GST 121: Use of Library, Study Skills and ICT (2 Units)

COURSE OUTLINE

Week

1) Introduction of the course

2) Brief history of libraries; Development of libraries in Nigeria
3) University libraries and other types of libraries;
4) Library and education;
5) Study skills (reference services);
6) Types of library materials, using library resources including e-learning, e-materials,
etc.;
7) Sources of library materials, care and preservation
8) & 9 Understanding library catalogues (card, OPAC, etc.) and classification;
10 Copyright and its implications;
11 Database resources; Bibliographic citations and referencing.
12 & 13 Development of modern ICT; Hardware technology; Software technology;
Input devices; Storage devices; Output devices;
14 Communication and internet services;
15 Word processing skills (typing, etc.).

Examination

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The Library

What is a library?

Library is derived from a Latin word “liber” meaning books. A library is defined as an institution
responsible for the collection, processing, organizing, and storage of information resources to aid
easy access, retrieval of the information by the user. The American Library Association defines
the library as a collection of resources in a
variety of formats being organized by the experts or information professionals
provide access, convenient to physical or digital information to
targeted services and achieve the mission of educational needs by promoting society
as a whole.

Brief history of libraries

The history of library will be described under the following:

- Ancient Era
- Medieval Era
- Modern Era

Ancient time: the history of library can be traced to the Sumerians who developed the
clay tablet in which cuneiform signs & character were used to record the activities of the
government. This made impression on wet clay tablets which were later dried &
hardened. This clay were later preserved and neatly arranged. The Egypt later established
library and used Papyrus for writing as advancement of clay.

Medieval time: Christian play important role during this era. At this time libraries were
usually in Monasteries and Cathedrals managed by the Priests. The Monks and Bishop
were responsible for the growth of libraries. At this era, the Parchment Codex was the
principal medium of recorded knowledge which replaced papyrus. The parchment code
resembles the book of today as it was bound manuscripts which had been folded into
several parts & then sewn. At this era in Europe Islamic libraries were also developed
especially among the Arab and Asians. Then paper was invented as a medium of writing.

Modern Era: Johannes Gutenberg accelerated the growth of libraries in Europe. Hand
copying of manuscripts was stopped discontinued. Many large libraries were established
in Europe. Also libraries were developed in United States of America during this era. This
lead to the development of libraries all over the continent

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Brief history of libraries in Nigeria

The evolution of libraries in Nigeria was traced to establishment of Lagos Book Club in
1920s. The club was formed by a group of expatriate civil servants and some Nigerians. In
1932, the Lagos Library was established and the books formerly owned by the Lagos Club
formed the nucleus of the Lagos Library which was a subscription library in which members
had to pay a fee to make use of the library facilities.

In 1948, the University College Ibadan Library was established with about 18,000 volumes of
books which were formerly owned by Henry Carr. These books were bought by Nigerian
government to formed the nucleus of the university library.

Another notable Nigerian that contributed to the development of Library in Nigeria was Tom
Jones. He was the founder of Tom Jones Library in Lagos. In 1943, the British Council
Library was opened. It was formerly an information Centre during the war period which also
provides facilities for people interested in reading. The British Council later established
libraries in Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan and Benin City.

The establishment of the university college library was the beginning of a library that could cater
for the information needs of the nation. The publications ordinance was passed in 1950 and made
it compulsory for publisher to deposit two copies of every book published in Nigeria with Ibadan
university College Library.
TYPES OF LIBRARIES
There are different types of libraries.
1. School library
2. Academic library

3. Special /Research library

4. Public library
5. Research library
6 Private library
7. National library

School Library

School Library: These are libraries established in nursery, primary and secondary schools to aid
and support learning and teaching. The main purpose of establishing school libraries is to meet
the information needs of the pupils, students and staff of the schools. A school library is
managed by a school librarian

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Function of school libraries

1. To acquire, organize, and disseminate information resources required for the school
curriculum
2. To assist in the promotion of reading skills and learning habits of students
3. To improve young peoples interest and zeal to use the library
4. To established a conducive reading environment for student in other to stimulate reading
culture
5. To encourage students to make adequate use of their time
6. To help students acquainted with books when they are young

Academic libraries

Academic libraries: Academic library is a generic term used to refer to libraries established in
tertiary institutions such as university, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other higher
institutions. This type of library performs and supports academic objectives of the parent
institution which is anchored on teaching, learning and research. The primary goal of academic
library is to meet information needs of the students, staff and host community.

Function of academic library

1) To provide information material (print and non-print) required for the academic
programme of the parent institution
2) Provision of information material in support of learning process of student course work,
term paper and projects
3) Provision of information resources that supports the information needs of faculty and
postgraduates students who are carrying out research work
4) Provision of information materials that assist the library user for recreation and self
development
5) Provision of conducive accommodation for study and research

University libraries

A university library is a kind of academic library that serves the information needs of the
university community through the provision of information resources that supports teaching,
learning and research. The primary aims of university library is to promotes and support the
objectives of the institution which is based on teaching, learning, research and services.

Note: The functions of university library are the same with academic library.

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Public libraries

These are library established and owned by state or local government. They are established to
meet the information needs of the community and the general public. These types of libraries are
regarded as layman’s university. Public university provide services to all everyone in the
community. It is open to all the community regardless of their status, race, nationality, age sex,
religion, and educational background. These libraries are established and maintained with tax
payers money.

Function of Public libraries

1) Education: the public library acquire, process, organized and disseminate information
materials that promotes and developed the educational standard in the people of the
community
2) Promotion and preservation of culture: Public library play active role in cultural
promotion and preservation through the acquisition of varieties of information materials
on the least culture
3) Provision of information: The paramount function of public library is to provides
information services to its users
4) Creation of relaxation and recreational centres: Public library provides convention and
conducive environment for people relaxation.

Special /Research library

Special libraries are library established to meet information need of a particular organization
through the provision of specific information resources, and services to staff based on the
objectives of the parent organization. Example of special libraries is Medical library, Law
libraries etc. This kind of library can also be refers to as research library because they focus on a
specialized area of research to meet the information need of a specialized group of people.

Function of Special /Research library

1) To acquire, process and organized information resources of the parent organization

2) To provide reference and referral services
3) To provide conducive and convenient environment for research activities

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Private Library:

These are library established, owned and funded by individual or families. The collection in this
library could be single or multidiscipline. Example of private library is Obafemi Awolowo
Private library, Obasanjo Private library. The major function of private library is to provide
specialized information services to the owner.

National Library

National library is the library established by nation and is regarded as the apex library that
collect, acquire, organized, stores, preserves and disseminate information resources published
within the country, about the country and by the citizenry. National library is established by the
National Library of Association act 1964. The national library of Nigeria is currently situated
Abuja and it has its representative in all the 36 states in Nigeria. The national library serves as
the depository centres. The national library is funded by federal government

Function of national library

1) To collect and provides comprehensive collections that reflects the national heritage
collection that reflects the national heritage of the nation
2) It serves as a depository centre for all publications (print and non-print) resources
published within and outside the country
3) It is responsible for assurance of International Standard Book Number (ISBN) and
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) to publishers and authors within and
outside the country
4) It compiled and publishes the National Bibliographic of Nigeria
5) It is responsible for the publication of the Union Catalogue and directories of libraries in
the country
6) It provides leadership roles through facilitating development of library activities

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Library and Education

What is Education?

Education can be defined as the process of acquiring knowledge or habit through instruction or
study. Education is the process of bringing desirable change in the behaviour of human beings.
The behavioural changes must be directed towards a desirable end

Education can also be view as a congregation of processes that enhances the positive values of a
society, by imbibing knowledge, abilities and attitudes in a controlled environment like a school,
leading to individual development and social competence arising from an amassing of
experiences and observations.

The relationship between the library and education are so inseparable, while the library plays the
enviable part of the knowledge source, its dissemination, protects knowledge and its storage,
education cannot exist on its own without a library support, and a library is redundant if it cannot
pass on education (InfoScience Today, 2017)

Library and education has became symbiotically and dependent on one another. The library;
education, literacy and national development always went hand in hand; and have influenced
learner from the primary school level to the highest levels of education. Libraries have been and
will continue to be the centre of the academic excellence of all educational institutions because
they provide all the relevant information resources necessary for learning.

Library and education

The Libraries are considered as a hub of research and information and its play important part in
educating the masses. The basic relationship between library and education are:

 The library helps new students to get ready for new learning,
 provides information without the constraints about social, cultural and economic
impediment, helping students to get the desired information needs
information in least possible time,
 Providing information on equality basis without constraints geographically.
 Providing researchers a conducive learning environment
with all facilities.

In the age of Information Explosion and Information Technology

people often feel there are some other roles of libraries which being played in education and
lifelong learning process of them some are mentioned below.

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 1) Libraries provide leadership and expertise by using information and its affiliation
technology, which plays a role in teaching and learning process.
2) The libraries provide equal opportunity for all readers regarding information and ideas
which are affiliated with some educational institutes as well to public library unimpeded
by culture, caste, creed and social constraints.
3) Libraries are playing an important role in the achievement of students at their
academic level in the lifelong learning process of the individual
4) Libraries provide a lifelong learning process for the community members and assist
them in their difficult task/ Assignment.
5) Libraries prepare individuals in an information based economy and productive
employment.
6) Libraries prepare individually to prove himself as a responsible citizen
in contemporary society
In short Education and libraries are interdependent on each
other Education without libraries and libraries without education are paralyzed.

FUNCTION OF LIBRARY IN EDUCATION

The major function of the library is to perform the following to education

1) Informational function: The primary function of the library is to provide access to

information in diverse format (both print and non-print) to the user/clientele/patron
2) Educational function: the library carryout its educational function by providing access to
knowledge record in books and other format for realization of educational objectives
3) Research function: the library provides materials to meet the information needs of its
users in carrying out research activities
4) Recreational/Entertainment function: the library provides materials for recreational and
entertainment activities such as reading, relaxing to satisfy its users needs
5) Cultural function: the library serves as custodian of grey literature and materials that
contain the vital information on cultural belief and traditional of its community

Study Skills (reference services)

Study

Study is defined as a means to apply the mind to any subject to learn about it. Study is
accomplished through reading, observation, questioning, and reflection.

Types of study
1. Personal study

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 2. Group study

Personal study: is the type of study in which an individual read alone by heart but endeavor
to jot down important points

Group study is a process in which a group of student study related subjects together to
acquire a better understanding.

Studying entails a great level of concentration for its purpose to be achieved. There are
various ways of studying, they include:
a) Scanning: Scanning is reading rapidly in order to find specific facts
b) Skimming: skimming tells you what general information is within a section,
scanning helps you locate a particular fact

Types of skimming
- Preview
- Overview
- Review
c) Reading

Study Technique (SQ3R)

1. Survey: This entails students going through the information material to get the general
idea treated in the information content.
2. Question: before embarking on actual reading, you need to formulate some questions
based on the survey carried out e.g
(a) Why do I have to read this information resource?
(b) What benefit will I derive from reading it?
3. Read: This involves the process of reading the information resources, jot down important
points, and then you start to study with full concentration, to understand the concepts in
the material.
4. Recall: Here students try to recall what they have studied. It can be done either through
reciting or writing down the points to ensure learning has taken place.
5. Review: After recalling what you have learned, take time to check how many you got
correctly, and then make the necessary corrections.

The acronym for these is SQ3R, S= Survey, Q= Question, 3 R= Read, Recall & Review

Study Skills

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Study skills are strategies and approaches that are used to learn. Study skills’ are ‘the different
aptitudes that can be developed to improve a learner’s capacity to learning’. It is a process of
learning. The process to achieve good study skills
 Planning
 Time Management
 Memory and Concentration
 Helpful Memory Techniques
 Organizing
 Note-taking
 Studying

1) Planning

Planning involves making achievable goals – What are you trying to achieve? Identifying and
locating relevant information sources for users.
1) Manageable
2) Attainable
3) Realistic
4) Clear

2) Time Management

Time management is important because it can help prevent cramming and up-late-stressed. Time
management helps you make daily, weekly, and monthly schedules and ‘to-do’ lists
 Make a timetable/Schedule – have a specific time to study
 Be flexible – allow for downtime
 Construct your schedule the best way you can:
Morning, Afternoon, Evening, or Night
 Short Revision – 5-10 minutes at random times – Keep refreshing your memory
 Make study-Revision a habit – make it a habit and keep at it – stick to your schedule

To learn well, there are two things you need:

I. The ability to concentrate and minimize distractions while you are studying
II. Memory techniques to help you remember what you have learned

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3) Helpful Memory Techniques

This involves using various memory techniques to attain the study goal. To memorize
information, students simply repeat what they have learned over and over.

There are several ways that memory can be categorized:

1) Short-term
2) Long-term memory
3) Recognition Memory
4) Recall Memory

Short-term Memory is used when you just need to remember something for a short period

Long-term memory is used when you want to remember something for a long time

Recognition memory involves one brain remembering something when one sees it or recognizes
it again

Recall memory, this has to do with one remembering the exact information or something you
have learned or seen

4) Organizing
 Organize your time and notes Use your time wisely
 Switch topics every block/day
 Keep your concentration on your task
 Eliminate distractions (unplug the internet, phone, study in a quiet place)
 Reward yourself when you have reached a goal

Organizing your notes Good note-taking skills can help save time, energy, and effort and avoid
 frustration Use a three-ring binder: helps you add and adjust your notes
 Use colorful tabs and page dividers to help you separate key areas

5) Note-taking

LISTEN: Pay attention and take notes during lectures

WRITE: Mark important parts in your notes

Use symbols, shapes,

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Colours,

Numbers Underline,

Highlight,

Circle Use shorthand

Rewrite: Reread, rewrite all your notes

REFERENCE SERVICE

Reference service is the personalized service directed towards the users. Reference services are
sometimes referred to as reader services which aim is to satisfy readers' information needs

* It helps the readers in locating the sources of information relevant to their needs.

* Reference service also saves the precious time of the readers.

* It also contributes to enhancing the use of the resources and services of the libraries

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Parts of a book

There are several parts that makes up a binding of book. The blinding could be made up of soft
or hard leather, cloth, or paper. Generally a book has the following parts
 Blinding
 Preliminary pages
 Text
 Auxiliary or reference pages

The binding

This is the cover part of book that holds the printed page together

Preliminary Pages

These are the pages in a book that comes before the main text. They include the following;
- Fly leaves
- Frontispiece
- Half-title page
- Title page
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Table of content
- Preface
- Acknowledgement

The text

The text is the main body of a book. It is an expansion of the Table of Contents numbered using
Arabic numerals.

Auxiliary pages

The auxiliary pages follow the text of a book and may include the following:
- Reference/Bibliography
- Appendix
- Glossary
- Index

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SOURCES OF LIBRARY MATERIALS, CARE AND PRESERVATION

The library acquires its information from various platform or media where authentic information
are documented with intention to store, preserve, manage, disseminate and retrieve and use

Categories of information sources

Information can generally be categorized into the following

1. Documentary/print sources
- Primary sources
- Secondary sources
- Tertiary sources
2. Non-book/non documentary sources
3. World wide web/automated sources

DOCUMENTARY/PRINT SOURCES
- Primary sources: Primary sources are original materials, regardless of format. Letters,
diaries, minutes, photographs, artifacts, interviews, and sound or video recordings are
examples of primary sources created as a time or event is occurring. Primary sources are
information sources that gives first hand information examples are:

a. Periodical: these are information sources that appear at regular period in

numbered sequence. It can be daily, weekly, monthly or yearly
b. Journal: These are publication written by scholars and the community, issued
periodically in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designation
and intended to be continued indefinitely. Example of
c. Magazines: this information sources are made up of articles about current events,
news, lifestyle and culture. They are written by reporters, writers, journalist
d. Newspapers: this also a type of periodical that appear daily. They are written by
journalist.
e. Technical Bulletins: they are information materials that contain research findings
on specific subjects. They are published by research organization
f. Research/Technical Report: this is a report gives an account or description of an
event or process
g. Theses/Dissertation and Projects: they are information sources born as result of
researches conducted by a candidate
h. Conference Proceedings: they are proceedings collected from academic papers
that are published usually in the context of academic conference.

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 i. Grey Literature: this is primary sources of information. It is a literature type that
is academic in nature and formally published
j. Unpublished sources: these are information sources that are not packaged and
made available in the conventional published formats. They are considered due to
their usefulness, authenticity, archival and historical relevance. These sources
carry vital and original information. They includes minutes of meeting,
memoranda, dairies of government agencies, company files, court report etc

Other includes: trade literature, patents, standard, trade journal, learned journals, house journal

SECONDARY INFORMATION SOURCES

These are derived from already existing primary sources. They are mostly interpretation of an
original first hand information source or document. Secondary document analyze, comment on,
describe, evaluate and interpret the recorded primary sources. Examples of secondary sources
are: Bibliographies, treatises, monographs, indexes, textbooks and some reference materials

Reference Materials

Reference materials are not meant to be read from cover to cover but to refer users to the right
use or meaning of a word.

Types of dictionary
- General dictionary
- Subject dictionary
- Supplementary/Specific purpose dictionary

Encyclopaedias

Types of encyclopaedias
- General encyclopaedia
- Specialized encyclopaedia

TERTIARY SOURCES

These are information sources born as a result of the distillation and collection of both primary
and secondary sources. Tertiary sources compile index and arrange citations to serve as aid, or
direct users to other sources. They are usually credited to a particular author and are not majorly

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acceptable by academic research. Examples of tertiary sources are: dictionaries, encyclopaedias,
almanacs, guidebooks etc

Non-Book materials

These are information materials that are majorly

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