A STUDY OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN KOGI STATE AND ASSESSMENT OF SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OKENE

A STUDY OF THE FACTORS AFFECTING THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES IN KOGI STATE AND ASSESSMENT OF SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL IN OKENE

ABSTRACT

The study examined the factors affecting the development of school libraries in okene local government area of kogi state. With particular emphasis to kogi state school libraries used as case study, the study adopted a descriptive survey design, the population of the study was nine (9) schools, from which a sample of four (4) schools were selected using random technique. Data were analysed using frequency distribution and percentage. The findings revealed the factors affecting the development of school libraries in okene local government area of kogi state. Recommendations were made to improve the service of the development of school libraries.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background

School libraries are libraries located in primary, secondary schools mostly by the authorities of the schools to serve the pupils/students, the teachers and other staff members of the schools. The Roman Catholic mission opened schools in Benin City in the 15^thcentury and in Warri from about 1570.

The catholic missionary society opened their first primary school in Nigeria at Badagry in 1847. More primary, secondary schools, trades and teachers colleges were established by various missionary societies between 1842 and 1900 before formal students were established. Neither the missionary gave much thought to the provision of libraries in the primary schools. But the scheme was short lived to lack of finance, statutory backing and a coordinating authority.

Beside there was teachers/librarians to organize them and in most cases the books were not suitable for the pupils. Subsequently, when the same government launched its free primary education programme in 1955, no provision was made for schools libraries. The eastern region opened a school library service board from 1955.

However, the service was restricted to secondary schools. In the same way the northern region library service developed books boxes scheme by which books were sent to secondary schools on regular bases in the period of 1952-1962. The provision of libraries for secondary schools usually differs from that of primary schools. The secondary schools usually have collection of books which were either bought or were denoted by friends and charity organization from her missions. The provision of libraries in government schools was, however, better. We have seen that the government began to established secondary schools in 1909 and other places. A common feature of these government colleges was that there are good libraries.

In the words of Achebe, the government secondary schools in Nigeria were “those rare schools which the colonial administration built and endowed lavishly” he added that their most valuable asset was books (libraries). They had teachers/librarians whose duties include maintaining the collections. By a way of contrast, he noted that in private schools, the library consisted a duty cupboard containing on copy of a novel entitle the sorrows of Satan “ a copy of the bible and some copies of the adventures of Tarzan the situation in most secondary schools today is very similar to the above observation.” In august 1963, the Midwestern region was created out of western region.

It was subserviently renamed Midwest state then Bendel state which was now changed to Edo state. It establishes a dynamic school library service in 1972 which the words of morka who was of the Midwest became the pride of all educationists, pupils and librarians are example to government all over the world and envy to completing government 1969, Gunto Folcroft of the British council prepared a report on the library needs of the state Professor Ohn and Priscilla Harris surveyed the library requirements of the state in 1970. In other report they noted the absence of school libraries and recommended the establishment of school library division in the then proposed Midwest state library services. Obtaining books easily and cheaply was established as a central school libraries and interested public. It deals directly with publishers in Nigeria and overseas was passed into the schools and other customers.

Morka has written that “with the active cooperation of the ministry of education, principals of schools deposited the library levies of two naira s(N2.00) per student which would have been used to sustain the service was abolished due to the free nature of the policy of education.

Morka demarked that school libraries in spite of their current neglect have right prospects in Nigeria. Educational planners both at the national and state levels recognize the need for librarians and the federal government has put out a new policy on education in which it aims to provide libraries in all the primary and secondary schools. Provision of school libraries are made in various sub-section in the new national on education especially in section 3 sub section 152 (i) on primary schools libraries especially. Libraries are one of most important educating source every state ministry of education need to provide funds for establishment of libraries in our educational institute and their library assistance for top service.

The significant role that education plays in social, political, and economic development is now widely accepted in most developing countries, where as the importance of school library as an interpret part of educational planning is less widely recognized so for only a lip service is carried out in libraries from a visit of some secondary schools in Zaria, Kaduna state and Okene local government of kogi state in particular, few schools can be least of effective schools library due to inadequate of the resources and service for the users. These therefore are some of the problems areas in which research needs to be conducted in other to identify and find lasting solutions to the factors affecting the development of school libraries in other to identify and find lasting solutions to the factors affecting the local government areas.

The ugly trend need to be addressed of school libraries to play their effective role as an integral part of the whole education processes aspect out by the national policy on education(1981)

1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

                 In recent times, studies have been made properly to know the factors affecting the development of school libraries in Nigeria. Especially in okene local government lack of the exercises has been attributed to complexity that ensured the collection of reliable data on the current development   of factors affecting school libraries, which change rapidly. It is of vital importance that the project examines the factors affecting school libraries in okene local government area of kogi state and in order to determine possible solution to it.

1.3   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1.     What are the qualifications of those working in the school library?

2.     Is the school library effective for student performance?

iii. What are the benefit and development of the school libraries?

1.     What are the factors affecting the development of the school library.

1.4   RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

1.     To determine the school workers qualification.

2.     To analyze types of developing resources in the school library.

iii. To review the impact of developing resources in student school performance.

1.     To highlight the obstacle against the effective use of the school libraries.

1.5   SIGNIFICANT OF THE STUDY

The project is significant in the following ways.

1.     The study will add to the literature in the field library and information technology.

2.     It will serve to introduce the ways of using school libraries.

iii. The study will be used as teaching aid for teachers and students where necessary.

1.     The study will promote the development of the school libraries within and outside the population of the study area.

2.     The study will equally assist the management and administration of the school libraries where applicable.

1.6   SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

        The study investigates the causes of poor library services in selected secondary schools in Okene local government area of Kogi state. Therefore excluding similar topics within and outside the jurisdiction of other type of libraries.

1.7   OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

1.     DEVELOPMENT: – the progress in the service and modern facilities in the school libraries.

2.     FACTOR: – in this study is taken to be the constituent or element that brings about certain affective for the poor library service in some school in Okene local government area of kogi state.

iii. LIBRARY: – a room or building were collection of books, records and films for borrowing or research to a public or student for reference are kept for use.

1.     SCHOOL: – is an institution designed for the teaching of student for pupils under the direction of the teachers.

2.     SCHOOL LIBRARY: – are the libraries established in the primary and secondary schools mostly by the authorities of the schools to serve the pupils, student and teachers of the school.