CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background
of the study
Information
and its effective and proper dissemination is a powerful force to reckon with
in any nation. There will be no meaningful development in any nation if proper
attention is not paid to libraries. Since researches birth new discoveries and
inventions, it is a common place to have libraries as the incubating home of
researchers, therefore, it logically follows that the invaluable roles that
libraries play in the development of any nation cannot be overemphasized
(Fabunmi and Folorunso 2009).
Generally,
public libraries are seen as public goods. They are universities of the people
since it gives access to every intending member of the public. Library’s
Glossary Dictionary (1977) defined a public library as a library established by
local, state or central government for the use of the general public. There are
however, some individuals or organizations that establish library that offers
services to the public free of charge and such libraries also provide
educational, social and political information to people in a particular
community. Olanlokun and Salisu (1993) viewed that public libraries are
libraries set up to provide free but traditional service to everyone. A public
library is a service oriented institution with set goals to be achieved within
the resources made available by the parent institution, which is usually the
government. In other words, a public library is primarily established to
provide viable and revealed services to the entire members of the public.
Public libraries in Nigeria have the same universal function of serving the
general public by providing educational opportunities for self-development.
In
order to realize the objective, the functions of public libraries therefore
involve the acquisition, collection, organization, and dissemination of
information available in the form of printed and non-printed materials for
effective use. Users of public libraries are very many as they cut across all
walks of life and also embrace illiterates, pensioners, children, adolescent,
adults, farmers, physically challenged people etc. The public library is
therefore the main arena through which the overall information resources in
various areas of knowledge are made freely available to all members of the
society irrespective of the age, sex, religion, cultural background and
educational standard as well as political and social inclination.
In
1953, the Federal Government of Nigeria with the help of UNESCO organized the
first regional seminar on the development of public libraries in the various
regions of Nigeria with the following objectives (Edoka, 2000):
i.
Creating and strengthening reading habits in children from
early age;
ii.
Supporting both individual and self -conducted education as
well as formal;
iii.
Providing opportunities for personal creative development;
iv.
Stimulating the imagination and creativity of children and
young adults;
v.
Promoting awareness of cultural and appreciation of the
arts, scientific achievement and innovations;
vi.
Providing access to cultural expressions of all performing
arts;
vii.
Fostering intercultural difference and favouring cultural
diversity;
viii. Supporting
oral tradition;
ix.
Ensuring access for citizens to all sorts of community
information;
x.
Providing adequate information services to local
enterprises, associations and interests groups;
xi.
Facilitating the development of information and computer
literacy skills and;
xii.
Supporting and participating in literacy activities and
programs for all age group and initiating such activities if necessary.
Oderinde (1980) affirmed that the
“foundation of Nigeria’s public libraries services was laid by non-Nigerians,
and with funds from abroad”. It was only in 1950s that the government of the
Federation of Nigeria started to encourage library development. It was argued
that the UNESCO seminar on development of public libraries in Africa held at
the University College, Ibadan in August 1953 was the starting point. The
Ibadan UNESCO seminar focused and highlighted on organizing public libraries on
Regional or National scale, provision, selection and use of publication and
audio-visual materials in African public libraries and on professional training
for public libraries services. In summary, some of the historical circumstances
that led to the establishment of public libraries services in Nigeria include,
efforts of some individuals who donated building and collections which later
formed the nucleus of public services in Nigeria, establishment of regional
reading rooms by colonial masters which later transformed to public libraries,
second World War which necessitated the establishment of public information
centers to disseminate (war) information, establishment of regional government
and subsequent creation of states and increase in number of students’ enrolment
in schools.
1.2
Statement
of the problem
Overtime,
library funding and development in Nigeria has been on the decline. The
Nigerian government has been culpable for this as little or no attention is
given towards the development and funding of libraries in the budget. Even when
it is captured in the budget, they are scarcely implemented. The management of
libraries in Nigeria have not lived up to their expectation of sourcing for
funds in developing libraries since the government has not done enough in
developing them. This study therefore, looked into the different strategies
through which revenue can be generated for the development and effective
running of public libraries, a case study of Ibome-library, Uyo, AkwaIbom
State, Nigeria.
1.3
Significance
of the study
The
findings from this study will help to highlight the strategies through which
public libraries can generate revenue, the effective and proper use of revenue
generated and to identify the most effective means of generating revenue for
public libraries.
1.4
Objective
of the study
This
study was undertaken majorly to investigate the strategies for generating
revenue for public libraries. The study also aims
at:
i.
Determining the different avenues through which public
libraries generate revenue.
ii.
Ascertaining
whether revenue generated by public libraries is channeled properly for the
development and management of the libraries.
iii.
Evaluate the most effective means of
generating revenue for public libraries.
1.5
Research
questions
It
is in view of the above problems that the following questions arise:
i.
What
are the different avenues through which public libraries can generate revenue?
ii.
Are
revenue generated by public libraries used for proper management and
development of the libraries?
iii.
What
are the most effective means of generating revenue for public libraries?
1.6
Research
hypotheses
H0: Revenue
generation does not significantly influence public libraries development in
Nigeria.
H1:Revenue
generation significantly influences public libraries development in Nigeria.
1.7
Limitations of
the study
The study was carried out to investigate the
strategies for generating revenue for public libraries in Nigeria. The study is
limited to Ibom e-library, in AkwaIbom, Uyo Local Government Area to be
precise. This is because of her representative nature of all public librariesin AkwaIbom State, proximity to the researcher, time and financial constraints.
1.8
Scope
of the study
This
research work is on the strategies for generating revenue for public libraries in Nigeria,
using Ibom e-library as a case study.
1.9
Definition
of terms
Library: This is a building or room containing collections of books,
periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the
public or the members of an institution.
Revenue: The amount of money that an organisation actually receives during a
specific period, including discounts and deductions for returned merchandise.
Strategy: This is a
plan of action designed to achieve a long-term or overall aim.
REFERENCES
Edoka, B.E (2000). Introduction to Library Science. Enugu:
Snaap.
Fabunmi, F.A and Folorunso, O (2009)
The Roles of Libraries and Information Centers as Engine Rooms for National Development in
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Cotonou: Pan African Books, 2(2) pp. 34-35.
Ifidon, S.E and Ahiazu, B (2005):
Information and Conflict Prevention in Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria. African
Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science, 15 (2) 126.
Library’s Glossary Dictionary (1977).
Reverence Book. 4th Revised Edition.
Oderinde, N.O (1980). The Position of
Public Libraries in the Metropolitan Area of Lagos in Aje, S.B and Olafioye, A.O (eds) Library
Services in Metropolitan Area of Lagos: Background and Sociological framework,
Lags: NLA, pp1-2.
Olanlokun, S.O. and Salisu, M.T (1993)
Understanding the Library: A Handbook on Library Use. University Press: Lagos.
Seymour, W.N (1980) The Changing Role of Public Libraries:
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