The place of academic libraries in Nigerian University Education: contributing to the 'Education for All' initiative.

Abstract

Considering the crucial role of academic libraries in the educational system of any institution, this research paper looked into the place of academic libraries in university education in Nigeria with regards to their strategic contribution to the Nigeria’s ‘Education for All’ initiative. The objectives of the study were to find out the different services offered by the university library in support of university education; library and information resources provided by the libraries; factors that pose problems to these libraries; and strategies for enhancing these library and information services. In the descriptive survey, about 132 librarians in seven university libraries – three federal and four state universities in the South-east Nigeria were used for the study. Multiple choice questionnaires was used to collect data. 122 copies of the questionnaire were correctly filled, returned and used for analysis. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages and presented in tables. Findings showed that most of the university libraries provided a variety of services – reference, internet, interlibrary loans in support of university education; a variety of library and information resources – textbooks, newspapers and magazines and others. Findings further showed that factors like poor funding, poor infrastructure and low level of computer literacy amongst librarians etc. posed problems while strategies like adequate funding of the libraries, training of librarians in electronic skills and improved infrastructural facilities could alleviate these problems and enhance these libraries support for the target – Education for All.