MODULE ONE

HISTORY, OBJECTIVES, FUNCTIONS AND TYPES OF LIBRARIES

By

HAYATUDEEN ADAMU
Department of Library and Information Sciences
Faculty of Education
Bayero University, Kano

hadamu.lis@buk.edu.ng and princehayatu@gmail.com

+23480 6287 0890
1.1 Introduction
The word library comes from liber, the Latin word for “book”. Libraries are collections of

books, manuscripts, journals, and other sources of recorded information. They commonly

include reference works, such as encyclopaedias that provide factual information and indexes

that help users find information in other sources; creative works, including poetry, novels,

short stories, music scores, and photographs; nonfiction, such as biographies, histories, and

other factual reports; and periodical publications, including magazines, scholarly journals,

and books published as part of a series. The contents of libraries are made available to people

for reading, study, or reference (Halsey, et. al; 2008).

People in many professions use library resources to assist them in their work. People also use

library resources to gain information about personal interests or to obtain recreational

materials such as films and novels. Students use libraries to supplement and enhance their

classroom experiences, to learn skills in locating sources of information, and to develop good

reading and study habits. The Use of Library Module in the General Studies Program (GSP)

have been designed to acquaint and familiarize all newly admitted students with

comprehensive details on the benefits of the library towards their academic pursuit, how to

search and retrieve information resources needed to support their academic research, and the

functions performed by the various sections, units, departments created to support teaching,

research and learning in the university library. As a newly admitted student in Bayero

University, you are expected to identify and apply from any among the numerous study skills

towards achieving your studying objectives; it is worthy to note that, just as individual

personality varies from one person to another, so also, the studying skill that best work for

one student might not necessarily work for another. However, irrespective of the type of

studying skills you choose to apply in your academic pursuit, there are similarities in the tools

to be applied in achieving this objectives i.e. the information resources and services found in

the library.
The central mission of a library is to collect, organize, preserve, and provide access to

information and knowledge. In fulfilling this mission, libraries preserve a valuable record of

culture that can be passed down to succeeding generations. A library therefore is an

information environment that provides and enhances personal development, and more so,

influence students’ overall academic achievement. Thus, the effective utilization of

information resources in the library is critical to students’ overall academic achievement. A

library is involved in the business of information management through the effective

organization and dissemination of information resources and services that best satisfies the

information needs of its clientele. For the effective provision of information services, a

library is expected to provide the right information at the right time and in the right form

(Herald cited in Dili, 2007). Libraries therefore are partners in progress in the achievement of

the learning and development objective of every student. A library can also be described as

an organized collection of information resources made accessible to a defined community for

reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital (electronic) access to material, and

may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both (Olanlokun & Salisu, 1988). A

library's collection can include books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps,

prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, videotapes, DVDs, Blu-ray Discs, e-books,

audio-books, databases, and other formats. Libraries range in size from a few shelves of

books to several million items.

1.2 Historical Development of Libraries:

Historically known as places to keep the business, legal, historical and religious records of a

civilization; libraries have emerged since the middle of the 20th century as a far-reaching

body of information resources and services that do not even require a building. As to when

libraries actually began have been an issue of debate long before now; while some writers

believe library is as old as man himself and of which they based their argument on the fact

that the sole function of a library is simply that of information management and ensuring it
availability for use as at when needed. Hence, they hold the opinion that, the creation of man

marked the beginning of information and by extension, the generation, storage and it

subsequent dissemination in whatever format that was available to man as at that time.

On the other hand, others based their argument on believe that the invention of the art of

writing actually marked the beginning of libraries. This they attributed to the singular fact

that libraries never became prominent until the need to keep for reference and posterity

purpose, the records and information of the activities of man. The coming of writing made it

possible to develop different tools upon which the manifestation of writing were made;

notably among them were the writings made on bark of trees, wall of caves, stones,

parchments and vellums; clay tablets, papyrus, paper and up to the present age of electronic

information resources.

a. The First Libraries

In earliest times there was no distinction between a record room (or archive) and a library,

and in this sense libraries can be said to have existed for almost as long as records have been

kept. The Sumerians, an ancient Mesopotamian civilization, collected written records of legal

contracts, tax assessments, and bills of sale. They recorded these documents in cuneiform, a

system of writing in which scribes (writers or copiers) cut wedges of varying size, shape, and

depth into damp clay tablets.

b. Libraries in Greece and Alexandria

Ancient Greece and Alexandria (present day Egypt) was the first known civilization to

establish libraries for use by the popular classes as well as for members of the ruling elite. In

the 500s bc Pisistratus, who ruled Athens, and Polycrates, the ruler of Sámos, both began

constructing what could be considered public libraries. Most people still could not read,

however, so in practice these libraries served only a small percentage of the total population.
In addition to the government-owned libraries, wealthy Greeks and members of the

professional class established private libraries, as well as specialized libraries in medicine,

philosophy, and other disciplines. The philosopher Aristotle had an extensive library that

scholars consulted, although historians have found no actual listing of the titles in his

collection. Greek scholars Euripides, Plato, Thucydides, and Herodotus also owned

significant personal libraries (Kent, et. al. 1968)

c. The Libraries of Pergamum

For hundreds of years the only library to rival the library of Alexandria in the size and scope

of its collection was the library in the kingdom of Pergamum, in western Asia Minor (now

Turkey). Archaeological research indicates that the Pergamum library contained as many as

160,000 scrolls, and like the Alexandrian library it had a catalogue to simplify access to the

collections. The library was founded by Attalus I, who reigned from 241 to 197 bc. His son,

Eumenes II, who reigned from 197 to about 160 bc, significantly expanded the library.

d. Islamic Libraries

In the Middle East, followers of the prophet Muhammad (SAW) compiled written records of

his teachings and revelations, and transcribed them onto papyrus codices a few years after his

death in ad 632. These manuscripts became known as the Qur’an (Koran) and the Hadith, and

they quickly became the centrepieces of the Islamic religion. Muslims (followers of Islam)

were encouraged to read the Qur’an regularly and to memorize substantial portions of the

text. As Islam spread throughout the Middle East in subsequent centuries, Muslims

established libraries (also known as maktabat, madrassas, or schools) of sacred writings in

their mosques.
1.3 Objectives and Functions of Libraries

Just like every organization, libraries have set objectives designed for them to achieve. These

objectives are determined by the nature of activities carried out by libraries in satisfying the

information need of the users it serve. The main objectives of libraries are as follows:

 To provide information resources

 To provide information services

 To provide conducive environment for reading and research

There are several types of libraries within the Nigerian society vis-à-vis Special Library,

School Library, National Library, Public Library, Private Library and the Academic library.

In a bid to achieve the objective of the parent organization that finances the activities of a

particular library, they are expected to perform certain functions. Although the functions may

vary from one type of library to another, there are certain key functions uniform to all the

types of libraries in the Nigerian society. Therefore, irrespective of the individual function

specific to the individual types of libraries, the following functions are generally performed

by all libraries:

i. Identification and Selection of Information Resources:

ii. Acquisition of the Selected Resources:
o Purchase:
o Exchange
o Gift
o Donation
o Legal Deposit
o Bequest
iii. Organisation of Information Resources:
iv. Storage and Preservation of Information Resources:
v. Dissemination of Resources and Services

2.0 Types of Libraries in the Nigerian Society

Long before the coming of the colonialist to the shores of Africa, certain people of different

ethnic and cultural background existed in different geographical areas of the then Niger area

that was to be later renamed as Nigeria by Mrs Flora Shaw (she later became the wife of the
then Governor General – Sir Lord Lugard). There existed a means for the generation, storage

and transmission of information among the people of that time referred to as Oral Tradition.

Oral tradition implies the process through which information is generated and transferred

from one generation to another through the word of mouth.

In identifying and describing libraries, certain factors such as the following need to be taken

into consideration:

 The pattern of services rendered

 The nature of their collections

 The users
In line with the above features, the major types of libraries in the Nigeria society are as
follows:

 Special Libraries

 Public Libraries

 National Libraries

 School Libraries

 Private Libraries

 Academic Libraries

3.0 University Library System

Universities in Nigeria in the world over are engines of growth and development. They are

increasingly recognized to have a broader role in the social, economic, technological and

manpower development of a nation. In fact, universities serve as the main source of supply of

skilled manpower needed in the various sectors of the nation. Popularly referred to as

Academic Libraries the evolution of university libraries in Nigeria can be linked to the

history of higher education in Nigeria for there can be no institution of higher learning

without a library
3.1 Organization of University Libraries in Nigeria

University libraries are usually divided into units and department in order to allow for

decentralization of leadership and most importantly, for the effective provision of services.

These units/departments are usually created to perform different functions that are geared

towards the achievement of the greater objectives of the library. Below are the typical

Departments found in an academic library:-

i. Circulation Section
ii. Reference Section
iii. Serial Section
iv. E-library Section
v. Special Needs Section
vi. Collection Development Section
vii. Reserve Section
viii. Reprographic Section

Conclusion

Libraries as institution for the development and advancement of the human minds are built

and well furnished with the requisite staff and information resources in different for the

satisfaction of its users information needs. Students are therefore encouraged to patronize and

make useful use of the resources of libraries at any time and from anywhere irrespective of

their location. While library resources can be found online through the internet, other library

resources and services are available offline through visiting the libraries and seeking the help

of professional library personnel who are always willing and happy to serve your need.

Conclusively, students are encouraged to handle library resources and facilities with absolute

care without subjecting them to mutilation and theft.

Practice Questions

At the completion of this module, students should be able to attempt the following questions:

1. Define the concept library and identify the functions of a library in supporting
teaching, learning and research in a university.

2. Describe any of the various types of libraries found in the ancient period

3. What is the contribution of Islam towards the development of libraries?

4. Identify and discuss the ways through which library resources can be acquired

5. With reference to any library of your choice, list and discuss any five functions of the
library

6. Cataloguing and Classification forms a part of the function of library organization.

Discuss

7. Identify and discuss any three of the ancient libraries you know

8. Identify and discuss any four of the types of libraries found in the Nigerian society

9. Academic libraries are regarded as the heart of every higher institution of learning,

a. What is an academic library?

b. Identify and discuss the function of section/departments found in academic

libraries

10. What are the differences between the circulation section and the reference section
found in a typical academic library?