REDIFINING THE ROLES AND OBJECTIVES OF ACADEMIC LIBRARY IN THE 21ST CENTURY (A CASE STUDY OF DR ALIYU OBAJE'S LIBRARY, KOGI STATE)

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

As technology continue to grow, the roles and objective of library continue to change to meet with the newly found technology. In Nigeria today, the use of library has really increased overtime. The role and objectives of library as a resource center for information provision in this time of information, communication and technology (ICT) has been an issue of discuss. May be this was what lead to the UNESCO/CONFINTEA meeting held in Hamburg in 1997for a declaration and to adopt a kind of mandate that UNESCO should strengthen libraries, museums heritage and all cultural institution as learning places and partner in a forever learning process and modern citizenship.

According to Haggstron (2004) stated that the library, the local gateway to knowledge provided unique basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision making, cultural development of individual and social group.

This declaration held in Hamburg became a starting point for the project “the role of library in lifelong learning” in the year 2000 and ended by the IFLA Berlin conference in the year 2003. The overall goal of every institution is to achieve set goals and objectives; the satisfaction gained from the services and activities of these institutions will give credence to those behind the achievement of these goals and objectives and clearly testify the various strategies used to achieve the objectives. The role played by library in the lives of people is never in doubt as most people were in affirmative to having achieved success in their career as a result of the significant impact of the use of library on them.

It is evident that many attributed the advent of ICT as threat reduced the use and importance of the librtary, its resources, personnel patronage.

According to Lichterman (2011) stated that the internet has radically altered the way people interact with information and redefined the library’s place in academia and society.

This issue has brought so many argument and debate on the roles and importance of library. Libraries all over the world always serve their parent institutions. Despite its location and type, their roles and objective remain the same to select information resources in two ways; the print and electronic format to acquire, organize and to disseminate the resources to the immediate users and those beyond, it also educate users on how to use the library resources.

The use of library is bound to re-strategize and maybe change their method of service delivery until users are satisfied with the resources and the manner in which it was presented.

According to (IFLA, EIFL, ICA and German Library Association, 2012) stated that libraries also extend her services to the incarcerated people so as to impact their lives, such services are a core part of library’s goal and objectives, the “institutional obligations” to serve all member of our particular constituencies.

According to webb (n.d) stated that such services keeps library as a key player to impact people’s lives through service delivery and the provision of information.

Halder (2009) in his works strongly affirms that with the development and application of information and communication technology (ICTs), the library environment has shifted from traditional library to hybrid library from hybrid to automated library and then digital and virtual library. Presently it has shifted to library 2.0. Academic libraries across the world are now installing servers, creating repositories and databases to deliver high quality digital content, e-resources and research output in the world. As technology continues to evolve, the roles and objectives of the academic library continue to change. It is to this regard that the researcher wishes to use the Draliyuobaje's library, kogi state as the case study.

1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

What really instigated the research on redefining the roles and objectives of academic library in the 21st century is the continuous change in information and communication technology all over the world. Students, researchers and individual over the world can now have access to books online at the comfort of their homes instead of going to the library to source for materials. Secondly Draliyuobaje's library is not properly funded, most of the books in the library are too old. According to Halder (2009) in his works strongly affirms that with the development and application of information and communication technology (ICTs), the library environment has shifted from traditional library to hybrid library from hybrid to automated library and then digital and virtual library. The library failed to meet up with the standard of today’s technology, this calls for the redefinition of the role and objectives of library in Kogi state so as to encourage users’ patronage.

1.3 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY

The main aim of the research work is to redefine the roles and objectives of academic library in the 21st century. The specific objectives of the research work are stated below as follows:

1. To examine the effect of ICT on the performance of library
2. To examine the effect of the redefinition of roles and objectives of the library on the users perception
3. To examine the effect of digitalization of library on its resources, personnel patronage.
4. To investigate on the factors affecting the objectives ofDraliyuobaje's library
5. To examine the relationship between ICT and the objectives of library
6. To proffer solution to the challenges facing the objectives and the use of library

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTION

The study came up with the following research questions in order to ascertain the above objectives:

1. What is the effect of ICT on the performance of library?
2. What is the effect of the redefinition of roles and objectives of the library on the user’s perception?
3. What is the effect of digitalization of library on its resources, personnel patronage?
4. What are the factors affecting the objectives ofDraliyuobaje's library?
5. Is there any relationship between ICT and the objectives of library?
6. What are the challenges facing the objectives and the use of library?

1.5 STATEMENT OF RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: the redefinition of the roles and objectives of academic library has no significant effect on the users’ perception

H1: the redefinition of the roles and objectives of academic library has no significant effect on the users’ perception

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study redefining the roles and objectives of academic library in the 21st century will be of immense benefit to the entire residence of Kogi state, Kogi state university, the state and the local government; it will also be of great help to students and other researcher to gain full understanding on the roles and objectives of academic library and to aid research process on similar topic.

1.7 SCOPE OF STUDY

The study redefining the roles and objectives of academic library in the 21st century is limited to Draliyuobaje's library and the entire Kogi state of Nigeria.

1.8 LIMITATIONS OF STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work

1.9 DEFINITION OF TERMS

ICT:information and communications technology - or technologies) is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications

LIBRARY:a building or room containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution