Readers share views on relevance of libraries
Before now, people sourced information mainly from libraries. But these days many Nigerians prefer to use the internet. But does this mean the library is no longer useful? Bookshelf finds out.
The purpose of libraries is to provide information to the general public, preserve books and create an environment that makes reading convenient. But since the world has gone digital, readers can now access books of a wide variety without leaving the comfort of their homes. This begs the question, are physical libraries still relevant in Nigeria?
Although, libraries have evolved over the years, one cannot deny the noticeable downswing of patronage it has experienced. Foluso Adegbuyi, a content writer, said libraries are becoming irrelevant due to advanced technology.
“Technology has literally taken over the world. I have everything I need online and have reduced my library visits because we are in the age where everyone can browse and download any information or material instead of having to go to a situated library. The libraries are not well equipped, so they do not add any value to me. However, libraries are still important, if not for anything but for consultation purposes. The government just needs to remodel them and bring in great electronic appliances with good internet services. This would encourage people to visit libraries more,” he said.
A freelance writer, Richard Omotayo, said he doesn’t find the library useful because of how outdated the books are. He said he prefers to buy materials and access them online since he won’t find them in the library. He said, “I always have the problem of not finding the books I need for my work in the library. In my line of work, I need to do extensive research but the library doesn’t help me in any way. I usually have to access these materials online or even pay for them when I could have easily used the library. Even my colleagues experience this problem. There was a time a researcher friend of mine needed some materials on medicine about a topic I can’t remember now. We searched everywhere in the library and couldn’t find one book to use. So, if we can’t get books in the library, why should we go there?
“Another issue is the attitude of librarians towards library users. They can be very rude and mean. That discourages me because I don’t want to be insulted. But I think because they are not well paid, they feel frustrated. The system has to be changed. The older librarians should be replaced with younger ones who have innovative ideas that would change the face of the library. These librarians don’t even have information about the books they have. There are a lot of things wrong with libraries in Nigeria, and until there is a significant change, libraries may soon become extinct as they have already become irrelevant to most people.”
Hajiya Nimat Abdulrahim, the deputy director and head of City Library, Abuja said the level of patronage is quite fair as they get an average of 100 patrons weekly. This number increases considerably during exams like The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), The Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), and International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to mention a few. She pointed out the factors that could affect the level of a library’s patronage, either positively or negatively.
“I think the resources you have, that is your book collection and location could affect patronage either negatively or positively. Location is an advantage to us here because we are situated in a central area. Because of that we are able to attract different kinds of people. What you have to offer also plays a major role in determining if people would prefer to come to the library or go digital. If you offer them what they can’t get anywhere, then they will keep coming,” she said.
She also said that the level of patronage has increased considerably, which is contrary to the belief that most people have about the relevance or usefulness of libraries. She said, “We have over the years reformed the library. There is a training going on at the moment which is about rebranding and creating awareness for the library. We need to let the librarians know that change is important and necessary. They need to move away from how they do things and evolve. They need to rebrand themselves so as to serve their customers better. We are trying to equip them with the information and tools they need to market themselves better in their field.”
Seun Saparu, a library user at the National Library, Abuja said she thinks libraries are still very much relevant. She expresses her satisfaction at the wealth of information she is able to access at the library. “There are tons of benefits in visiting the library. It helps me get the relevant information I need and is also a
Libraries are still important, if not for anything but for consultation purposes. The government just needs to remodel them and bring in great electronic appliances with good internet services.
relaxation centre. I like to read there because of the ambience. It can be really soothing. I also like visiting the library because it serves as a repository of knowledge. It is a place where cultural values can be found and literally anything. I think that is one of the reasons I love going there. I learn a lot and can find anything. It is fun when I stumble upon new things too,” she said.
Dr. Ibe Chiemezie is also a frequent user of libraries. He visits the library at least twice a week and makes sure to visit one in any city he finds himself. He said, “The quest for knowledge motivates me to visit libraries. I, particularly, find this institution helpful during examinations. The library offers me a serene environment devoid of distractions. One of the perks of visiting a library is that you get to meet people from different walks of life. There are some people you may never encounter except in the library. I have made many important friends. All thanks to my habit of visiting the library.”
Not a lot of people believe in making use of library facilities, particularly since the internet came. The internet makes it easy for people to access search engines from anywhere in the world. It is faster, easier and stress free. But, can the search engines provide all the information you need? The results we see on information centres such as Google, Yahoo and the likes are provided by human beings. They, of course, have lots of information stored on them but are they capable of separating the relevant data from the irrelevant ones?
Hajiya Nimat Abdulrahim laments about the challenges City Library faces. The issue of poor power supply and epileptic network affects the quality of services rendered to patrons who would like to use the e-library. “If there is no light, we become handicapped and unable to help e-library users, unlike the physical library that users can easily access. Another issue we have is the books that need to be paid for online before our users can access them. This is very discouraging because of how expensive they are. The issue of having the right people at the right place is also a challenge we face. Most of our libraries do not employ librarians, and there are lots of qualified people who are unemployed. The government should device a means of injecting them into the system so they can help make the society better.
“Funding will also be a great help. We lack adequate funding to improve the quality of service we know we are capable of giving. We can no longer do it alone. The community should pitch in to help us so we can improve ourselves. The writers and authors should make sure they deposit four copies to the library. They should also partner with the publishers in order to make their books accessible online for use,” she said and called the attention of policy makers on the library’s importance in facilitating development and using that avenue to publicize their policies which will be to everybody’s advantage.