THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY)

CHAPITER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 THE STUDY’S BACKGROUND

Libraries affiliated with universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other analogous higher education institutions are referred to as university or academic libraries. It is impossible to overestimate the importance of finances in providing high-quality library services. The facility, collection, and staff of the library are held together by it, enabling it to fulfill its goal (Etuk, 2015). Money might therefore be viewed as the library’s spirit. Lack of funding hinders the effectiveness of any library (Anafulu, 1997).

It is essential that a library has the resources required to accomplish its goals. Users can only fully appreciate stunning architecture, skilled staff, and cutting-edge information storage and retrieval technologies if they are treated with respect. Without sufficient funding, many services cannot be provided. Enyi (2001) asserts that funding is necessary for all types of libraries. The amount of funding a library receives directly affects the caliber of its offerings. Federal funding is essential in giving libraries across the nation the financial support they need to serve their communities, even if state and local funding accounts for the majority of library funding (Ayo-Sobowale, & Akinyemi, 2011).

Nigeria’s current economic conditions suggest that only government funding of higher education is not possible. This fundamental reality has been conveyed to university authorities by government representatives, academics, economists, and others in a variety of methods and contexts. In order to supplement government subsidies and subventions, some of them have started using a variety of traditional tactics to generate internal money. According to Etuk (2015), these methods or resources have not been able to free universities, particularly those in the Niger Delta, from the problem of inadequate funding and its consequences. Finding alternative funding sources is now really necessary.

The term “alternative sources of financing” refers to people, groups, places/areas, paths, or methods of receiving or producing money other than the well-liked traditional procedures to support public university education (Enyi, 2001). The sources call for meticulous preparation and strategies meant to obtain substantial sums of money from certain individuals, groups of individuals, or activities. Alternative sources of funding are, in fact, innovative and novel sources of income. Ezeuwa (2009) noted that many nations around the world, particularly the developed ones, do not rely on the government for funding. In addition to the conventional sources, they also use other sources. Most of the time, a smaller percentage of their total earnings comes from conventional sources.

Most universities in Europe and America are funded by grants and endowments, alumni associations, monetary contributions from the community, and sponsored research projects. In general, Nigerian institutions can adopt this strategy and handle the problem of insufficient funding for their highly rated academic programs (Ezeuwa, 2009).

SITUATION OF THE PROBLEM

There is no denying that Niger Delta States’ public universities have experienced particular challenges and funding constraints for effective university administration. Due to packed classrooms and dormitories, limited libraries and laboratories, and crumbling infrastructure, postsecondary students in Nigeria suffer from unfavorable learning environments. Public university management is under enormous pressure to meet a number of performance requirements in the new century, including those related to staff development, student achievement, and financial accountability (Ayo-Sobowale, & Akinyemi, 2011).

University libraries are under a lot of stress and pressure due to inadequate funding (Nwiyi, 2016). On the other side, the idea of alternative funding from internal produced income contends that the government is not required to bear responsibility for supporting all of its institutions across all spending categories. As a result, in order to properly run their institutions and achieve their lofty objectives, public universities are compelled to look for ways to increase local revenue. They should see this additional funding as a supplement to government funding.

1.3 STUDY’S OBJECTIVES

This study’s main goal is to determine how alternative financing sources would affect university libraries in Nigeria. The study’s other objectives are:

i. To assess the financial situation of Nigerian university libraries.

ii. To determine the financing sources for libraries at Nigerian universities

iii. To determine alternate financing sources for university libraries in Nigeria.

iii. To determine the benefits of additional financing sources for university libraries in Nigeria.

1.4 QUESTIONS FOR RESEARCH

i. How well-funded are universities in Nigeria’s universities?

What are the financing sources for the libraries at Nigerian universities?

What alternative sources of funding exist in Nigeria for university libraries?

iv. Do alternative funding sources benefit Nigerian universities?

1.5 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER STUDIES

The results of this study will have significant implications for the education sector since they will demonstrate the value of funding for university libraries in Nigeria. The study’s revelation of sources of alternative funding for academic libraries at Nigerian universities will also be helpful to those institutions’ management.

This study will also be used as a reference in the future and as existing research material.

1.6 THE STUDY’S SCOPE

The impact of alternative sources of funding for university libraries in Nigeria will be the main subject of this study. Additionally, it will concentrate on the libraries at Nigerian universities’ funding sources and the advantages of having more money.

Staff from the library at Delta State University will be used in this study as enrolled participants.

Limitations of the study: 1.7

The focus of this study will be on how alternative funding sources affect university libraries in Nigeria. Additionally, it will be restricted to discussing the benefits of receiving additional financing as well as the sources of funding for Nigerian university libraries.

The personnel of the Delta State University Library will serve as the study’s enrolled participants, therefore the study’s findings cannot be applied elsewhere until more research has been done.

1.8 TERM DEFINITION

Impact: a noticeable result or effect

A library is a collection of items, such as books or video, that is available for use as opposed to only being shown.