IJALIS

ISSN: 2360-7858

 International Journal of Academic Library and Information Science
 

Vol. 8(9), pp. 298–307. October, 2020. 

ISSN: 2360-7858

DOI: 10.14662/IJALIS2020.280

Research paper

This paper discusses information; its usefulness, channels and roles in the development of the rural communities, and the need for it to be adequately and widely disseminated to all segments of the rural society. In other words, the universality of the need for information and hence, its dissemination, regardless of whether one is an illiterate, semi-illiterate or stack illiterate person  is  stressed. The role of the popular channels of information dissemination such as the Radio, Television, GSM, and other traditional outlets are critically examined against the backdrop of the peculiarities that constitute the lots of the rural persons. The role of librarians as information professionals that could greatly complement those of the other mass-media in the task of proper and adequate dissemination of appropriately needed information to this undeniably indispensable but often neglected segment of our society receives its due attention in the paper. Also mention is the position/part the government is supposed to play. The study recommends that in-order to improve the access to information services in rural areas, it is imperative to deal with both individual and institutional factors such as library/media centers, lack of communication facilities/channels, poor educational facilities, lack of electricity, poor funding, lack of good road network, lack of hospital facilities, lack pipe born water etc, which limit access to information. It is also imperative to conduct audience research often so that appropriate information can be delivered to the right people.

Keywords: Information, channels, tool, rural development, roles, information professionals.