question

substantiate the assertion that a library is the nerve centre of any academic institution.

A library is the nerve centre of an academic institution which exists to meet the information

needs of students, staff, researchers and other users in the academic community. It is an

integral part where intellectual development revolves. That is, a storehouse of information or

a record of human experience to which users tun to for data and information.

Rejendran (2005) averred that the main function of an academic library is to serve as an

auxiliary to a parent institution in carrying out its objectives. He also noted that the library is

an important intellectual resource of an academic community and helps the institution to

fulfil the curriculum requirements and promote studies and researches.

Ajibero (2004) also noted that one of the objectives of setting up an academic institution is to

encourage and promote scholarship and conduct research in all fields of learning and human

endeavours.

The major infrastructures constituting an institution are teachers, classrooms and libraries that

contain a rich and balanced collection and equipment that can support teaching and learning

process as well as research.

Without the support of efficient libraries, schools on their own can not successfully achieve

the goal of education, which are:- the inculcation of national consciousness and national

unity, the inculcation of the individual and the Nigerian society, the training of the mind in

the understanding of the world around and the acquisition of appropriate skills and social

abilities and competence as equipment for the individual to live and contribute to the

development of the society.

Academic library provides access to enjoyable and information reading materials through

which students can gain improve their skills. It also provides materials that offer more

extensive and varied information than classroom study. Voluntary reading helps develop

reading skills and mastery of languages, extends student knowledge and assists them in their

academic works. It is an important intellectual resource centre in the university community

and it also helps to fulfil the curriculum requirements and promotes studies and research. It

has the function of providing resources for research, especially for postgraduate students and

faculty members. The library provides resources to support each of the teaching staff. It

provides resources and serves to support each of the research projects and materials of

sufficient quality and diversity to support research of whatever kind in every subject offered

in the university. It also provides carrels for private study, conference and seminar rooms for

various academically oriented functions.

Libraries are major gateways to accreditation of academic courses in their respective

universities. Accreditation is awarded for higher education programmes that meets the

education requirement to set standard. It centres on a review of a programme’s content and

delivery, and includes area such as; relevance, coherence, challenge, assessment, staffing,

quality assurance and resources. Many courses had failed to be approved or accredited by

NUC just because the libraries failed to meet the required standard set for the discipline.

For the university community to access and use he information resources effectively and

efficiently. The academic libraries have a specific learning role of teaching members of the

university community in order to provide guidance to users. The role of libraries therefore

includes, training for library users beginning with library orientation to help them adapt to

different services and equipment. This will help the users on how, where and when to look

for information, not only on how to use the library but also to search for information.
 Libraries generate income from different sources, these incomes are generated internally

from photocopying fees, fines imposed on late return of books, internet access and other fees

like scanning and printing of documents. Most libraries have internet facilities for library

users. Students, staff and researchers can use the facilities to surf the internet. The use of such

facility is usually at a token, compared to what is available outside. Activities such as

checking mails, course registration, social networking, checking of results online, reading of

information items and downloading, checking for catalogues online are usually some of those

things that students and others do on the net through e-libraries within the main library.

Also, libraries do buy newspapers and magazines for library users to read. Such newspapers,

magazines and periodic journals are kept at a designated place in the library where library

users make use of them.

In a nutshell, academic institution and library are like Siamese twins. Each is clearly

indispensable of the other and this is the reason why a university is established alongside with

its library at all cost, for the university to function towards the realization of its mission and

vision. It is made of different units with each contributing its quota in ensuring that the

institutionalized objectives are met.

 REFERENCES

Eze, J.U. and Uzoigwu, C.U. (2013). The Place of Academic Libraries in Nigerian

University Education: Contributing to the Education for All. Enugu State Library Board,

Nigeria. http://www.academic-journals.org/IJLIS

Okusaga, T.O. (2008). Development of School Library for Effective Implementation of

Universal BASIC Education in Lagos State in the 21st Century. In Odubunmi, E.O. and

Okuneye, R.O. Dynamic of Education in Lagos State in the 21st Century. Faculty of

Education, Lagos State University.

Michael, O.A. (2011). The Library, the Academic Life Wire of a University System.