REINVENTION AND RE-ENGINEERING OF PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS FACILITATORS FOR GENERATING SOCIAL CAPITAL: A STUDY OF NORTHERN NIGERIA (original) (raw)

Role of Public Libraries in the Creation of Social Capital: A Study of Northern Nigeria

2019

Public Libraries play a vital role in the creation and bridging Social Capital. They offer a space for education, socialization and debate, which are open to the members of the society. This paper presents an overview of public libraries in Nigeria and their role, the challenges associated with the activities and programs of Nigerian Public Libraries in the creation of Social Capital. A total of 59 Public Libraries working in 12 State of Library Boards of Northern Nigeria and Federal Capital Abuja has been considered for the pilot study. The analysis has been done by frequency distribution, percentage and cluster analysis. Based on the results of the study, a few suggestions and solutions to overcome the problems in the creation of Social Capital have been listed. This paper is a pilot study of the Doctoral programme by the first author.

An Investigation into the Challenges and Opportunities in the Social Capital Creation by Public Libraries in Northern Nigeria: Cluster Analysis

International Journal of Research in Library Science

The idea of public libraries as among the institutions for creating social capital has recently attracted the attention of researchers in library and Information Science to find the contribution of public libraries in the creation of social capital. This study examined the availability of information resources and facilities for creating social capital, the challenges of public libraries in Northern Nigeria in the creation of social capital, and solutions to the identified challenges. Survey research was used for the study and questionnaire was used to collect data from the 158 librarians of public libraries under study. Cluster analysis was used to analysed the data collected. The findings of the study revealed that lack of adequate information resources (both print and e-resources), lack of facilities.Lack of library understanding and role to be played in the services and programs contributing to social capital creation, inadequate financial support for public libraries to provide resources and facilities for social capital activities as the highly significant challenges associated in the creation of social capital. Provision of open spaces for open programs and provision of adequate financial support to public libraries were identified as the possible and feasible solutions to addressed the challenges of public libraries in creating social capital.

Public Library as a Veritable Tool on Communal Issues to National Development in Nigeria

International Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review, 2021

The library as a tool in fostering national development has received wide study but much remains to be done to reinforce the progress of national development in the 21st Century. This study examined public library as a veritable tool on communal issues to National Development. The study is delimitated to all the public libraries in Anambra State of Nigeria. The population of the study consist 259-14 librarians, 12 library officers and 233 users. 252 copies of questionnaire were filled and submitted. Structured questionnaire titled "Public Library as a veritable tool on Communal Issues to National Development in Nigeria (PLVTCINDN) was developed and used for data collection. The research questions were analysed with simple percentage, mean scores and standard deviation Based on the findings, the study recommended that Public libraries should create awareness on its' role to national development among the members of the community through sensitization, literacy and outreach programmes on how to acquire information, knowledge and facts, to be applied in their daily activities making them better people and building better community.

Rejuvenating Public Library Services in Delta State for National Development

This paper discussed the need to rejuvenate the public library services in Delta State for national development. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The study covers sixteen (16) communities where public libraries are established using purposive sampling method to select 480 respondents and the entire 42 library staff. A total of 522 library users and staff were used as samples for this study. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and observation through personal visitations by the researchers. The paper highlighted the present situation of public libraries in Delta State of Nigeria which is associated with lack of government financial support for public library development, irregular power supply and inadequate manpower. The paper recommended that adequate personnel, funding, infrastructural development in the aspect of good structural building, facilities and regular power supply that befit public libraries in order to enhance national development should be provided. | Volume 2 | e2048 has both educated and literate population .

Libraries as a Pivot for National Development of Nigeria

A nation is said to be developed when its citizens attain high standard of living. Building an ideal nation requires a holistic approach. All facets of human activity must be harnessed while all indices of nation building must be taken care of. This in turn requires well equipped Libraries and information resource centres in tertiary institutions to improve the educational system. Libraries and information resource centres are institutions that are well established to take care of the information needs of all segments of society-students, lecturers, researchers and scholars. The library is continuously bringing man in contact with the world in the fulfilment of its functions as a repository for knowledge in all forms and shapes. In doing this, all academic and professional disciplines are involved. Libraries and information resource centres are not exception. This paper looks at different types of libraries and information resource centres and their basic functions. The study also x-rays the roles of libraries and information resource centres in national development as well as exposes the challenges facing library and information resource centres services in Nigeria, such as inadequately trained staff to meet the increasing demands of library and information resource centres users.

PUBLIC LIBRARIES AS INSTRUMENT OF DEVELOPMENT IN THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIETY: A STUDY OF RIVERS STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Information Managers, Journal of Nigerian Library Association Rivers State Chapter, 2022

The study examined public libraries as instrument of development in the contemporary society: a study of Rivers State public library. The study was guided by three objectives and three research questions. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The population of the study comprises 112 users of the Rivers State Library Board and Jubilee Library Port Harcourt. The researchers employed the simple random sampling technique to select 102 users of the public libraries mentioned above which stood as the sample. The instrument used for data collection was the researchers' made structured questionnaire titled: Public Libraries and Societal Development in Rivers State (PLSDRS). The data generated were analysed using simple percentages. The paper through its findings concludes that public libraries encourage the advancement of self-conducted education, help citizens in creative development and also serve as agents of peace in the society. It therefore recommend that public libraries through her extension service channels should create full awareness of all the services they offer to the public as this will likewise boost usage. Public libraries should also be established in the rural part of the country. The public library personnel should ensure that good and appropriate information materials are selected, acquired and made available for use.

To be or not to be: History and Dilemma of Public Libraries in Contemporary Nigeria

2017

Purpose: This article traces the history and current status of public libraries in Nigeria. It examines the actual situation of public libraries in the country. Design/Methodology: The content of the article is based on literature, personal observation, discussions and interactions with colleagues, as well as personal visitations to public libraries in Nigeria. Findings: Public libraries in Nigeria are inundated by certain multiple and monumental challenges that have been triggered by the current economic recession. Almost all public libraries are in chaotic situation because of lack of proper awareness about their roles, poor funding, high rate of illiteracy, poor reading culture, inadequacy of information resources and services, and above all inadequacy of professionally trained personnel. Research Implications: The discussion may provide or serve as a reference point for future planning and development public libraries in Nigeria. Additionally, the discussion would also assist pu...

Transposing Public Libraries for Effective Information Services Delivery and Rural Development: The Nigerian Focus

2020

As day go by, the issue of information services delivery becomes very vital to the survival of the human race. However, the libraries remain the only avenue through which effective information services can be delivered. As to whether most of these libraries, especially, the public libraries, are living up to the expectation in terms of the delivery of effective information services and rural development attainment, remains a major issue. Sadly, it could be right to say that most public libraries in Nigeria are not what they should be, compared with their counterparts in the developed nations. However, the negligence of public libraries in rural communities by the government has resulted in few public libraries, poor library structure and scanty shelves. These contributed in making the public libraries of no effect in terms of information services delivery and rural development. It now seems that the people no longer understand the roles of these public libraries in development. To t...

Sustaining Nigeria’s Democracy: Public Libraries as Indispensable Instrument in Anambra State

Developing Country Studies, 2015

A survey of the historical and contemporary facts and figures presents Nigeria as a Nation battling to entrench the values of democracy. Much remains to be done to reinforce this progress and prepare the nation for the political realities of democracy in the 21 st Century. The citizens need to be enlightened and informed to actively participate in the democratic process. The role of the library as a social utility institution in this respect is indispensable and significant. The paper examined the public library as an agent of social and political transformation in Anambra State. It reviewed the services, activities, resources, manpower and facilities offered to position it for the political re-engineering required for democracy to be sustained. The population of the study covered the State public library and it's seven divisional libraries in Anambra State. The respondents included library users and staff. Questionnaire, oral interview and participants observation were instruments used for data collection. The result of the investigation revealed that the public libraries' potentials if adequately harnessed will serve as a catalyst and dynamic force for a pervasive and complete cultural and political revolution capable of nurturing the psychosocial and political new dawn of individuals, the clan, the community and the entire nation. The findings indicates that current awareness programmes, information repackaging, and community based services of the public libraries are not viable though they are instruments for reaching out to the remote areas for increasing civic information awareness. However, paucity of funds, inadequate manpower development, high rate of illiteracy, lack of basic infrastructure, inadequate policy formulation/implementation and sociocultural factors were highlighted as hindrances to the success of these ideals. Recommendations include among others, restructuring of the public libraries through increased funding, ICT and man power development, creating awareness and review of the policies affecting public library systems in Nigeria.