The role of the library in contemporary society accords with the

daffnirion of the UNESCO Public Library Manifesto, which declares that

"the public library is the local gateway to knowledge, and provides a

basic condition for lifelong learning, independent decision-making and

cultural development of the individual andsocial groups" (UNESCo,

2004)The library could be regarded as

as an agent of social

communication. Communication takes place within and between

individuals and among members of a family or society. In every

communication, there must be a carrier/medium. The book is one such

media. Our complex communication system today depends upon many

instrumentalities of which the library is one. The library liaises between

individuals and institutions which create or build knowledge and convey

the documents which carry this knowledge to users. Like all other social

agencies involved in documentation and communication, the library is

shaped and reshaped according to social necessities. Thus we have

different kinds of libraries meeting different needs for different people at

different times.

Education Role

The Library has always had education as one of its earliest and cardinal

functions. Some authorities refer to the library as ´nest in which scholars

are hatched'. The educational function of the library can be seen from

the way the use of library emerged into are birth of learning or a period

in history called renaissance. This was a period after the dark ages. The

education role of the library is inherent in its role as a disseminator of

knowledge. The educational role of library in contemporary society has

expanded in different ways. Libraries have proven to be strong support of

all educational institutions from the least to the highest level. It is also a

great support to self-education, adult and formal education, sandwich,

part-time and distance education.