ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to determine the impact of poor
funding on public libraries in Nigeria using the Edo State Library Board as a
case study. Survey research method was employed for the study. Also, total
enumeration sampling technique was used due to the small population size.
Thirteen (13) respondents made up the population size of the survey. The
questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Frequency table and
percentage were used to analyze the data collected. The study revealed the
alternatively sources for funding the public library. Findings showed that
there is inadequate fund to acquire relevant up to date materials, hence some
recommendations were made. These include; the people of the state should be
made to understand that the public libraries are theirs and such should help in
financing them. This amongst other recommendations was made.
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
The public library is a
social institution, which is tied to the political and social realities of the
communities where it is situated. As the name implies, this is a library that served
the public.
UNESCO (2012) Defines public library as
a local centre of information, making all kind of knowledge available to users.
The services of the public library are provided on the basis of access for all
regarded of age race sex religion nationality or social status. Specific
services and materials must be provided for those who can not for whatever
reason use the regular services and materials. In age groups most fined
materials relevant to their needs. High quality and relevant to local needs and
conditions are fundamental. Material must reflects current trend and evolutions
of the societies as were as the memory of human endeavors and imagination.
Collection and services are not subjected to any form of ideological, political
or religious censorship or commercial pressure.
According to the oxford dictionary,
public library is a non-profit library established for use of the general
public and maintained drifty by public funds.
Public library has been defined
variously by different individuals. Many see it as a place built for the
inflection of books and other printed resources and the personal to provide and
interpret such resources as required to meet the information, research,
educational, recreational, cultural and aesthetic needs of the various users
and it is usually financed with public funds. The public library’s clientele is
heterogeneous and devoid of race, rank, status, bias as to who would avail of
its services. It stocks every conceivable item that would add knowledge
education, research, information and cultural needs to the society. In Nigeria
today. Each of the 36 states including the FCT, Abuja has a public library
board established under the public library act as United Kingdom (UK), but here
in Nigeria, library board a state is established by edict or laws made by the
state legislators.
Public library funding refers to
making money available for the day to day running of the libraries. Finance is
the live-wire of any established including land, labour, capital and
entrepreneur and information. The capital here refers to finance which can be
used to procure other factors of production thereby making it more important
than others. Fund is obviously the major element in every established. It is
equally the working capital of an establishment.
Public library funding generally means
the various ways we derive the expected funds for capital and recurrent
expenses. It involves the money available or allocation to for running its
day-to-day activities. However, the funding and financial allocations to public
libraries have remained poor decodes. Public libraries need adequate resources
to run their services, pay and hire personnel, provide current information,
arrange organize and monitor both human and material resources. Nigeria is a developing
country and its society is not a reading society. Nigerians do not appreciate
the importance and needs of public libraries and the services it offers and
this problem reflects in the level of fund allocated to it by the government
state government subventions which constitute about 80% of public libraries
funds is grossly inadequate. This inadequacy is because of the political
instability and bas economy of the country.
Late release of fund by the
government is another problem; it means things cannot be done when required.
All the plans of public library are hampered by late release of fund. Another
problem is the existing infrastructural facilities in most public libraries are
inadequate. Most of their reference materials are too old. There are no
separate rooms for music library and audio-visual materials, and no rooms for
serious library and audio-visual materials, and no rooms for serious readers,
especially those carrying out research works. Lack of appreciation by policy
makers in government is one of the problems. This shows that the public
libraries in the nation are not given recognition and this is traceable not
only to the non-quantifiable nature of library services but also the
misconception given to libraries by government to get off these problems. There
must be a re-orientation on the part of the policy makers in government to
accord the public library the recognition it deserves. The problems have
adversely affected the public library services and its operations. The result
of the impending global economic situation on the other hands has drastically
affected the attainment or achievement of basic standards in funding the
libraries. From the history of public libraries in Nigeria, the problem of
funds has remained an untraceable phenomenon. The Nigeria library association
is worried by the poor funding of libraries in general but public libraries in
particular. Therefore, the Nigerian libraries Association (NLA) has organized
several conferences that highlight the problems of poor funding of public
libraries and the need for improved funding. This conference suggested and
recommended widening the sources of funding public libraries rather than solely
depending on the government.
1.1 Background of Edo State Libraries Board,
Benin-City
Edo state at a point was the proud
owner of some of the best library facilities in the country to the extent that
people came from far and near for research work. The libraries in the then
Midwest region and later Bendel state were built during the military
administration of Brigadier-General Samuel Ogbemudia. Then there was at least a
government library in every local government headquarters. The library system
so flourished that it even pride itself of having a will library which was
explored by legal luminaries and wealthy persons who did not want to create
acrimony for their children when they depart the earth.
For years, the Edo state library was
a board of its own and was run as an independent body until it was merged with
the ministry of education under the supervision of the commissioner of
education. The state of the library began to deteriorate in the late 90’s when
the military administration of the state group captain Baba Lyiam insisted that
all government agencies should be self-sustaining. Students and others were
made to pay stipends before they could use the library. The no funding policy
of that administration led to the deterioration of the public library as
workers made do with the few available books, and no attention was further paid
to library facilities.
However, since 1999 when the country returned
to the civilian rule, the library board has suffered poor funding even though
it blossomed during the time of Ogbemudia, it deteriorated during the time of
the military. At a time in Edo state, the public library was a bee hive of
activities, but it is no longer so and this has led to the drop in the reading
habits of the youths.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
In many public libraries, the budgetary
allocation are not released as and when due, and this in turn delays the
implementation of the programs of those libraries when the funds are eventually
released. There is inadequate funding of public libraries by the state
government which provides about 80% of the funds required by the public
libraries. Shortage of funds have resulted in shortage of relevant text books
as currently being experienced by students and researchers who are I need of
the materials. Inadequate provision of funds has prevented the provision of
current material needs by the staff and client in public libraries. Also, poor
appreciation of the services of the library by those at the helm of affairs,
how societal rating of the libraries especially public libraries in Nigeria
pose a problem to funding of the public libraries.
1.3 Research Questions
1.
What is the major source of fund for public library?
2.
What is the state of funding in public libraries?
3.
Are the public libraries facing any problems?
4.
What are the problems faced by public libraries in Nigeria especially Edo state
library Board, Benin city?
5.
What are the other sources of fund available to these public libraries?
6. What are the problems associated with
inadequate funding of libraries in Nigeria?
1.4 Scope of the Study
The scope and literature of this study
will enable us to know the funding of public libraries in Nigeria, especially
Edo state library board. The investigation is limited to Nigeria and only one
type of library which is the public library. Only the staff and users of Edo
state library board and other public libraries are to be consulted in the
course of this investigation.
1.5 Significance of the Study
This study will enable us to know the
state of public libraries in Nigeria that is the problem facing public
libraries in Nigeria. It will also be of importance to the researcher or any
other person who is interested in finding out the state of public libraries in
Nigeria, especially Edo state library board, Benin City. It will also help us
to appreciate the public library as an agent of political social and religious
development of a community which can compel them into passing he right judgment
and taking the right decision that affects their lives and existence. The topic
as expected will be an added literature in this branch of public librarianship.
1.6 Operational Definition of Terms
1. Subvention:
- a subsidy, provision of financial or other support.
2. Clientele:
- the body or class of people who frequent an establishment or purchase a
services.
3. Heterogeneous:
- diverse in kind or nature, composed of different parts.
4. Library:
- on institution which holds books and/or forms of stored information for use
by the public or qualified people.
5. Research:
- diligent inquiry or examination to seek or revise facts principles, theories,
applications, etc.
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