𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮!

• 𝘽𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙎𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙚 𝙖 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮!

School library is found in primary and post-primary institutions where educational services are offered to patrons of the library. It is the heart and soul of the educational system, thus, the role of a school library in any school in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized as the library provides the necessary impetus to all categories of learners in schools from the slowest learner in kindergarten to the most intelligent senior in the secondary school through the provision of print and non-print materials to aid learning.

The school library, therefore, complements the school by encouraging private study, which is required by students and teachers who want to attain academic height. The school library thus stands as a symbol for the truthful expression of man’s knowledge and experiences. The extent to which many young people will be creative, informed, knowledgeable, and exhibit the trait of a well-cultured individual within their years will be shaped by the boundaries of the content of the library resources within the support of the school. The school on its own cannot achieve the laudable goals of Nigerian education without the library.

Indeed, the school library is integral to the educational process. Encouraged at the right age, the children are sure to develop a love for books. “Catch them young” is therefore the motto of the school libraries. According to IFLA/UNESCO School Library Manifesto, “the school library provides information and ideas that are fundamental to functioning successfully in today’s information and knowledge-based society. The school library equips students with life-long learning skills and develops the imagination, enabling them to live as responsible citizens”.

School libraries function as central locations for all of the information available, and a school librarian functions as the literary map of the resources and materials found within the library.

School libraries’ media centers in the 24 century can and should be, hubs for increased student achievement and positive focus.

OBJECTIVES OF SCHOOL LIBRARY:

School library serves intended purposes which are aimed at academic excellence. Oguntimehin and Adeyemi (2004), gave the following purpose/objective of the school library:

1. Support the teaching program of the school

2. Guide students on the choice of relevant materials for the study

3. Provision of materials and resources to enhance academic growth and development

4. Assist the pupils to develop skills in the use of books and libraries

5. Acquire the relevant books and non-books materials to meet the requirements of the school curriculum.

It can be deduced from the above that the school library is of paramount importance. It helps to guide the students in all areas of their academic endeavour, inculcate in them the desired reading culture before graduating from high school and also provide appropriate materials to supplement classroom teaching.

Sadly, It is rather unfortunate that school library provision in Nigeria is an area that has suffered neglect for decades. To date, there are no concrete measures to develop this type of library. The situation is so pathetic that many schools at the primary and secondary levels who ought to benefit from functional library support to promote their teaching and learning activities, do not have even semblances of a standard school library. A visit to most of the schools will show a complete absence of this vital facility. The majority of the books have obsolete contents and they appear dilapidated.

The school library or school library center media is a gateway to knowledge, it plays an important role in building up a love for reading. If we must encourage reading habits among students, we must begin by rebuilding the school libraries. For it is said, children who use the library perform better in school and are more likely to continue to use the library for lifelong learning. Again, books represent the best of our collective thinking. Hence, when we deny children the opportunity to read and debate the ideas contained in books, we deny ourselves a thoughtful society.

Build school libraries, and raise a thinking society!