1.0 Introduction
A library has been described by Aguolu (1989) as a place where the dead maybe said to be alive, this is, a place where the ideas, knowledge and experience of great men and women, fully document and preserved, continue to move the world although these people may be no more. It is a place where the knowledge seeker communes with authors both living and dead.
Thus, the information seeker and the available information materials are brought into contact in the library. The library makes use of the rich content of its materials to perform educational, research, informational and recreational functions.
Thus, one the main roles of the library are to educate by enriching community life. The libraries provide access to knowledge recorded books and other graphic and non-graphic materials the library also provide essential support to the realization of the educational objectives of any country.
The precise origins of libraries are impossible to trace, although scholars have accumulated knowledge of particle, libraries in certain locations. Historians have concluded in general that the invention of writing combined with the impulse to preserve inscriptions has marked the beginnings of the historic era, a period of consciousness about the importance of human memory. The earliest ideas about libraries emerged as a natural outgrowth of interest in preserving such memory, and the library has acted on behalf of society to collect and organize things that was written.
During the early period, librarians were store houses for books. Librarians were mere custodians of books and other library material.
The librarians kept the library materials for the purpose of preservation and the library materials were guarded jealously to prevent them from being mutilated, stolen or destroyed. The books and other materials were chained in such a way that it will not be possible to have easy access to them, during the period under review, the library was a kind of achieve and the librarians did not have contact with the library clientele.
All the librarians did was to make the library materials available to the reader and kept his distance. In other words, the major emphasis of librarians was on preservation of care of the library materials and not much was said about the human factor (Kumar, 1987), most if the early definition of library as a place or a building where books are kept. The library collection during the early period was made of codes. The librarian during the early period was not trained and ensures the effective dissemination of information.
The library thus meets a vital social obligation by gathering accounts of the human experience. It preserves resources for those of minority opinions ensuring preservation and access for the unorthodox in human interest and creates works of resource sharing and international cooperation on behalf of reader interest.
1.1 Historical Background of Federal University of Technology Library Owerri
Federal university of technology Owerri library was established 1986 was the first of the university major academic support unit. The library is situated in a purpose built facilities.
The library is housed in two building:
- The library phase one building
- Plot plant building, both of which are IKM apart.
The federal university of technology, Owerri (FUTO) library was initially sited at late Nwaekere campus whilst the permanent campus was under construction in Ihiagwa. Preparatory work for the library began in June 1981 with nar JC Anefule as the pioneer university librarians.
The pilot plant library was left with the serious section comprising bound and unbound periodicals, magazines and newspapers, the technical services section for cataloguing and classification technology unit for IT facilities and the documents and archives section. The pilot plant library is reference library as no borrowing on done there it seats a lie over 100 readers.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Library and information science profession is faced with many problems; the statement of problems can be better appreciated in any solution to the following question.
Then those trained and qualified staff. They are neither provided with annularly perception, good marketing of library success nor do they have train and qualified staff of ICT services. These factors hinders effective library services expected from them.
This research is therefore geared towards investigating how library as a compendium help to fuel the interest of human life and make them more efficient and productive.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to examine the Library as Compendium of Knowledge to Human Life. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to:
- Find out why students do not use the library to improve their academics.
- Find out the effective role of the library in our academics and social life.
- Find out what challenges facing students in effective use of the library.
- Solve the problems militating against library and information convince in dissemination of information to clientele.
- Find out how ICT services can be provided.
1.5 Scope and Limitations of the Study
This study is limited to federal university of technology library Owerri, it focused on the library as a compendium of knowledge to human life, as an indispensible took in academics and in achieving the aims and objectives of the students. It covers all the direct services to users.
However, the library as a compendium of knowledge to human life, which is to enlighten students, office workers, lectures, researchers etc. on the relevance of library to academic and our various disciplines, has been manifested.
1.6 Research Question
In other to achieve the objectives of this study, the following research questions have been formulated:
- Why do you think student do not use the library to improve on their academic.
- What role does the library play in our academic and social life.
- What re the challenges facing students in effective use of the library.
- What are the possible solution to these challenges.
1.7 Significance of the Study
A critical study of various literatures reveals that effort has been made in the past to let the student know the importance of library to their academics and why the library on a compendium of knowledge to human life. The research is thus on improvement on earlier ones as it focus on the library as a compendium of knowledge to human life.
However, this study will be of immense valve because it is hoped to provide an insight into the relevance of library to human life and academics.
1.8 Definition of Terms
1. Compendium:
A collection of facts, drawings and photographs on a particular subjects, especially in a book.
2. Knowledge:
The information, understanding and skills that you gain through education or experience.
3. Library:
A collection of graphic materials, arranged for relatively easy use, cared for by an individual or individuals familiar with that arrangement and available for use at least a limited number of persons.
4. Information Seeker / Seeking:
Refers to the practical process of obtaining the information needed via specific information databases or information network.
5. Educating:
This is one of the main roles of the library. To educate by ensuring community life. The library provide access to knowledge recorded books and other graphic and non-graphic materials the library also provide essential support to the realization of the educational objectives of any country.
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