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Lecture note for EDIT 411
Electrical power (ECE 561)
Kwara State University
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EDIT 411 NOTE: INTRODUCTION TO LIBRARY STUDIES
WEEK 1: OVERVIEW OF LIBRARIES
What is a library?
The term library can be defined in many ways.
To a lay man, the word library refers to a building on which books (used
and unused) are kept to prevent them from being stolen or destroyed by
insects, rodents, water or fire.
However, the word means more than this. The library is more than just a
building.
Now to go into the deeper meaning of library, let’s look at the origin of
the meaning of the word.
It has been traced to the Latin word ‘liber’ meaning books.
On that basis, early professionals in Library and Infor Science defined
library as a place where important records of human ideas were
organised processed and disseminated to users for the purpose of
posterity and preservation from human and non-human damages.
Aside of this, there are many other definitions of library – Olanipekun
and Ifabiyi (2003) considered library as collection of information
materials such as books, films, magazines, maps, manuscripts,
phonographs, records, etc for use.
It is an organisation of one or more trained people who carefully select
and organise books, periodicals and other familiar materials for the use
of those who require the materials for information and knowledge
acquisition.
This definition emphasises the following:
1. the presence of librarians to select, process, and manage the entire
library collections.
2. library is not just a place where books are dumped on the tables and
shelves
3. library materials have to be organised in a manner that enables their
users to have easy access to the resources.
To play its natural role of knowledge dissemination, the library assumes
the following vital responsibilities:
1. Library as a resource/information centre
2. Library as a store house of information
3. Library as a house of collections.
A library is a collection of materials organised for use. Therefore, the
library must perform a number of functions, including:
Acquisition selecting and ordering or otherwise acquiring materials for
the collection;
Preservation maintenance and processing as well as storage of items in
the collection;
Organisation retrieval of materials in the collection, including the
selection of a relevant loan system and a relevant classification scheme;
Dissemination of information informing users of the potential and
scope of the collection.
WEEK 2: BRIEF HISTORY OF LIBRARY
The first libraries were only partly libraries, being composed for the mostpart of unpublished records, which are usually viewed as archives, not libraries. Archaeological findings from the ancient city-states of Sumer have revealed temple rooms full of clay tablets in cuneiform script. These archives were made up almost completely of the records of commercial transactions or inventories, with only a few documents touching theological matters, historical records or legends. Things were much the same in the government and temple records on papyrus of
Ancient Egypt The earliest discovered private archives were kept at Ugarit; besides correspondence and inventories, texts of myths may have been standardized practice-texts for teaching new scribes. Private or personal libraries made up of non-fiction and fiction books (as opposed to the state or institutional records kept in archives) first appeared in classical Greece. The first ones appeared some time near the 5th century BC. The celebrated book collectors of Hellenistic Antiquity were listed in the late second century in Deipnosophistae: [1]
Polycrates of Samos and Pisistratus who was tyrant of Athens, and Euclideswho was himself also an Athenian[2] and Nicorrates of Samos and even the kings of Pergamos, and Euripides the poet and Aristotle the philosopher, and Nelius his librarian; from whom they say our countryman[3] Ptolemæus, surnamedPhiladelphus, bought them all, and transported them, with all those which he had collected at Athens and at Rhodes to his own beautiful Alexandria.[4] All these libraries were Greek; the cultivated Hellenized diners in Deipnosophistae pass over the libraries of Rome in silence. At the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum, apparently the villa of Caesar's father-in-law, the Greek library has been partly preserved in volcanic ash; archaeologists speculate that a Latin library, kept separate from the Greek one, may await discovery at the site. Libraries were filled with parchment scrolls as at Pergamum and on papyrusscrolls as at Alexandria: export of prepared writing materials was a staple of commerce. There were a few institutional or royal libraries like the Library ofAlexandria which were open to an educated public, but on the whole collections were private. In those rare cases where it was possible for a scholar to consult library books there seems to have been no direct access to the stacks. In all recorded cases the books were kept in a relatively small room where the staff went to get them for the readers, who had to consult them in an adjoining hall or covered walkway.
Little is known about early Chinese libraries, save what is written about the imperial library which began with the Qin Dynasty. One of the curators of the imperial library in the Han Dynasty is believed to have been the first to establish a library classification system and the first book notation system. At this time the library catalog was written on scrolls of fine silk and stored in silk bags. There is also evidence of those libraries at Nippur of about 1900 B. and those at Ninevehof about 700 B. as showing a library classification system.[5]
In Persia, many libraries were established by the Zoroastrian elite and the Persian Kings. Among the first ones was a royal library in Isfahan. One of the most important public libraries established around 667 AD in south-western Iran was the Library of Gundishapur. It was a part of a bigger scientific complex located at the Academy of Gundishapur. In the West, the first public libraries were established under the Roman Empire as each succeeding emperor strove to open one or many which outshone that of his predecessor.
Unlike the Greek libraries, readers had direct access to the scrolls, which were kept on shelves built into the walls of a large room. Reading or copying was normally done in the room itself. The surviving records give only a few instances of lending features. As a rule Roman public libraries were bilingual: they had a Latin room and a Greek room. Most of the large Roman baths were also cultural centers, built from the start with a library, with the usual two room arrangement for Greek and Latin texts.
In the sixth century, at the very close of the Classical period, the great libraries of the Mediterranean world remained those of Constantinople and Alexandria. Cassiodorus, minister to Theodoric, established a monastery at Vivarium in the heel of Italy with a library where he attempted to bring Greek learning to Latin readers and preserve texts both sacred and secular for future generations. As its unofficial librarian, Cassiodorus not only collected as many manuscripts as he could, he also wrote treatises aimed at instructing his monks in the proper uses of reading and methods for copying texts accurately. In the end, however, the library at Vivarium was dispersed and lost within a century.
Elsewhere in the Early Middle Ages, after the fall of the Western Roman Empire and before the rise of the large Western Christian monastery librariesbeginning at Montecassino, libraries were found in scattered places in the ChristianMiddle East. Upon the rise of Islam, libraries in newly Islamic lands knew a briefperiod of expansion in the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily and Spain. Like theChristian libraries, they mostly contained books which were made of paper, andtook a codex or modern form instead of scrolls; they could be found in mosques, private homes, and universities.
without a security deposit since according to their vow of poverty only the entire order could own property. In 1212 the council of Paris condemned those monasteries that still forbade loaning books, reminding them that lending is "one of the chief works of mercy." [7]
The earliest example in England of a library to be endowed for the benefit of users who were not members of an institution such as a cathedral or college was the Francis Trigge Chained Library in Grantham, Lincolnshire, established in 1598. The library still exists and can justifiably claim to be the forerunner of later public library systems. The early libraries located in monastic cloisters and associated with scriptoria were collections of lecterns with books chained to them. Shelves built above and between back-to-back lecterns were the beginning of book-presses.
The chain was attached at the fore-edge of a book rather than to its spine. Book presses came to be arranged in carrels (perpendicular to the walls and therefore to the windows) in order to maximize lighting, with low bookcases in front of the windows. This stall system (fixed bookcases perpendicular to exterior walls pierced by closely spaced windows) was characteristic of Englishinstitutional libraries. In Continental libraries, bookcases were arranged parallel to and against the walls. This wall system was first introduced on a large scale in Spain's El Escorial.
As books became more common, the need for chaining them lessened. But as the number of books in libraries increased, so did the need for compact storage and access with adequate lighting, giving birth to the stack system , which involved keeping a library's collection of books in a space separate from the reading room, an arrangement which arose in the 19th century. Book stacks quickly evolved into a fairly standard form in which the cast iron and steel frameworks supporting the bookshelves also supported the floors, which often were built of translucent blocks to permit the passage of light (but were not transparent, for reasons of modesty). With the introduction of electrical lighting, it had a huge impact on how the library operated.
Also, the use of glass floors was largely discontinued, though floors were still often composed of metal grating to allow air to circulate in multi-story stacks. Ultimately, even more space was needed, and a method of moving shelves on tracks (compact shelving) was introduced to cut down on otherwise wasted aisle space. Also, the governments of most major countries support national libraries. Three noteworthy examples are the U. Library of Congress, Canada's Libraryand Archives Canada, and the British Library. A typically broad sample of libraries in one state in the U. can be explored at Every Library in Illinois. Libraries almost invariably contain long aisles with rows and rows and rowsof books. Libraries have materials arranged in
aspecified order according to a library classification system, so that items may be located quickly and collections may be browsed efficiently. Some libraries have additional galleries beyond the public ones, where reference materials are stored. These reference stacks may be open to selected members of the public. Others require patrons to submit a "stack request," which is a request for an assistant to retrieve the material from the closed stacks.
LIBRARIES DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA
The foundation of modern libraries in Nigeria was laid in the 19 th
century by Europeans during the era of colonisation.
The earliest types of libraries were special libraries that the colonial
master established to support activities in government departments and
research institutes.
Examples
the law library which was established in 1900 to conserve legal
documents.
-Lagos medical Research Institute Library was established in 1909
to support research in tropical diseases.
Today, there different types of library– special, school, research libraries,
polytechnic, college of education and university libraries. These are
located in every nook and cranny of Nigeria.
CARNEGIE
Andrew Carnegie established more than 20 organizations in the U. and abroad dedicated to philanthropy, promoting international peace, rewarding selfless heroism and pursuing other goals aimed at improving people’s lives across the globe. To many however, his name is still synonymous with creating libraries. Beginning in 1886, Carnegie, and later Carnegie Corporation, in its early years, collectively spent $56 million to create 1,681 public libraries in nearly all U. communities and 828 libraries in other parts of the world.
Carnegie Corporation of New York, as it was later known, inherited its interest in libraries from its founder and president from its establishment in 1911 until 1919, the year of his death, and who initiated a library program at the foundation. During the early years, the program emphasized the construction of new library buildings across the country; between 1918 and 1925. Although the Corporation continued to make some grants for library development, its efforts were primarily devoted to appraisal and evaluation of its library program until then.
Beginning in 1926, the Corporation embarked on a large-scale expansion of its library-related efforts, aimed mainly at strengthening the library profession, but also at the enhancement of central services. For these programs, the Corporation spent an average of about $830,000 a year until 1941. Rural library services were greatly enhanced under Corporation grants in the 1920s and 1930s, especially in the South. As to academic libraries, between 1930 and 1943, the Corporation appropriated nearly $2 million to more than 200 liberal arts colleges in a series of grants for library development and services and for the purchase of books for undergraduate reading.
Although the Corporation’s charter permitted it to make grants in the countries that are now known as the former British Commonwealth, it did not extend its library interests, except for public library buildings, beyond the Western Hemisphere until 1928, when, coinciding with the Corporation’s initiation of grants to countries in Africa, it began promoting the concept of free library services in sub-Saharan Africa. The majority of Corporation funds went to the Central State Library of South Africa, which stimulated the development of free library services throughout the four provinces that made up the South Africa Union at that time. Substantial grants also went for the development of libraries and the purchase of books and training in Gambia, Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ugandaand other Commonwealth countries.
After World War II, grants for library purposes received a decreasing share of the Corporation’s funds, except in Africa. More emphasis was placed on grants for central services provided by the American Library Association, the Association of Research Libraries, the Library of Congress and other organizations and for new technologies and equipment aimed at facilitating library use. In the past 25 years, the Corporation has not had a program of support for domestic libraries, with the exception of a few grants for specific purposes. With the reassessment of Corporation strategies under its current president, Vartan Gregorian, who was previously president of the New York Public Library in the 1990s, the Corporation decided to reform its International Development Program and support the revitalization of universities and libraries in Africa.
The foundation’s most recent library-related efforts have focused on sub- Saharan Africa with the goal of developing national libraries, revitalizing selected public libraries and consolidating the development of university libraries in countries and institutions that have strategic intervention programs funded by the Corporation. “The public library revitalization program supports the development of selected public libraries in order to create ‘model centers of excellence’ that help their system lobby for greater resources and public support of library services”. Based on criteria such as relevance to the country and community, types of library services provided and strength of leadership, the Corporation, to date, has provided support to public library systems in Kenya, Botswana and South Africa.
In addition to its library program in Africa, the Corporation-while not maintaining a program of support for U. libraries-has continued to make special initiative grants to domestic public libraries in recent years. Some highlights include: in 1999, the Corporation awarded $15 million to promote literacy services to children and adolescents, preservation and special collections at The New York Public Library, Brooklyn Public Library, Queens Borough Public Library and libraries in 22 other cities serving large, culturally diverse populations. The grants commemorated the centennial period of Andrew Carnegie’s gifts to establish public libraries in New York City and more than 1,350 other communities across America. Almost all of the grant recipients were originally funded by Andrew Carnegie between 1899 and 1906. All were chosen according to the size and diversity of population served, geographic spread and/or historical relationship to Andrew Carnegie, according to Corporation president Vartan Gregorian.
In May 2003, the Corporation made a $4 million grant to support the book collection at The New York Public Library and at the Brooklyn and Queens libraries in memory of those who lost their lives on September 11th. It was
WEEK 5-6: Types and Functions of Library
As there are different types of library users, so also there are different
types of library to serve the diverse users.
Types of library include:
Academic Library
School Library
Public Library
Research Library
Special Library
Academic Library
An academic library is the one found in tertiary institutions of learning:
the university, polytechnic, college of education, college of agriculture,
etc.
Academic libraries usually acquire materials and design services to meet
the curriculum of their respective parent institutions.
Academic libraries differ from one institution to the other in terms of
users, materials and sundry considerations.
However, all academic libraries irrespective of their type of institution
perform similar functions.
Functions of Academic Libraries
1. Select and acquires books and materials through purchases, gifts,
exchanges, and legal deposits.
2. Prepares material for the use of students, lecturers, faculties, and
others who require them e. cataloguing, classification, filling,
stamping, pasting and lettering, etc.
3. Makes the materials easily accessible physically through the provision
of catalogues, indexes, bibliographies lists, etc.
4. Allow materials from the general collection and the reserve
collections to circulate among the users.
5. It offers reference services to the users.
6. It conducts user education and orientation activities for its users.
School Library
This is the library in the primary, secondary and equivalent school
environment.
The school library usually stocks collection of books and other materials
(e. globe, wall, charts, maps, atlases, and organises them in a spacious
rooms for the use of both teachers and students.
The school library provides relevant materials to enable students and
pupils improve on their academic standard.
It makes material available to compliment the teaching activities of
teachers and also to enhance the achievement of the general goals and
objectives of the school.
Part of the function of the public library is to promote mobile library
services for the people in the rural communities using mobile vehicles to
move library material to the people.
Preserves cultural monument and artefact, stocking people’s indigenous
literature and audio-visual material
Research Library
This is a type library that is found in the research institutes such as
ARMTI, FIIRO Lagos, IITA Ibadan and MILLS Ilorin, etc.
A research library is usually set up by the parent institute. It acquires the
resources that are meant to reflect the peculiar programme of the
institute. The primary users of such a library are patron of such institute.
Researchers who have particular interest in the subject field covered by
programme of the institute can also use the research library.
The library renders selective dissemination of information services to its
users.
It prepares readers profile and listing of specific subject that are of
interest to the users as new material comes into the library.
Special Library
This kind of library can be found in the school for the physically
challenged organisations, govt agencies and individuals.
It can be set up by business professionals and religious organisations,
with the purpose of serving the company or groups that established it.
The library keeps books in specialised disciplines.
The library keeps extensive file of unpublished research report, journals,
manuscripts, newspapers, and govt or cooperate reports.
Special libraries have staff with specialised training to be able to serve
specialised body of Users.
National Libraries
The main aim of a country’s national library is to preserve and safeguard
the national culture and heritage and fulfill the informational needs of its
society. National libraries perform the following functions:
• serve as a cultural storehouse by acquiring, preserving and
organising the literature produced by or about a nation in any form
(i. books, filmstrips, tapes, videocassettes, paintings, etc).
• accept legal deposits
• prepare and publish the national bibliography
• publish essential catalogues and indexes (including a national union
catalogue, or a list showing the location of materials housed in all
other libraries in the country)
• acquire selected foreign literature of special interest to the nation’s
citizens
• collect oral history, folklore, etc.
• establish and maintain branch libraries and bookmobile or ‘boat
mobile’ services to these branches, as necessary
• provide interlibrary loans and international exchange services
• provide exhibitions and display collections to cater to the
information, social and cultural needs throughout the country
• provide materials and facilities for the blind, physically challenged
and other interest groups.
Serials – Publication in any medium issued in successive parts bearing numerical
or chronological designations. They are divided into periodicals or non-
periodicals. Periodicals include journals and newspapers while non-periodicals
include conference proceedings, and monograph series. Periodical is intended to
appear regularly and more than once bi-annually, quarterly, termly, etc.
Non-periodical series are usually numbered or dated, they can also be published
either regularly or irregularly.
Ephemeral – these are materials such as brochures and programmes of events
during special occasions. Such materials are of historical, sociological or cultural
importance.
Government Publication – These are otherwise known as government documents,
official documents or official publications. The contain information on
development, civic responsibilities of state or individuals. May be divided into
three based on the three arms of government. These are Legislative /congressional
publications – by the legislative arm, Judicial publication by the judiciary arm and
the executive publication by the executive arm.
Rare books – this type of materials refers to any out of print books that is more
difficult to obtain than a work which is in print.
Dissertation/Thesis – these are reports of research findings of candidates for a
research degree. They show evidence of original work and could make a
substantial contribution to the primary literature. The main purpose of this
material is to allow the candidate to demonstrate his grasp on his or her subject and
research methods. The report of research findings submitted for a master’s degree
is dissertation while the one for a PhD is thesis.
Others are Newspaper and Magazines, Pamphlets, photocopies, maps and atlases etc.
Non- print Materials
Audio-visual material -- there are various types such as still visuals which are
graphic materials like chart, radiographs, photographs, slides, filmstrips, posters,
artefacts, and real objects including models, games, Braille, cassettes, globes and
cartographic materials.
Microforms -- they are media that involve words and seen as a format which is
complementary to the printed words. The materials include films, filmstrips, film
loop, and microfilm, tapes, records, transparencies, pictures, overlap and kit
materials.
Computer Files – these are the files that are encoded for manipulation by the
computer comprises of data and programmes. The data and programmes may be
stored or contained in carriers available for direct access or by remote access.
Graphics – They are materials that contain information and ideas through a
combination of drawings, words, symbols, symbols, and pictures. Examples
include graphs, charts, diagrams and sketches
Others are non-print materials are:
Films, Filmstrips and slides, overhead transparencies, television and video-tape
recordings, audio recordings, realia, cartographic materials, toys and games, film
cards and flannel graphs, artefacts, etc.
Lecture note for EDIT 411
Course: Electrical power (ECE 561)
University: Kwara State University
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