OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

ILA-ORANGUN

ONDO STUDY CENTRE

COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY STUDIES

COURSE CODE: GSE112

LECTURER
AKARIGBO S.D.
 INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY STUDIES
• Objectives and functions of the library.
• History of library.
• Types of libraries.
• Organizational structure of the library.
• Collection development II: Acquisition and Distribution.
• Readers services.
• The nature and use of serials.
• Bibliography.
• Cataloguing and classification.
• Use and care of the library and materials.
• Library Automation.

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 INTRODUCTION

The activities of man on earth are written or documented as a way

of keeping records that can serve as reference points for future
generations. These activities which can be recorded in books or
other materials are kept in a place called LIBRARY for general use
and consultation.
The fundamental principle behind the setting up of libraries is to
ensure that materials containing the history of man's activities on
earth a properly secured for reference purposes. Through libraries,
men communicate their views, visions and experiences from
generation to generation. The world book encyclopaedia (2005),
the library is part and parcel of educational institutions, tertiary
institutions therefore, place high premium on library development.
What is a library?
The term “library” comes from the Latin word “liber” which means
book. Imam (2005) defined library "as not just institution, buildings,
store houses or warehouses of materials but agents of educational,
social, economic and political changes in the community.
Encyclopaedia Americana (2006) described library as a body of
recorded information brought together for a purpose, principally
organized for use and made available to clientele (Library users). It is
a room meant for different information materials (both printed and
non-printed) which are needed by library users. Popoola (2006) saw
or viewed library as a place entrusted with the acquisition,
organization, preservation, storage, dissemination and retrieval of
needed in various formats such as newsletters, magazines,
newspapers, filmstrips, films, dictionary, references books (dictionary,
encyclopedia) etc. Those set of people who are in charge or
responsible for acquiring, organizing, storing and making available
this materials are called LIBRARIANS.

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 OBJECTIVES OF THE LIBRARY.
The following are some of the objectives of the library.
a. Provision of adequate, relevant and up-to-date library
resources materials to keep staff and students abreast of
events.
b. To determine the information needs of users through users
study.
c. To ensure that people are assisted to use materials well.
d. To preserve for future generation all information materials
stored in it.
e. To make the library resources available to meet the needs of
library users.
f. Enriching the curriculum.
g. To widening experiences and develop inquiry mind in students.

FUNCTIONS OF LIBRARY.

A. Development and collection of resources.

B. Organization of materials.
C. Services to users.
D. Administration.
E. Recreational role.
F. Economic role.
G. Information dissemination.
H. Promote independent learning.
I. Widening of horizon of learning.

A. Resources of collections development.

Development of resources or collections development
involves a process of building a library through the
gathering of books and other resource materials and
preserving them for the clientele. It involves the
collection of new books and remove the old ones from
the library. The functions of collections development
has four stages:
- selections of materials.

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 - Acquisition.
- Preservation of resources.
- Weeding of resources.

B. Organization of Materials:
This refers to the arrangement of books and other
materials I the library to enable uses make good use of
the materials.
C. Services to user: This is a major function of any library.
There are different types of services e.g., answering of
users, Library orientation, readership promotion
(encouraging people to make use of the library by
embarking on campaign to stimulate reading among
the people).
D. Administration: This involves overseeing all the
operations of department or sections in the library. It
also involves planning, budgeting, organizing,
promotion, discipline and welfare of the staff.
E. Economic role: the library provides for students who
cannot buy textbooks to have an opportunity to read
freely and has access to other relevant materials.
F. Recreational role: The library encourages recreational
activities such as d provision of Ayo, Ludo, Magazines,
Newspapers, Journals, Draught for the relaxation of its
clientele.
G. Information Dissemination: It is the duty all function of
the library to collect and organize relevant materials
and pass them today library users.
H. Independent Learners: the library allows learners library
users to learn individually and usually at their own pace
as against the group activities in the lecture room.
I. Widening Horizon of learning: The library often make
provision for a wide range of both old and current
materials on various

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Courses or subjects at the various levels of education, students are
exposed to a wide range of information thereby increasing their
knowledge and experience.
HISTORY OF LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA.
The first library was established by Tom Jones. This was established
as a subscription library in Lagos between 1910 and 1920. Another
one was established by Sir. Alan Burns also in Lagos in 1932. As a
subscription library, it means users were to pay certain amount of
money before they are allowed to use the place (Library).
In 1943, the British council visited Nigeria and another one was
established by the visitors. This, they latert transferred to the Lagos
town council in 1946 during the second world war, reading rooms
stocked with newspapers, journal, magazines and so on were made
available for people to read. This eventually paved way for the
establishment of library in Nigeria after seeing the need for its
existence.

TYPES OF LIBRARIES.
There are different types of libraries with different purposes or
categories of users. Classification of libraries depend on the person
and purposes for which the libraries were established. Libraries are in
other words, grouped according to the type of people they are
meant to serve. Generally speaking, there are six types of libraries
that I know.
(a) Academic Library (tertiary levels).
(b) National Library or Apex Library.
(c) Private Library.
(d) Public Library.
(e) Special Library.
(f) School Library.

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 (a) Academic Library: This means libraries found
in tertiary institutions such as Adeyemi
College of Education, University, Polytechnic
etc. Academic Library are established to
serve the library and information needs of
the learners and staff.
(b) National Library: These are types of libraries
established by the Federal Government of a
country whose main purpose is to collect
and preserve the country's cultural heritage
for future generation.
(c) Private Libraries: These are libraries owned by
a single individual. It can be owned buy a
family e.g. a library owned by a medial
personnel, a lawyer, a teacher, chief Gani
Fawehinmi, Akingbule library etc.
(d) Public Libraries: These are libraries owned
bye State Government using public funds. It
is a library meant for every individual, no
restriction to users. Examples of public
libraries are Ondo State library, Lagos State
public library, Osun State public Library etc.
(e) Special Libraries:

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