PUBLIC LIBRARY OBJECTIVES AS CORRELATES TO THE FIFTEENTH SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL IN NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

Abstract

The public library are the libraries we refer to as the people's university, because it serves diverse group of people in the society and it seems to be the main library where government program get to the citizens. It is observed that public libraries objectives are not too inclined to the SDG Goal 15. There is no apparent empirical study conducted in North Central Nigerian public libraries to ascertain how the public library objectives enhance the attainment of SDG Goal 15. Therefore, this study is aimed at investigating public library objectives as correlates to the fifteenth sustainable development goal in north-central, Nigeria. The study adopts descriptive survey research design. The population of this study is 198 of all librarians in public libraries in North-Central, Nigeria. The researcher adopts total enumeration (census) to cover the entire population of library staff in the state library boards with questionnaire serving as the instrument used to collect relevant data for this study. The researcher personally administered the questionnaire. Frequency distribution, mean and percentages was used for descriptive analysis, while Pearson's Product Moment Correlation (PPMC) was used was used to test the null hypothesis formulated at 0.05 level of significance. The finding of the study shows that there is significant relationship between the public libraries objectives and strategies adopted towards the achievement of the fifteenth sustainable goals, with the calculated p value of 0.000 lower than the 0.05 alpha level of significance and the value of correlation of 0.686 (68.6%) at df 182. The positive value of the correlation indicates that the relationship between public libraries objectives and strategies adopted towards the achievement of the fifteenth sustainable goals is directly proportional. The study concluded that the primary function of public libraries is to provide access to knowledge, encourage technology literacy, and improve cognitive abilities. These functions are in line with the overall objective of Sustainable Development Goal 15 (Life on Land and Ecosystem Preservation). Finally, the paper recommend that public library collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that library goals align with the specific targets of SDG 15, emphasising the role of libraries in environmental sustainability and biodiversity conservation.