The Seen and Unseen Benefits of Art Works in Academic Libraries: The Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Perspective

Abstract

This study was undertaken to draw attention to the scholarship and research potentials of work of arts and to make academic librarians aware of the usefulness of non-printed materials in their endeavour. In most academic libraries, the value of work of arts as primary source research materials has been generally overlooked and undermined by many users. Some academic librarians have not even considered the inclusion of these vital library resources in their collections. The problem could stem from paucity of materials or lack of funds to purchase them. At the Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library, Ile-Ife, there are quite a number of these collections of work of arts found all around the library reading areas. These works of arts appended to this opinion paper include factors such as: revelations on culture; aesthetics; leisure; recreation; history; economy; communication; social values and so on. This article therefore x-rayed and featured some of these desirable works of arts in libraries so as to justify their inclusion in academic libraries. The need for academic librarians to recognise and add the resources to library collections especially in this era of Resource Description and Access was also discussed. It was recommended that work of arts in academic libraries should be considered as a desirable part of library collection to create awareness, have them displayed at the public areas, corridors, reading rooms, art museums and galleries for proper access to visual information. This would not only showcase the library resources, beautiful the library environment, it would equally add value to the library and keep academic libraries always inviting.