AN EMPERICAL STUDY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN ACADEMIC

An Emperical Study
of Entrepreneurship
In Academic
Libraries: INSTITUTIONS
A Case Study of Some
LIBRARIES:
A CASE
STUDY OF SOME
SELECTED
IN
Selected Institutions In Ekiti State, Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi,
EKITI STATE
Journal Impact Factor (2015): 7.8550 (Calculated by GISI), www.jifactor.com

Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen1, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi2

Volume 4, Issue 2, May- August (2015), pp. 01-06
Article ID: 70120150402001
International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS)
IAEME: www.iaeme.com/IJLIS.asp
ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print)
ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online)

IJLIS
IAEME

Polytechnic Digital Library, The Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

Polytechnic Digital Library, The Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, Nigeria

ABSTRACT
This paper investigates the level at which academic libraries in Ekiti State embrace
entrepreneurship. A survey technique research was adopted using a simple random technique.
A total number of one hundred (100) questionnaires were self administered but only sixty
nine were returned. From the findings, it was discovered that the Federal Polytechnic AdoEkiti generates income through multimedia services. Federal University Oye generates
income through library fines and Afe BabalolaUniversity Ado indicated that parts of its
materials are secured through Bequest. Based on the conclusion that all these libraries
involvement in entrepreneurship is still generally low, it was recommended that the libraries
should set up a committee whose responsibilities will be to bring about new innovations.
Keywords: Academic Library, Income Generation, Entrepreneurship, Ekiti State.
INTRODUCTION
Academic libraries are those established to serve the academic environment. Though,
Academic library also gives room for external users, it is specially meant to serve lecturers,
students and other researchers within the institution where they exist.
Jegede (2007) described an academic library as a library that belongs to an institution
of higher education and whose primary role is to support the educational programs and
research activities of its parent institution. He explains that academic staff and students are its
primary clientele. In the past academic libraries were know as non-profit making
organizations. The information over-load or avalanches of knowledge that present numerous
information in different formats have exposed academic libraries to too many information
with meager resources. This however, has forced many libraries to quest for alternative ways
of getting money to support their budget so that they can meet up with the information needs
of their users. Librarians are now thinking of how to make innovation that can fetch more
income for their institutions. This innovation is known as entrepreneurship. Ekankumo and
Kamebradikumo (2011), expatiated on the concept of entrepreneurship while directly quoting
Shane (2003), who described entrepreneurship as the act of being entrepreneur meaning
One who undertakes innovations, finance and business acumen in an effort to transform
innovation in economic goods. He added that the most obvious form of entrepreneurship is to
1

An Emperical Study of Entrepreneurship In Academic Libraries: A Case Study of Some

Selected Institutions In Ekiti State, Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi,
Journal Impact Factor (2015): 7.8550 (Calculated by GISI), www.jifactor.com

start a new business. Rader (1997) stated that funding for academic libraries has become
problematic and competitive during the last part of the 20th century. He continued by saying
that academic libraries manage, collect and provide access to an ever-growing arsenal of
information for an increasing number of users in an environment of growing financial
constraints. Libraries which employ highly trained and educated staff, need complex
facilities and sophisticated electronic technologies in-order to operate successfully. He then
concluded that the economic issues facing libraries in the 1990s and beyond are complex
and new approaches needed to address the academic financial dilemma.
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
Vymetal (2002), opined that libraries should pay attention to their operations but also
to the organizational development and do their business like in entrepreneurship manner. This
will not only give a better result but as well give higher recognition, viability international
reputation to the libraries. The library that does this will become Centre of Excellence
among other libraries. They will dictate the fashion, set standard and benchmark for others
looking for innovations and change. Rader (1997) was of the opinion that the library budget
for academic libraries around the world have become inadequate in recent times due to the
influence of electronic information, new technologies, increasing cost for library materials
and inadequate government funding as need for social service programs increases. He added
that the ways in which academic libraries can participate in the market place within and
outside their parent institutions depends heavily on their organizational characteristics and
their development strategies. He opined that the decision on whether and how far to commit a
library to a relatively high risk of new ventures requires sound judgment based on a deep
understanding of its potentialities and limitations of that library as an organization.
Drucker (1985) opined that public service institutions such as government agencies,
universities, polytechnics, hospitals, libraries, museum, and charitable organizations need to
be innovative with entrepreneurial skills. They need it to move yet, the public service
institutions find it far more difficult to be innovative. Libraries have reputation of
conservative, reactive and not proactive institutions which are slow to change even when the
need for change is eminent.
Agu (2006) however summarized the functions of entrepreneurship in a social and
economic development of a nation to include: Identification of business opportunities,
selection of opportunities, decisions on forms of enterprise, allocation and distribution of
resources, coordination of other factors of production and controlling organizational
programs and activities, mobilization and utilization of local raw materials, risk bearing,
creation of employment opportunities, marketing activities for customers satisfaction.
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE PAPER
It is obvious that most academic libraries in Nigeria suffer marginalization from their
institutions when it comes to resource sharing. Heads of libraries do not know the amount
budgeted for their libraries. Though it is on paper that universities academic libraries are
supposed to collect ten percent (10%) of the institutional subvention, this is not seen in
reality. In some institutions as a result of the dwindling economic resources, the Management
directs departments and units to look for viable and virile alternative means of generating
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An Emperical Study of Entrepreneurship In Academic Libraries: A Case Study of Some

Selected Institutions In Ekiti State, Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi,
Journal Impact Factor (2015): 7.8550 (Calculated by GISI), www.jifactor.com

funds for their institutions. Academic libraries as a unit cannot but respond to these
challenges.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
All academic institutions face higher expenditure which is more than their revenue.
Academic libraries suffer from insufficient funding to accomplish their primary objectives.
These major challenges had left the academic libraries with no option than to look for
innovations that could bring more income to the library without abandoning their traditional
role. This however, brings about the interest of the researcher to investigate the effort of
academic libraries in this direction.
PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The purpose of the study includes the following:

To investigate which of the library routines generates income for the libraries

To investigate which multimedia services the library renders for fee.

To ascertain whether the library solicit for grants from individuals

To find out whether the libraries generate funds through social services.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Which of the library routines generate income for the library?

Which of the multimedia services generates income for the library?

Do libraries solicit for funds from individuals?

Do libraries generate money through social services?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Survey research design and simple random sampling was adopted. The study covered
four academic libraries in Ekiti State. The librarians of those academic libraries and some
experienced library officers formed the target population. A total number of one hundred
(100) questionnaires were distributed while 69 questionnaires were returned.
DATA ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSIONS.(section A)
The study showed that out of the 69 respondents 45 respondents representing 62.5%
were male while 26 respondents representing 37.7% were females. The years of experience
of the respondents ranged between 1 and 15 years and above. This is an indication that a
greater percent of the respondents are familiar with the library system and activities therein.
The respondents were asked about the library routines that generates income. The result in
table 2 shows their responses.
List of Abbreviations:
ABUAD-Afe Babalola University
ESCOE-Ekiti State College of Education
FPA-Federal Polytechnic Ado
FUOYE-Federal University Oye
INDF- Indifferent
3

An Emperical Study of Entrepreneurship In Academic Libraries: A Case Study of Some

Selected Institutions In Ekiti State, Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi,
Journal Impact Factor (2015): 7.8550 (Calculated by GISI), www.jifactor.com

Table1: which of these library routines generate income for your library?
ABUAD
VARABLES
Book Loan
Reference
Services
Bindery Services
Indexing
Photocopying
Services
Library Fine
Selective
Dissemination of
information

ESCOE

FPA

F
2

%
2.9

F
6

YES
%
F
8.7
9

1.5

4.4

0
0

0
0

7
4

10
5.8

18

26

11.6

17

24.6

5.8

FUOYE

ABUAD

ESCOE

FPA

%
13

F
9

%
13

F
11

%
16

F
2

NO
%
F
2.9
10

8.7

12

17.4

12

17.4

5.8

13

19
7

25.5
10

10
12

15
17.4

13
13

18.8
18.8

1
3

1.5
4.4

1
12

12

17.4

10

1.5

5.8

20

30

1.5

5.8

8.7

8.7

15

21.7

FUOYE

%
15

IN DF

F
12

%
17.4

F
8

%
11.5

18.8

15

21.7

13

1.5
17.4

11
9

16
13

7
9

10
13

10

14

20.3

2.9

1.5

26

37.3

5.8

13

18.8

15

21.7

11

From the table shown above the percentage of respondents that indicated that their
libraries do not generate income through book loan are higher than those who answer in
affirmative; for example sixteen percent (16%) from Afe Babalola University, thirteen
percent (13%) from Federal University Oye, and fifteen percent from Federal Polytechnic
Oye indicated that they do not generate income through book loan services while only
(2.9%) respondents from Afe Babalola University, (8.7%) from Ekiti State College of
Education, (13%) from Federal Polytechnic Ado and (13%) from Federal University Oye
indicated that they generated income through book loan services.
Most of the libraries do not generate income through reference services as (17.4%) of
the respondents from Federal University Oye, (5.8%) , Ekiti State College of Education
(18.8%) , Federal Polytechnic Ado and (21.7%) from Federal University Oye show that
they do not get income through reference services.
The table also shows that both Federal Polytechnic Ado and Ekiti State College of
Education generate income through bindery and photocopying services, another area where
Afe Babalola University and Federal University Oye generated income is through library
fine. The respondents from these libraries are (24.6%) and (30.0%) respectively.
Table 11: which of these multimedia services generate income for your library?
ABUAD
VARABLES
Photograph
Passport Photograph
Video Coverage
Public Address System
Typing & Printing of
Doc
CD/DVD Duplication

ESCOE

FPA

FUOYE

ABUAD

ESCOE

FPA

FUOYE

IN DF

N
3
0
0
1

%
4.4
0
0
1.5

N
4
4
1
4

YES
%
N
5.8 14
5.8 15
1.5 18
5.8 14

1.5

8.7

7.3

11.6

12

17.4

11.6

14

20.3

13

18.8

10

1.5

15

21.7

10

13

18.8

10

5.8

14

5.8

11.5

%
20.3
21.7
26.1
20.3

N
9
1
3
4

%
13
1.5
4.4
5.8

N
10
13
13
12

%
14.5
18.8
18.8
17.4

N
4
4
7
4

%
5.8
5.8
10
5.8

NO
N
5
4
2
5

%
7.3
5.8
2.9
7.3

N
12
20
18
17

%
17.4
29
26.1
25

N
8
8
8
8

%
11.5
11.5
11.5
11.5

Federal Polytechnic Ado and Federal University Oye generate income through
photographic services while Afe Babalola University and Ekiti State College of Education do
not generate income through this means. 14 respondents from Federal Polytechnic Ado
representing (20.3%) and 9 respondents representing (13%) from Afe Babalola University
indicated that they were generating income through photography services. Other services
where Federal Polytechnic generates income include passport photograph, video coverage,
public address system and CD/DVD duplication. Other libraries do not generate income
through passport photograph services. This is in agreement with Drucker (1985) that asserts
that public service institutions find it difficult to be innovative.
4

An Emperical Study of Entrepreneurship In Academic Libraries: A Case Study of Some

Selected Institutions In Ekiti State, Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi,
Journal Impact Factor (2015): 7.8550 (Calculated by GISI), www.jifactor.com

Table iii: Does your library solicit for grant from an individual or cooperate body?
ABUAD
VARABLES

ESCOE
FPA
YES
N % N %

1.5

4.4

10

14.5

14

20.3

10

17

25

11

16

8.7

2.9

13

13

14

20.3

8.7

10

14.5

12

17.4

10

10

5.8

7.3

11

16

10

5.8

14

20.3

10

14.5

8.7

Annual Grant
(Individual)
Grant (Cooperate
Bodies)
Bequest

FUOYE

ABUAD

ESCOE

FPA

NO
%
N

FUOYE

IN DF

Only 9 respondents from Federal Polytechnic Ado representing (13.0%) of the

population indicated that they solicited for funds from individuals while 7 respondents from
Afe babalola University representing (10.0%) of the population indicated that they get
materials or funds through bequest.
Table IV: Does your library generate income through any of these social services?
ABUAD
VARABLES
Hall Rentage
Training
Short Courses
for Library
Assistants

ESCOE

FPA

N
0
0

%
0
0

N
2
2

YES
%
N
2.9 6
2.9 2

7.3

10

15

FUOYE

ABUAD

%
8.7
2.9

N
6
7

%
8.7
10

N
14
14

%
20.3
20.3

21.7

12

17.4

13

18.8

ESCOE

FPA

FUOYE

N
5
5

NO
%
N
7.3 14
7.3 18

%
20.3
26.1

N
15
14

%
21.7
20.3

1.5

7.3

13

IN
DIFFF
N %
7 10
7 10
2

2.9

Libraries such as Federal Polytechnic Ado with 15 respondents representing (21.7%)

of the total population and Federal University Oye with 12 respondents representing (17.4%)
indicated that there were generating income through short courses for library assistants. Afe
Babalola University with (7.3%) and Ekiti State College of Education with (10.0%) generate
income through hall rentage services and training.
SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
Only Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti library in Ekiti State generates income through
book loan services. None of the libraries generates income through reference services.
Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti and Ekiti State College of Education have commercialized
there bindery sevices and generated income through such. They also generate income through
photocopying services. Afe Babalola University and Federal University Oye Ekiti generate
income through library fines. Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Federal University Oye and
AfeBabalola university generate income through photography services but only Federal
Polytechnic Ado- Ekiti generates income through video coverage,hiring of public address
system and DVD/CD duplication. Afebabalola University gets some of their materials
through bequest. Federal Polytechnic has the highest parentage of generating income through
the provision of short courses for library assistants/attendants.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite of the fact that the budget of academic libraries continue to dwindle. Heads of
libraries pay little or no attention to the alternative ways of generating funds for their
libraries. The outcome of this paper has emphasized the negligence of the librarians with
regards to the generation of additional income to support the dwindled budget.
5

An Emperical Study of Entrepreneurship In Academic Libraries: A Case Study of Some

Selected Institutions In Ekiti State, Muhammed Jamiu Soliudeen, Ibrahim Bolaji Omolabi,
Journal Impact Factor (2015): 7.8550 (Calculated by GISI), www.jifactor.com

RECOMMENDATIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

In view of the findings in this paper, the following recommendations were made:
Academic libraries in Nigeria must as a matter of urgency think of innovative ways of
getting internally generated revenue.
Heads of libraries should quickly identify donors both within and outside Nigeria and
write such donors for possible assistance.
Academic library should select team for fund raising.
Academic libraries can bid for supply of books and other library materials in other
institutions whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Academic libraries should do user study of their environment outside their parent
institutions and provide services needed by people for a fee.
Academic libraries should organize fund raising events where influential people or
organizations in the communities can donate.

REFERENCES
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

9.

10.

Agu, C.N (2006) Pedagogy of Entrepreneurship in a Contemporary Society.

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Drunker, P (1985) Innovation and Entrepreneurship Practice and Principles. London
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Ekankumo,B and Kemembaradikumo, N (2011) Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial
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Jegede, O.R, (2007) Principles and Practice of Library Studies. Nudex International
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Radar B. et al.(1997) Creative Financing of Academic Libraries Academic Libraries
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Shane, D (2003) General Theory of Entrepreneurship: The Individual Opportunity
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Vymetal S (2002) The Information Professionals Role in Todays World and
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