions. Keywords: reference services management, government libraries, Borno State, library policy, North East Nigeria.