One very important establishment that plays an important role in various schools and students in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions is the library. Libraries provide reading and learning materials to people irrespective of age, profession, class, and administration. Libraries house different collections of books and research materials that help to enhance knowledge. People visit the library for different purposes such as recreation, research, and enjoyment. In today’s world, libraries have evolved in such a way that one can get electronic materials aside from physical materials. In this article, the different types of libraries in Nigeria would be addressed.
The types of libraries in Nigeria would be discussed below:
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Academic Library
Academic libraries are mostly cited in various tertiary learning institutions. These institutions include universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other higher institutions. Academic libraries are essential because they not only serve the students but also serve the lecturers. Every faculty in the institution has its library. The institution itself also has theirs where students and lecturers from different faculties can get different materials they might need for research and learning purposes. Because of how technology has advanced, academic libraries now provide the option of downloading books and research materials online and also printing them.
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School Library
School libraries are usually located inside nursery, primary and secondary schools. In this type of library, you would find different learning materials such as books for both pupils and teachers. These books are kept in a very organized way and they are strictly for young children. School libraries help these children to know how to make use of the library and also develop a reading culture at an early age. Teachers get teaching materials from the school library. Pupils also get to read in a conducive environment free of noise. They make use of good furniture and learning materials that are made just for them. The sole objective of the school library is to attain the ideals of the educational system. They also help to improve the development of the pupils. School libraries help to improve the pupils’ intellectual capacity.
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Private Library
Private libraries are privately owned by individuals and privately owned organisations. Private libraries are not accessible to the general public. Most people build and organize libraries in their homes. It is mostly arranged in a room. This particular room is then filled with different intellectual and recreation books. When individuals own private libraries in their homes, their kids also have access to the library. It helps them to get acquainted with making use of the library facility at an early age. Private libraries could also be owned by churches.
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Public Library
Public libraries are libraries that are cited in towns and cities for public use. These libraries are normally managed and run with the use of public funds such as taxes. The workers are normally public civil servants. Public libraries do not charge people who visit them. In a public library, you can find different materials and books from all walks of life. Children can also find books and learning materials that meet their learning needs. In a public library, one can find books that span medicine, education, history, and other fields.
People go to public libraries to secure information about everything. They could also retrieve information about tourism, government policies and activities, health, commerce and other sectors in the country. When you get to the public library, you have to get to the reference unit to know where to get the information you are looking for. Another function of public libraries is that they retain a variety of materials that pertain to culture and values.
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National Library
National libraries are libraries that are owned and funded by the government. A national library houses intellectual resources and materials that have to do with the history of the country. The national library also performs the task of publication of the National bibliography of the nation. It also preserves the heritage of the country so that the generations unborn can access the history of the country. In other words, the sole purpose of the national library is to secure, protect, and preserve the history and heritage of the country. The only setback of national libraries is that they do not lend books and materials to the general public. They only lend their books and materials to certain organisations.
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Mobile Library
Mobile libraries are libraries that are mostly set up in movable vehicles. These vehicles move from place to place. They are available for use to the general public located in the places where the vehicles are parked. They are mostly seen in rural areas such as villages. These mobile libraries help the villages find books and materials that meet their intellectual and basic educational needs. The mobile libraries move from one village to the other.
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Special Library
Special libraries are usually established by some organisations. The materials present in the special library are usually related to the particular organisation it is present. In the special library, information concerning the organisation is kept and it can be collected and retrieved at any time when they are needed. Special libraries always have special users. These users are always experts in that particular field. The librarians employed in special libraries are most knowledgeable in the particular field. In churches, big companies and hospitals, one can find special libraries. They are not for the general public. The kind of books available in the special library is meant solely for the organisation.
Libraries inform and educate people in society both in schools and organizations. They provide access to information so that people can make findings essential to give themselves bearings and direction. Public libraries make insight and inklings available to everyone in the society irrespective of age, sex and economic reputation. Libraries also get rid of the barriers that hinder the skill of people to self-educate themselves in certain areas. Most public libraries in society provide free literacy programmes for people that are not educated and don’t speak English.