An Overview of Library

An Overview of Library

The term library can be defined in many ways.

To a lay man, the word library refers to a building on which books (used and unused) are kept to prevent them from being stolen or destroyed by insects, rodents, water or fire.

However, the word means more than this. The library is more than just a building.

Now to go into the deeper meaning of library, lets look at the origin of the meaning of the word.

It has been traced to the Latin word liber meaning books.

On that basis, early professionals in Library and Infor Science defined library as a place where important records of human ideas were organised processed and disseminated to users for the purpose of posterity and preservation from human and non-human damages.

Aside of this, there are many other definitions of library  Olanipekun and Ifabiyi (2003) considered library as collection of information materials such as books, films, magazines, maps, manuscripts, phonographs, records, etc for use.

It is an organisation of one or more trained people who carefully select and organise books, periodicals and other familiar materials for the use of those who require the materials for information and knowledge acquisition. 

This definition emphasises the following:
1. the presence of librarians to select, process, and manage the entire library collections.
2. library is not just a place where books are dumped on the tables and shelves
3.  library materials have to be organised in a manner that enables their users to have easy access to the resources.

To play its natural role of knowledge dissemination, the library assumes the following vital responsibilities:

1. Library as a resource/information centre
2. Library as a store house of information
3. Library as a house of collections.

Types and Functions of Library

As there are different types of library users, so also there are different types of library to serve the diverse users. 

Types of library include:
Academic Library
School Library
Public Library
Research Library
Special Library

Academic Library
An academic library is the one found in tertiary institutions of learning: the university, polytechnic, college of education, college of agriculture, etc.

Academic libraries usually acquire materials and design services to meet the curriculum of their respective parent institutions.

Academic libraries differ from one institution to the other in terms of users, materials and sundry considerations.

However, all academic libraries irrespective of their type of institution perform similar functions.

Functions of Academic Libraries
1. Select and acquires books and materials through purchases, gifts, exchanges, and legal deposits.

2. Prepares material for the use of students, lecturers, faculties, and others who require them e.g. cataloguing, classification, filling, stamping, pasting and lettering, etc.

3. Makes the materials easily accessible physically through the provision of catalogues, indexes, bibliographies lists, etc.

4. Allow materials from the general collection and the reserve collections to circulate among the users.
5. It offers reference services to the users.
6. It conducts user education and orientation activities for its users.

School Library

This is the library in the primary, secondary and equivalent school environment.

The school library usually stocks collection of books and other materials (e.g. globe, wall, charts, maps, atlases, and organises them in a spacious rooms for the use of both teachers and students.

The school library provides relevant materials to enable students and pupils improve on their academic standard.

It makes material available to compliment the teaching activities of teachers and also to enhance the achievement of the general goals and objectives of the school.

Put in place activities and resources capable of developing and sustaining the habit and enjoyment of reading and learning independently in the students/pupils.

Public Library
A public library is library that is established by govt to serve every category of people in the society. 

It can be established by the federal govt (e.g. the national library of Nigeria), the state govt (e.g. Kwara State library) or local govt. 

The library established by the federal govt is usually cited in the federal capital and in the state capitals.

The state and local govt own libraries are located at the state headquarters and local govt headquarters respectively.

Functions

The library stocks books and other resources on diverse human knowledge for the use of members of the community where the library is located.

The library often has a section meant for the children and another part for the adult users.

Public utilities such as conference facilities restaurant, cafe, viewing rooms and media section can be found in large public library.

Part of the function of the public library is to promote mobile library services for the people in the rural communities using mobile vehicles to move library material to the people.

Preserves cultural monument and artefact, stocking peoples indigenous literature and audio-visual material 

Research Library

This is a type library that is found in the research institutes such as ARMTI, FIIRO Lagos, IITA Ibadan and MILLS Ilorin, etc.

A research library is usually set up by the parent institute. It acquires the resources that are meant to reflect the peculiar programme of the institute. The primary users of such a library are patron of such institute.

Researchers who have particular interest in the subject field covered by programme of the institute can also use the research library.

The library renders selective dissemination of information services to its users.

It prepares readers profile and listing of specific subject that are of interest to the users as new material comes into the library.

Special Library

This kind of library can be found in the school for the physically challenged organisations, govt agencies and individuals.

It can be set up by business professionals and religious organisations, with the purpose of serving the company or groups that established it.

The library keeps books in specialised disciplines.

The library keeps extensive file of unpublished research report, journals, manuscripts, newspapers, and govt or cooperate reports.

Special libraries have staff with specialised training to be able to serve specialised body of Users. 

The Rise of Nigerian Libraries

The foundation of modern library in the world can be traced to antiquity i.e. the time when writing in different form was developed.
By the people like:

The  Sumerians, The Babylonians, The Phoenicians, the Egyptians, the Greek, Pergamums, Romans, the Chinesse, etc.

The invention of printing in the 5th century facilitated the rise of different kinds of libraries.

Nigeria

The foundation of modern libraries in Nigeria was laid in the 19th century by Europeans during the era of colonisation.

The earliest types of libraries were special libraries that the colonial master established to support activities in govt depts and research institutes.

Examples
- the law library which was established in 1900 to conserve legal documents.
-Lagos medical Research Institute Library was established in 1909 to support research in tropical diseases.

Today, there different types of library special, school, research libraries, polytechnic, college of education and university libraries.  These are located in every nook and cranny of Nigeria.

Contribution of the colonialists and home government-

Notable foreign and indigenous individuals also facilitate the spread of libraries in Nigeria (e.g.) Henry Carr established the largest library personal library and this was later formed part of the university college library Ibadan in 1948.

Most of the writing of Herbert Macaulay, the father of Nigeria nationalism formed part of the collection of university college library.

William John Harris from New- Zealand was the first librarian at the University of Ibadan when academic activities started in 1948

In 1959, He founded the first library school in Nigeria which is now Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, University of Ibadan.  
 
The contributions of some national and international corporate organisations can also me mentioned.  Examples:

The Carnegie Corporation, UNESCO, Ford Foundation, etc all play prominent role the rise and development of library in Nigeria.