LIB 001 COURSE USE OF LIBRARY

1. Introduction: Objectives, Functions and Types of Libraries

This course is not only for the purpose of passing examinations but for the purpose of
knowing how to use the library for research, and self study purposes. Note that for any
student to succeed that student must burn the mid-night oil, or such student cannot come out
of school with good grade. Hence, LIB 001.

What is a Library?
The word library comes from the Latin word liber, meaning “book”. In Greek and the
Roman language, the corresponding term is bibliotheca. A collection or group of collections of
books and other printed or non-printed materials organised and maintained for various uses such
as reading, consulting, studying, and research. Rietz (2004), saw library, as a word which is from
a Latin Word- “Liber”, meaning a “book”, and in Greek Roman languages, the corresponding
term is “bibliotheca” meaning: collection or group of collections of books and or other materials
organized and maintained for use (reading, consultation, study, research, e.t.c.). Merriam-
Webster Dictionary (2007) defined library as a collection of sources of information, made
accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. Aina (2004) defined library as an
institution responsible for the collection, processing and storage of recorded knowledge for the
purpose of reading, study and consultation. Library provides physical and digital access to
materials for the use of present and future clientele (users). Its collections includes; textbooks,
journals, reference materials, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, government documents,
microform, microfiche, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, electronic books, audio books,
databases and other formats. All these information resources can be physical or virtual.
One of the most striking definition which could also be accepted is that “a library is a
collection of book-related and non-book materials which are selected, acquitted, housed,
organized, process, interpreted and made available for users to provide information, recreation,
knowledge and community service for its people.
Otubelu (2005), asserted that all definitions of a library must have the following;
1. That the collection of the materials must be organized.
2. The collection should be effectively exploited without difficulty
3. The collection should educate, inform and entertain the users.
For library to be called a library its materials must be properly organized.
Objectives of a Library
The objective of the library depends on the purpose, the organisation which it serves and the
users of the resources. The objectives of a library include the following among others:
1. Acquiring and organising up-to-date information resources so that they can be stored and
easily retrieved with less effort;
2. Answering questions and inquiries received by the library whether they are internal or
from outside the organisation;
3. Organising lectures and seminars for users to form the habit of independent study and
development of reading skills;
4. Contributing in developing and supporting libraries through gift, exchange of
information and co-operation with other libraries;
5. Providing sources of information necessary for faculty members, students and workers as
well as the local community;
6. Developing skills and abilities of workers in the library through making them involved
with training courses, seminars and workshops; and
7. Ensuring free and equal access to information and ideas without geographical or ethnical
constraints.
Functions of the Libraries
1. Information Dissemination Role: Libraries are involved in providing materials for
research or private study purposes. The library acquires and organizes information
resources materials in various formats and disseminates them to library users as
requested.
2. Educational Role: Libraries are synonymous with education and offer countless learning
opportunities that can fuel economic social and cultural development. The inspiring story
of William Kamkwamba from Malawi underlines the difference a library can make.
Having borrowed a book about windmills from his local library, Mr Kamkwamba learnt
how to build an energy-producing turbine for his village. On the strength of this
experience he went on to study at a leading university. That one book not only changed
his life; it also transformed the lives of those in his community. Such story explains why
 many countries are eager to ensure that libraries continue to provide access to knowledge,
learning and ideas.
3. Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Recognizing the cultural importance of sharing,
Mahatma Gandhi stated that no culture can live, if it attempts to be exclusive. The
stimulus to share and reuse information and knowledge is very important. Perhaps the
most deep-rooted of our human instincts is the desire to preserve our culture for future
generations. This is one of the most important functions of libraries. Libraries are rich
repositories of historically and culturally significant collections, many of which are not
available anywhere in the world. These cultural resources are preserved for posterity.
4. Recreational Role: Recreation is an activity of leisure. The need to do something for
recreation is an essential element of human biology and psychology. The library does
encourage recreation and therefore stock various types of materials. To facilitate this for
example, magazines, fiction resources, newspapers and work of arts should be made
available.
5. Economic Role: Libraries have a large impact on the local economy and workforce
development through the provision of various resources needed by the users. The library
provides an avenue for poor students who cannot afford to buy information resources to
read freely and have access to other relevant materials they could not have been able to
purchase. Library users especially indigent ones have the privilege of borrowing
circulated materials for some weeks or making photocopies of relevant pages in
information resources relevant to their areas of study or research.
6. Independent Learning: The library promotes individual learning through the provision
of relevant and current information resources and facilities to study at their own pace and
rate against the group activities in the classroom.
Types of Libraries
Classification of libraries depends mainly on their ownership and purposes for which they are
established. Libraries are classified into six categories all over the world. They are:
 National Library;
 Public Library;
 Academic Library;
 School Library;
  Special Library; and
 Private Library.
National Library
National library is a library specifically established by the government of a country to serve as
the preeminent repository of information for that country. Unlike public libraries, national library
rarely allow citizens to borrow books. Public libraries can borrow information resources on
behalf of their users in the national library. Adegoke and Issah (2009) defined national library as
the library which has the duty of collecting and preserving for posterity the written production of
a particular country. Thus, national libraries are those libraries whose community is the nation at
large. It is referred to as the apex library of a country.
Some states which are not independent, but who wish to preserve their particular culture,
have established a national library with all the attributes of such institutions, such as “legal
deposit”. Many national libraries co-operate within the national libraries section of the
International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) to discuss their common
tasks, define and promote common standards and carryout projects helping them fulfil their
duties. Examples of National Library are; National Library of Nigeria, Akure, Ondo State,
National Library of Nigeria, Garki, Abuja, National Library of Nigeria, Yaba, Lagos State,
Ghana National Library, Library of Congress, USA, Bibliothec de France etc. National libraries
represent their countries in international fora.
Functions of National Library
The functions of the national library include the following:
1. To collect, preserve and cultivate the treasure of knowledge, the heritage and culture of
the country, including the expansion and enhancement of the library’s collections;
2. To serve as a home for the collections, archives, manuscripts, documents, maps, music
and other audio treasures, graphic creations, audio-visual creations and electronic
documents as well as other items of unique national, historic or cultural significance;
3. To allow the public, proper and reasonable access to the library’s collection through a
variety of channels;
4. To provide cultural, literary and educational activities, geared towards the general public;
5. To display permanent and changing exhibitions of collections to the public;
 6. To maintain professional ties with national libraries, public libraries and archives as well
as cultural and educational institutions all over the world;
7. To grant professional guidance in accordance with its objectives;
8. To maintain and operate an infrastructure that allows among other things, suitable study,
documentation, storage, preservation, presentation and research conditions;
9. To represent the country in international library forum; and
10. Advise state and public libraries in the establishment of libraries.

Public Library
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica (2001) “public libraries are now acknowledge to be an
indispensable part of community life as promoters of literacy, providers of a wide range of
reading for all ages, and centres for community information services. Public libraries are
generally funded from public sources, such as taxes and rates. It is operated by librarians and
para-professionals. The importance of public library activities has been recognized in many
countries by legislation designed to ensure that good library services are available to all without
charge. In many cases, public libraries build up collections that relate to local interests often
providing information for local industry and commerce. This type of library is generally referred
to as the people university

There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries, the first is that they are
generally supported by taxes (usually local, through any level of government can and may
contribute): they are governed by a board to serve the public interest; they are open to all, and
every community member can access the collection; they are entirely voluntary in that no one is
ever forced to use the services provided and they provide basic services without charge. Public
libraries exist in many countries across the world and are often considered as an essential part of
having an educated and literate population. Examples of public library are; Kaduna State Library
Board, Kaduna, Edo State Library Board, Benin City, Enugu State Library Board, Enugu, Ondo
State Library Board, Akure Ondo State, Akwa-Ibom State Library, Uyo Akwa-Ibom etc.
Functions of Public Libraries
The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation(1994)stated the functions
of public library as:
1. Information dissemination to the general public;
2. To promote and encourage recreation and positive use of leisure time;
3. To support community’s cultural activities of groups and organisations;
4. To make it a lifelong learning centre;
5. To make it an instrument of social change; and
6. Representation of democracy.
Academic Libraries
Academic libraries are attached to higher education institutions which serve two complementary
purposes to support the school’s curriculum, and to support the research of the university faculty
and students. Academic libraries must determine a focus for collection development since
comprehensive collections are not feasible. Librarians do this by identifying the needs of the
faculty and student body, as well as the mission and academic programs of the college or
university. Singh and Kaur (2009) stressed that preservation and access to knowledge and
information is the main mandate of academic libraries alongside supporting the mission of their
parent institutions which is teaching and research. Many a times, academic libraries are referred
to as the heart or nerve centres of institutions of higher learning where all academic activities
revolved. Examples of Academic library are: Adeyemi College of Education library, Ondo,
Kenneth Dike library (KDL), University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Kashim Ibrahim library, Ahmadu
Bello University, Zaria, John Harris library, University of Benin, Benin, Federal University of
Technology library,Owerri, Hezekiah Oluwasanmi library (HOL), Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile Ife, etc.
Functions of Academic Libraries
The functions of academic libraries include the following:
1. To provide information materials required for the academic programmes of the
institution;
2. To provide research information resources in consonance with the needs of faculty and
research students;
3. To provide protection and security of library materials;
 4. To provide instruction in the most efficient use of appropriate resources;
5. To provide both quiet and collaborative spaces conducive to all types of learning;
6. To provide up-to-date technological tools that might be used in future work places; and
7. To provide information resources for recreation and for personal self-development of
users.

School Libraries
School libraries are established in primary, secondary and technical schools where students and
staff have access to varieties of resources.The goal of the school library is to ensure that all
members of the school community have equitable access to books and other information
resources in all formats. School libraries are now changing to school library resource centres or
school library media centres. School libraries are distinct from public libraries because they serve
as learner-oriented laboratories which support, extend and individualize the school’s curriculum.
Examples of school libraries are; University of Ibadan Staff School library, Adeyemi
Demonstration Secondary School library, Ondo, Alvan Ikoku College of Education Staff School
library, Owerri, Kings College library, Lagos, Federal Polytechnic Staff School library, Mubi,
Adamawa State, St. Josephs’ College library, Ondo etc.
Functions of School Libraries
Some of the functions of school libraries are:
1. Provision of background materials to complement and supplement learning and
classroom’s teaching;
2. School library resource is a catalyst for learning;
3. It provides enrichment for teachers note and teaching methodology;
4. It provides opportunity for creativity and independent thinking;
5. It encourages children in the proper use of leisure;
6. It provides suitable documents and information helpful in educational programme and
extra-curricular activities of the school;
7. It makes available textbooks and other additional reading materials for all subjects as per
the requirement of teachers and students;
8. It procures handy documents, illustrated picture books with bold and large fonts to create
the interest of children in reading;
 9. It procures latest teaching learning materials in form of books, CD, audio visual etc to
improve the teaching skills of teachers;
10. It keeps reference books like dictionaries, year books, directories, encyclopaedias, travel
books etc so that students and teachers can get help from these other than textbooks;
11. It provides information resources on simple and meaningful stories of classics, animals
and birds to give moral values and ethics to children; and
12. It procures bulletins, journals etc on different subjects on various aspects of education to
keep the teacher and school management updated in their fields.
Special Libraries
Special libraries provide specialized information resources on a particular subject, serve
specialized and limited clientele and deliver specialized service to those clienteles. Special
libraries include corporation libraries, government libraries, law libraries, medical libraries,
museum libraries, etc. The resources of special libraries consist more of journals, reports,
conference proceedings, documents, patents, newspaper cuttings, illustrations than books.
Special libraries also exist within an academic institution including law faculty libraries and
medical school libraries. These libraries are included in special libraries because they are often
funded separately from the rest of the university and they serve targeted group of users or
audiences. Examples of special libraries are: Nigerian Law School Library, Central Bank
Library, Federal Industrial Research Institute Oshodi, Lagos (FIRO), Librarian Registration
Council of Nigeria Library, Abuja, newspapers libraries, Federal Medical Centre Libraries etc.
Private Libraries
These are libraries established by individuals, eminent scholars, politicians and other important
persons in a country. It is usually established for the use of a small number of people or even a
single person. Examples of private library includes: Chief Akingbule Library Ondo, Debbie and
Fatie Library, Kaduna, Nnamdi Azikwe Newspaper library, Onitsha, Sam and Esther Library,
Enugu etc.
LIBRARY AND STUDY SKILLS

Introduction

The library has been described as the nerve centre of any academic institution and it is expected
to provide contemporary information as and when due for research, awareness, education and
entertainment. Hence, lots of books, journals, and other materials are in the library which is well
organized to ensure proximity and prompt retrieval from shelves. However, the abundance of
these materials requires that necessary library and study skills are possessed by users
(staff/students) so that they can be used efficiently and effectively. Dina (2002) noted that these
are skills in the use of book and other library materials or resources. Users should know parts of
book or non book materials and information therein. These parts are: title page, verso page, recto
page spine, content list, subject matter, index, bibliography etc. Also they should be able to
differentiate between fiction and non-fiction.

Moreover the skills will enable users to locate the most needed materials, identify pages in a
book instead of reading the whole book, make notes and combine information from different
sources or materials.

LIBRARY SKILL

This skill guides readers in the maximal utilization of library resources. It involves acquiring
thorough instructions on the use of library. They are: handling of books with clean hand and
care, book cover should not be hold back, book edges should not be bent and book must be
properly opened and carefully removed from the shelf.

Besides, it is equally important for the readers to be able to distinguish between book and
journals and be able to navigate through the library using pasted instructions, classification
scheme and cards catalogue cabinet. These are well explained in chapter six.

STUDY SKILL

This skill guides in studying and understanding the information in a book .SQ3R explains this
further:

S = Survey

Q = Question

R = Read-.

R = Recite

R = Review

Burmeister (1994) stated that SQ3R is good for mature readers that love to study independently.
SURVEY

As the name implies, this means surveying book. That is, read the title of the book and the
author's name. What are his credentials? Is he likely to be biased? Does he represent a particular
school of thought? Study the table of contents to have a direct look at the outline of the whole
book. Decide whether to consult other books or not. Read the introduction and/or preface to get
the author's view and for whom the book is written. Survey each of the chapters, glance through
the glossary and appendix to see if there is additional information. Also ask yourself a question
e.g. is anything omitted?

QUESTION

Look at the first main heading and ask yourself what it means. Ask yourself questions that you
think might be answered in the section. For example, if the heading is “cataloguing” ask yourself
questions such as: what is cataloguing? Have I ever heard it? What are its features? What other
word is being used in conjunction with cataloguing? Where is the word most relevant?

READ

This means reading to find answers to the questions raised above. If the answers are not there,
you may wish to find them somewhere else. These are good questions to ask in the classroom or
to find answer to in some other books in the library.

RECITE

Recite the answers to yourself to help you remember them. Ask yourself if the answers given by
the author make sense. Ask yourself if you have a new idea which you can use perhaps in a
written assignment or in conversation or in performing a task etc.

REVIEW

Review the whole chapter and reconstruct the outline in your mind or on a piece of paper without
looking at book. Try to recall important ideas the author has discussed. Ask yourself creative
questions and think of applications of the ideas learnt. At this point, you may want to extend
your reading to find additional sources in the library which will give you information in greater
depth or give you another point of view.

In conclusion, these skills when religiously applied in the library help readers to have utmost use
of the resources therein and consequently excel in studies and researcher.
LIBRARY AND EDUCATION

Introduction
Library and education are inseparable. This is because; education cannot transcend from one
generation to another if the library stop to exist. In the same vein, the library will cease to exist if
there is no education. Ultimately, education is one of the main reasons why a library exists in any
community, society, organisation, institutions, or establishments. Education may be defined as
the activity which is aimed at the development of knowledge, moral values and understanding
needed in all circumstances of life rather than knowledge and skills pertaining to a restricted
field of knowledge (Oketunji, 2005).As an individual in the society, one has to think critically
about various issues in life and take decisions about them without being bias or prejudices,
superstitions or blind beliefs. Thus, one has to learn all these qualities through the process of
education.
By educating an individual means to give someone desirable knowledge, understanding, skills,
interests, attitudes and critical 'thinking. That is, he acquires knowledge of history, geography,
arithmetic, languages and sciences etc. Thus leading him to enjoy intellectual self-reliability that
enhances his/her inner vision on factors like behaviour, attitude, character, conduct and outlook.
Education is the process of bringing a desirable change into the behavior of human beings. It is
the process of imparting or acquiring knowledge or habits through instruction or study.
Education is imperative to impart to a human being, perfect and adequate knowledge in a rational
and civic manner, withdrawing him from the realm of ignorance into the glows of enlightenment,
a path of useful and factual information leading to self-education.

Library resources and services are geared towards providing information that will help satisfy
library users’ curiosity. An attempt by a user to satisfy his/her curiosity can be considered as “an
attempt to be enlightened or to be educated”.

Note that library and education have a link in making an individual better informed citizen of a
nation. Emphatically, libraries that do not contribute to education become redundant or cease to
exist. While the library plays an enviable part of the knowledge source and its dissemination,
protection and preservation of knowledge, education cannot exist on its own without a library
support.
The Concept of a Library
Library may be described as a body of recorded information brought together for a specific
purpose, organised for use and made available to users (Encyclopedia Americana, 2006). Library
is of value to any society that wants to advance educationally. For instance, library is a necessity
for the existence of an educational institution, be it universities, colleges, or polytechnics. In
higher institutions of learning for instance, the main function of the library is to support the
parent organisation in achieving the organisational objectives. It involves content development,
acquisition, technical services, providing institutional repositories, inter-library loan, and
document delivery services etc. Some libraries also establish writing centres and centres for
information literacy too. The whole idea of library in an educational institution is to support
education in the areas of teaching, learning and research. Please read recommended materials
for further studies.

The Concept of Education

The word "education" has been derived from the Latin term "Educatum" which means the act of
teaching or training. A group of educationists say that it has come from another Latin word
"Educare" which means "to bring up" or "to raise". According to a few others, the word
"Education" has originated from another Latin term "Educere" which means "to lead forth" or "to
come out". All these meanings indicate that education seeks to nourish the good qualities in man
and draw out the best in every individual. Education seeks to develop the innate inner capacities
of man.

Education may be defined as the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge,
developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others
intellectually for mature life (Dictionary.com, 2017). It is the process of bringing desirable
change into the behaviour of human beings. Ocho (2005) defined education as the process
through which individuals are made functional members of the society.
Please read recommended materials for further studies.
Library Role in Education
The library represents a structure that houses a collection of services and resources and
sometimes alludes to an alternative meaning of an aggregation of useful material, published,
unpublished, or audiovisual content that serves common use, be it in the field of biology,
mathematics statistics or computer science. The library must have staff who are able to organised
these aggregate of useful materials and make them available to those who are researching on
educational inputs, information or even recreational information.

Apart from the formal learning received in classes, libraries provide platforms that encourages
self- education, that enable an individual to enjoy intellectual self-reliability that broaden the
inner vision of the individual on factors like behaviour, attitude, character, conduct and outlook.
The individual will learn all aspects of knowledge, being able to make rational decisions.

The role library plays in education shall be discussed under the following headings:
a. Promotion of reading
b. Expansion of learning resources
c. Development of critical thinking
d. Support teaching and learning
e. Promotion of research
*Please read recommended materials for further studies and explanation on the above points.

Library User Education

One of the principal objectives of establishing libraries is to ensure that the library and her
resources are put to use. To achieve this objective, the librarians have to instruct the students and
other users on how to use the library. They have to familiarise the students with the techniques of
library use and information retrieval. This is known as user education. User education can be
described as a programme that is designed to educate library users on how to effectively make
use of library resources and its services. Teaching and research depend on the library and
achievements in teaching and research are almost impossible without the library. User education
is an avenue to impact literacy skills in students, to make them life-long learners.
User education can be organized in the following ways:
a. Library orientation;
 b. Library tour;
c. Bibliographic instruction;
d. Use awareness;
e. One-on-one sessions; and
f. Classroom instructions.
Sources: Uhegbu, 2007
Library’s Expectation from her users
The library primarily exists to serve the information needs of her user. Therefore, in an
institution of higher learning, the library has the following expectations from her users. These
include:
i. Users are to take part in library orientation programme;
ii. Students are to register, attend, and pass “use of library course” before graduation;
iii. To be a user of the library, one must be registered with the library;
iv. Users are to make use of the library information resources for free;
v. Users are to comply with library rules;
vi. Users can consult librarians when necessary;
vii. Users can borrow a maximum number of books as indicated in the library’s
policy;
viii. Users can visit the library for the purpose of independent study; and
ix. Users should consider the use of the library as an important factor in improving
academic performance.
Benefits of Library to Education
The benefits of library to education include the following:
 Libraries provide formal and informal learning environments for students to thrive
as members of a research community;
 Libraries help in saving user’s time in accessing library resources, by ensuring
that library resources are organized in a way that will allow a user to easily
identify, locate and retrieve information resources of interest, from the library’s
collections;
 Libraries help in reducing the cost of education by providing users with
information resources that would have been too expensive for users to acquire for
academic purpose; and
  Libraries help in the improvement of teaching by providing course-related
materials that would help complement classroom instructions, thereby enhancing
students’ academic performance.
* Please remember to read recommended materials for further studies and more explanation.

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