Alternative Funding Of Public Libraries

Alternative Funding Of Public Libraries

Other Means Of Financing Public Libraries

Abstract

This study used the Rivers State Library in Port Harcourt as a case study to look at alternate funding for public libraries. The study was specifically designed to investigate the need for alternative funding sources for public libraries, investigate the various alternative funding sources for public libraries, investigate the difficulties associated with alternative funding for public libraries, and offer potential solutions to those difficulties. The survey descriptive research design was used for the investigation. 30 replies from the survey were verified in total. Based on the responses gathered and analyzed, it was determined that public libraries require alternative funding sources in order to improve service delivery, provide necessary infrastructure, provide current books, maintain staff and the library, and improve overall performance of the library services. Public libraries may also receive money through fees for services, private donations, government grants, corporate and foundation grants, and other sources. The challenges of alternative funding for public libraries also include the attitude of the librarians, Nigerians’ inadequate philanthropic culture, insufficient accountability and transparency structures, the unwillingness of those involved in fund-raising to cooperate, the lack of time to plan due to the head librarians’ tenure in office, and the government’s attitude toward library development in Nigeria. The study concludes that in order to provide modern facilities that would make the libraries ICT compliant, public libraries should, as a matter of necessity, look for additional sources of funding to augment the conventional sources, which are rarely adequate. They can achieve this by expanding the scope of their business to include services offered by local businesses and organizations. These services could include document printing, card creation, and photocopying. Additionally, there is a need for more media advocacy and coverage of the critical role that libraries play in the operational effectiveness of their states. Such awareness campaigns could encourage for-profit business enterprises and non-governmental charitable organizations to support Nigeria’s libraries financially.

Chapiter 1

Introduction

1.1 Background Of The Study

A library is a learning facility outfitted with a wealth of knowledge that is maintained, arranged, and run by trained staff in order to continuously educate children, men, and women and support their efforts to improve themselves through the efficient and prompt dissemination of the information contained in the resources. This serves as a tool for self-education, a source of knowledge and factual information, a hub for intellectual entertainment, and a lighthouse of enlightenment. It offers accumulated, preserved knowledge of civilization, which subsequently broadens one’s perspective and elevates one’s habits, behavior, character, taste, attitude, conduct, and outlook on life. (Islam, 2004).

The political and social reality of the communities in which it exists are closely tied to the public library as a social institution. As the name suggests, this library is accessible to the general public.

According to UNESCO (1966), “those which serve the citizens of the community or region free of charge or for a modest price.” It is a public library that is meant to serve everyone.

“Public libraries that serve the public are sustained by government subvention, municipal rates or levies,” claims Oduagwu (2002). He continued by stating that often a public library is referred to as a poor man’s university. Its customer is diversified, and none of them would resist using its services based on their race, status, or rank. It contains everything conceivable that supports society’s needs for knowledge, education, research, information, and culture. Today, each of Nigeria’s 36 states, including Abuja, has a public library board created by the country’s equivalent of the United Kingdom’s (UK) public library act; however, in Nigeria, state library boards are founded by laws passed by the states’ legislatures.

“An institution that is set up by the government through enabling law, funded, and mentioned expected to meet the educational, informational, and recreational needs of its community,” according to Oparaku et al. (2005), is what a public library is.

Making money available for the regular operation of the library is referred to as “public library funding.” Making money or cash available to public libraries is what funding is all about. Every business, including labor, capital, entrepreneurs, and information, depends on finance. Capital in this context refers to money that may be used to buy additional production elements, making it more significant than other components. Obviously, money is the most important component of every establishment. It serves as an establishment’s working capital equally. Generally speaking, public library funding refers to the different ways that public libraries obtain the anticipated finances for capital and ongoing costs.

Public libraries are defined as “a library typically run by a municipality where books may be borrowed freely” in the New Lexicon Webster’s Encyclopedic Dictionary from 1991.

The Encyclopedia of Librarianship, published in 1958, states that a library is “involved with all material. Values for the person and the community, as well as its obligation to inspire and facilitate broader demands from more people, in addition to meeting the current expectations.

SITUATION OF THE PROBLEM

When funds are not available when needed, many public libraries’ budgetary allocations are not given on time. This causes a delay in the implementation of their programs, which in turn causes a lack of necessary textbooks that people and researchers are currently experiencing. The state government, which contributes around 80% of the revenue needed for public libraries, does not adequately fund them. Materials are in low supply as a result of financial constraints. Lack of proper funding has prohibited public libraries from meeting the staff and patrons’ needs for updated materials. Public library funding in Nigeria has challenges due to low societal ratings of libraries as well as poor appreciation of the library’s services by those in charge of affairs.

1.3 STUDY’S OBJECTIVES

The majority of other areas of life can benefit from having objectives, and research is no different. According to Torty (2021), “Research objectives give the researcher a wonderful feeling of aim and direction.” Investigating alternate funding for public libraries is the study’s main goal.

On the other hand, the study was concentrated on fulfilling these specific objectives:

Look into the necessity for public libraries to have alternative financing sources.

Look at the various alternative funding options for public libraries.

Examine the difficulties in funding public libraries in other ways.

Provide answers to the problems with alternate public library funding that have been highlighted.

1.4 Questions For Research

A study in scientific inquiry is given structure and direction by the research questions. Torty (2021) states as a result that “research questions should truly constitute an enlargement of the research problem.”

According to the goals of the study, the following research questions were developed, and they are analyzed using mean and standard deviation:

Why is it necessary for public libraries to have alternate funding sources?

What alternative funding options are there for public libraries?

What problems does alternative funding for public libraries face?

What are some potential answers to the problems with alternate funding for public libraries that have been identified?

1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STUDIES

To evaluate the appropriateness of alternate sources of funding for public libraries in the states, this study will be helpful to the administration and policy makers in Rivers State and other states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The results of this study will also help librarians manage the various funds that will be provided to public libraries in accordance with the principles of transparency and accountability. The government will be assisted by this study in identifying the problems associated with finding alternate public library funding sources and coming up with solutions. This study will contribute to the body of knowledge already available on the subject and act as a resource for future studies in this field or a similar one.

1.6 THE STUDY’S SCOPE

The goal of this study is to determine whether public libraries require alternate funding sources. The many alternative funding sources for public libraries will also be looked at in this study. The difficulties of alternate funding for public libraries will also be examined in this study. Finally, this study will provide potential remedies for the problems associated with alternate funding for public libraries. This investigation will be restricted to Nigeria’s Rivers State Library. Staff at Rivers State Library in Port Harcourt will therefore assist those who have signed up for this study.

Limitations of the study: 1.7

While conducting the study, the researchers ran into some minor obstacles, just as in every human endeavor. Due to the tendency of inadequate funding to hinder the researcher’s efficiency in locating pertinent materials, literature, or information as well as in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire, and interview), the researcher opted for a moderately sized sample size. Furthermore, the researcher will conduct this study along with other academic projects at the same time. The time needed for study will be cut down as a result.

1.8 Term Definition

A library is a collection of items, such as books or video, that is available for use as opposed to only being shown. In order to consistently meet the needs of the user, it must contain updated information.

A fund is money that has been allocated or used for a certain purpose.

An additional option or choice for borrowing money from other sources is an alternative fund.