Dearth of books and basic reading facilities are some of the factors eroding interest of scholars in the use of public libraries.
Every scholar wants an environment conducive for learning and an up-to-date library with books for use or borrowing. But such academic activity becomes boring when the library is not only scanty, but the milieu is also rowdy or noisy.
Libraries are supposed to satisfy the yearnings of scholars by offering them quality books. But it seems the lack of this, advent of the Internet, lack of interest, among other factors, have impeded their growth.
A public library is expected to be accessible by the public with Internet access to users and is generally funded from public sources while allowing users take books and other materials off the premises temporarily.
However, the available public libraries lack the attributes which they are supposed to possess. For instance, there is a public library within a new complex inaugurated recently by the Orile Agege Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. It is meant to serve residents within the council area and its environs.
The library can accommodate 42 users. One challenge it faces is that there are no books there. Even though there are vacant book shelves placed within it. Every user is expected to bring along his or her reading materials. In fact, one may not be allowed to enter the library after failing to show the books one intends to read there.
Besides, there is a register for users to fill in their names, time of arrival and departure.
One of the users, Segun Akintade, said the library has been assisting many scholars in the area since its inauguration. He added that because the authorities expect users to come with their books, some people could find it unappealing.
Akintade said, “I go there anytime I have something important to read. Though it is not much of a public library in the real sense of it, I find it heart-warming that an LCDA can think of such initiative in a society where corruption is the order of the day. I think the council should examine the area of lack of books because a library should make books available to users. Residents who desire a place to study will find the place enjoyable.’’
But Anifatu Adebisi, who said she was told about the public library by a friend who used it twice, said it was unthinkable to imagine a library without books.
She stated that it would be a wise thing for the council to appeal to well-meaning individuals to donate books rather than urging users to come with their own books.
“There is nothing wrong with asking people to bring books to a library but there should be at least some books which can be read if one is not allowed to borrow them. This is the reason why it is called public library,” she added.
The public library in Agege local government still functions. The administration of Enoch Ajiboso renovated it with the current administration continuing its maintenance. Unlike the one in Orile Agege, this ‘old’ library boasts of books even though they are out-dated. Time of opening is 8am while it closes 4pm. It opens Monday to Friday except on public holidays.
Users also come with their reading materials. Each library user is expected to register with N100 for a period of three months. This means each user pays N400 per year. In the library which can accommodate over 50 users there are no Internet facility and other things to aid research.
A user, Etuk Akpan, said he enjoys using the library because of what he described as its calmness. He explained that depending on the scenario, there is possibility of enjoying one’s reading.
Akpan said, “I like reading in the library but it is not that I cannot go somewhere else if I have another option. There is no library in Ojodu where I live. I always enjoy reading in Agege library because it is calm, but it can be noisy sometimes depending on the time of the day and the users one sits with. The books there are out-dated but that is not to say one cannot find something interesting in them.’’
SUNDAY PUNCH gathered from a worker who refused to be named that the registration fee was meant for logistic purposes.
In Ikeja Local Government Area, there is no public library even though the council has an education unit. Some of the employees expressed surprise when our correspondent asked to be directed to a public library run by the local government.
A senior worker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the advent of Internet, lack of interest in such facility by the reading populace, including space constraint, could be responsible for the development.
A postgraduate student in one of the nation’s federal universities, Miss Tinuade Adedoye, said since school libraries hardly provide students with needed recommended materials, public libraries would not offer anything better.
“When texts are recommended, one can hardly find them in school libraries. Why would one venture into town to look for them? I have not bothered to use any public library before and do they exist anyway? If a university does not have a good library, is it the one for public that will offer something good?” Adedoye stated.
Also, a computer scientist, Olumide Omomowo, described some of the public libraries as crap. Stating that he used a public library once, Omomowo said available ones lack books, good chairs and basic facility such as Internet.
He also said they should not be referred to as libraries but reading rooms or study centres.
Commenting on the issue, a visiting research Professor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Femi Osofisan, said public libraries are essential facilities in any country that desire to develop.
Osofisan who before his retirement was a lecturer in the University of Ibadan noted that as a great advocate of public libraries, he would want such libraries to be established in every local government in the country for people to study.
He said, “Apart from libraries, there should be a community hall that offers a lot of things where people such as scholars, artists and writers can go to for recreation. The libraries can also organise debates and readings. But our priority now is money. And we are inaugurating places where people go to atone for their sins not to worship but to clear their conscience.’’
On his part, a senior lecturer in the Department of English, OAU, Mr. Chijioke Uwasomba, stated that public libraries cannot be substituted for the Internet and other social media networks.
Uwasomba added that as a conservation institution, public libraries should be sustained.
The lecturer stated, “In a country like Nigeria where corruption is the order of the day, those in leadership positions invest in things that do not have positive impact on the populace.’’
According to him, those involved in book activism should urge government at all levels to invest in public libraries.
GBENGA ADENIJI
