Week 3

Venue: Auditorium. Time: 12pm-1pm

Lecture on GST 122: Use of Library
LIBRARY RESOURCES

Introduction
It has already been shown that there are various types of libraries. They are established to
perform certain functions. Library resources are those materials which enable libraries to carry
out their functions 'effectively. They are made up of books and other information bearing media.
Library facilities complement library resources.

Objectives
At the end of this lecture, you should be able to:
1. Identify library resources
2. Understand the services of a library

Library resources can be divided into groups according to their functions and level of scholarship
or according to their different formats. Library resources can also be grouped according to
formats. These formats are collectively called information carriers. Broadly, these information
carriers can be categorized as follows:

1. Printed materials

2. Non-printed materials

Printed materials are made up of all items that are printed on paper by moveable type and they
consist of books, serials/periodicals, pamphlets, government publications, etc.
Books may come in a single volume or in multiple volumes. They may be written by one or
several authors. They can also be fictions or non-fictions.
Fictions is simply referred to as storybooks or novels. They are read for enjoyments, relaxation
and vocabulary development. There is also subject fiction e.g. science fiction that can provide a
reader with some general information about the subject.
Non-fiction books are information books. They include textbooks and reference books. Whereas
textbooks are prescribed books to support curriculum, reference books can be described as fact
books that are consulted for specific unit of information and are not read from cover to cover.
Examples of reference books are: Dictionaries, Handbooks, Yearbooks, Standards, Digests,
Indexes, Abstracts, Directories, Gazettes, Maps, Atlases, etc.

serials/periodicals are continuing resources issued in a successive of discrete parts usually

bearing numbers that has no predetermined conclusion. They are published at regular or irregular
intervals and are meant to continue indefinitely. They have distinct titles and several authors
contribute to each issue. Examples are Journals, Magazines, Annual reports, Newspapers,
Monographic series.

Non-printed materials or media can be broadly classified into two classes. These are
a. Audio Visual Resources.
b. Electronics Resources.
c. Manuscripts
d. Cartographic materials
e. Graphics media
a. Audio Visual resources are the products of advanced technology. Many require special
equipments for their use. Audio visual resources can be either software or hardware. The
software includes cassette recordings, video cassettes, slides, transparencies, discs,
microforms, tape, etc. the hardware is the machine used to access the information stored
by the software. Examples are the projectors, the microfilm reader, the video player, the
computer etc.
Audio visual resources could be further grouped into three:
1. Audio-this has to do with hearing. They are sound recordings Produced on magnetic
tapes or on vinyl. Only the auditory senses are required for their appreciation.
2. Visual- this appeal to the eyes. Materials in this group include photographs, three
dimensional objects, painting and other information bearing resources that the eyes can
focus on and abstract information.
3. Audio-visual- These combine both the auditory and the visual. Sound films and slides,
video tapes, video-cassettes and television.
a. Electronic Resources
These are the set of electronic products, technological, tools and online resources that contribute
to a library’s responsibilities in the delivery of information to its community. These include e-
journals, e-book, online article databases, electronic reference works.
The hardware components of electronic resources may be storage devices like CD-ROM drive,
DVD drive, CD-ROM writer, Floppy drive, Flash drive. These components access information
stored in CD-ROM, DVD, Floppy disk, Flash disk which are all electronic products/resources.
i. Manuscripts: these are writing made by hand or as typescript, such as letters, minutes of
meetings, etc.
ii. Cartographic materials: these are materials representing the whole or part of the earth
surface or any celestial body at any scale. They include two- or three-dimensional objects
such as maps, plans, globes etc.
 iii. Graphics media: these are two- dimensional representation of materials, which can be
viewed without a projector like photographs, drawings, charts, postcards etc or those that
can be projected without motion by means of an optical device like filmstips, slides,
transparencies

Reference Sections/Materials
The Reference section is very important in any library. It is there that the staff answer reference
questions such as who is the head of state in India. When did the first coup d'etat take place in
Nigeria? Where can I find a book on butterflies? The books in the Reference Section are on
'closed access' this means that they cannot be borrowed or taken out of the library. Most other
resources in a library can be borrowed but reference books cannot.
General reference books are broad in scope. That is, they are not limited to particular subjects.
They have been planned and written for consultation purposes only. The information contained
in general reference books have been collected from several other sources and written by
specialists in their respective fields. This makes the information authentic and usually up to date.
The items treated are generally arranged in alphabetical order but sometime~ in chronological
order. The reference collection enables the reference librarian to answer all types of reference
questions and provide bibliographic services to readers.
Characteristics of Reference Books
i. These are not meant to be read from cover to cover like study books. Users only look up
specific items of information in them.
ii. Reference Books are housed in a separate section of the library.
iii. Usually, libraries do not buy multiple copies of reference books as they would for other
types of books.
iv. They are revised on a regular basis to keep them current.
v. They are more expensive than other types of books in the library.
vi. Reference books are multi disciplinary in nature. This is because they contain information
from several Sources and on diverse subjects.
vii. Reference books are usually provided with detailed indexes and cross-references.
viii. They are organized for quick and easy usage.

Reference resources include Encyclopedias, Dictionaries, Abstracts and Indexes, Handbooks,

Atlases, Gazetteers, Maps, Directories, Yearbooks, Biographical Dictionaries to mention the
most common. The kind of information which a user is looking for will determine the kind of
reference books to be used. The reference librarian will always be around to guide the users.
Encyclopedia
An encyclopedia is a compendium of information in all branches of knowledge. Encyclopedias
try to encourage and maximize as far as possible the significant or useful ideas and facts of the
topic starting with a definition of the topic, general background description and often a list of
further readings on the topic. Encyclopedias can be in one volume like A & C Black's Children's
Encyclopedia or in multi volumes like the Encyclopedia Britannica in thirty volumes including
the index volume.
Besides general encyclopedia, there are also specialized subject encyclopedias. They treat
information from the specialist point of view. An example of a subject encyclopedia is the
Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences which is fifteen volumes. Because encyclopedias take a long
time to prepare, they have supplements which bring them up to date annually or biannually.
Popular annual in this group are Britannica Book of the Year and Americana Book of the Year.
Dictionaries
Dictionaries provide information about the words of a language. Such information relates to the
meaning of the words, their derivation, spelling, pronunciation, syllabication, usage and current
status of the words. Dictionaries are generally arranged in alphabetical order letter by letter.
Examples of dictionaries are Advanced Learners' Dictionary, Webster New College Dictionary
and Funk & Wagnall's New Standard Dictionary of the English language.
Besides language dictionary, there are specific subject dictionaries. These treat words from the
specialist point of view. Subject dictionary includes Dictionary of Legal Terms, Dictionary of
Science, Dictionary of Modem Business, Dictionary of Geographical terms, A dictionary of
Physics.

Biographical Dictionaries
These are books which give written accounts of people's lives. It can contain a collection of
sketches of varying lengths about individual lives. The names of the person are arranged in
alphabetical order. Sometimes it may be names of famous men and women, politicians or
professionals. Examples are, Webster's Biographical Dictionary, and International Who is Who.

Bibliographies
A bibliography is a descriptive list of books arranged in an alphabetical order by authors'
surnames, other names and titles of works by the author. Bibliographies help librarians and
readers alike to trace certain books. There are general as well as subject oriented bibliographies.
Examples of bibliographies are, Nigerian Publications published by the National Library of
Nigeria, Fayose, P.O. A Guide to Children's Literature for African Teachers, Librarians and
Parents.

Directories
A directory gives a list of names and addresses of persons, institutions, organizations, business
enterprises and so on in a town, district, country or even the world. The best example of a
directory is the National Telephone Directory. Others are: The world Directory of Multinational
Enterprises, Directory of Catering and Hotels and Catering Establishments in Nigeria.

Handbooks
A handbook is usually a small book, conveniently handy and containing concise information on
a given institution or organization or country. For example, Nigerian Handbook produced by the
Department of Information in the Presidency. Guinness Book of Records which provides
information on the extremes in human performance and of the natural world, human
achievements, sports, humors, political and social life, military arts and so on.
Year-book
Year-books are published annually. They provide a variety of information and review of events
of the past year. The data and statistics contained in them are usually up to date and reliable.
Some Year-books are general in nature and many deals with a specific country, examples are the
Nigerian Year-book published by Daily Times, or provide information on world events
Statesman's Year-books. Some Year-books deal with specific subjects for example, International
Labour Office Year-book & Labour Statistics published in Geneva by the International Labour
Organisation (ILO), Withker's Almanac. This provides yearly statistics on a great variety of
subjects and countries especially the Commonwealth Institutions. Some organizations also
produce Year-books in which their activities are reviewed for example Commonwealth
Universities Year-book. This publication contains information on universities in the entire
commonwealth Countries such as the year founded, principal officers, names of academic staff,
and courses available and entrance requirements. It has an appendix which provides brief
information with statistics on the various commonwealth countries.

Atlases
An Atlas is a volume of maps, plates and charts which provide geographical information about
places. Some atlases have articles or brief description of items discussed. Others have tables and
others illustrative materials to highlight climate, vegetation, mineral resources, industrial
products and so on. The most comprehensive Atlas known is the Times Atlas of the world,
Gazetteers.’ Another is the Atlas of African History.

Gazetteers
A gazetteer is a geographical dictionary which provides information and data about places which
may include villages, town or rivers, mountains, lakes and other geographical features as well as
population, longitude and latitude.
The Gazetteer of the Northern Provinces Nigeria with a general introduction by A.H.M. Kirk
Green (1974) is a good example.

Manuals
These are like Handbooks. They provide guidance and information on given subjects or topic.
Turbian (1973) has produced A Manual for Writers of term papers, theses and dissertations (4th
ed. 1973), which gives information on how to plan, collect materials and actually execute a
project or conduct research.

Guides
They provide direction or help on a given subject or topic of a specific nature. Some guides
provide information on cities or countries. Examples are A to Z of London and A guide to Ilesha.
Others provide information on subjects in a bibliographic manner-Woodbury, M.A. A guide to
sources of Educational Research, and Lagos State Yellow Pages.
For reference books to serve the purpose for which they are intended, they are revised
periodically. We have already seen that some of the reference books, have annuals published to
make them current.

Services Renders in a Library

Libraries offers a wide range of services. Some library users are unaware of these services and
therefore do not avail themselves of them. Hence, it is necessary to acquaint the readers with the
services. However, the kind and nature of these services vary from one type of library to the
other. These services include:
i. Library Orientation: this is commonly offered by academic libraries. Library
orientation is the introduction of fresh patrons or newly admitted students. It is an
avenue through which fresh library users are being familiarized with the rules and
regulations, services and resources as well as the library information location tools such
as OPAC, database and index, institutional repository etc.
ii. Interlibrary Loan services: no library all over the world no matter how well endowed
and equipped could be said to be self-sufficient and sustaining, hence the need for
interlibrary loan. This process allows for a specific library to loan an unavailable
material on behalf of its clients from other cooperating library with the consent of the
patron due to the process involved
iii. Library Instruction: this is a systematic approach to teach the library users how to use
the library effectively and profitably. Library instruction also includes the assistance
provided by the library staff and the course on the use of the library.
iv. Information Service: Librarians provide information on demand when such request is
made by means of specific query and the information being provided on demand. Also,
Librarians provide information in anticipation of the need. Provision of information in
anticipation is meant to keep the users well informed and up to date in their field of
specialization/interest. This could be called selective dissemination of information or
current awareness services.
v. Selective dissemination of information (SDI): the Librarian have to carry out need
assessment of the community the library serves in other to collect require data that can
enable him to provide personalized services to the patrons. The library patron is
expected to provide his/her area of information needs to the Librarians who carefully
selects the relevant information materials and forward them to the patron.
vi. Lending and circulation services: a library is either a reference or a lending library. In
the case of the former, readers use library materials only within the library. Libraries in
this category only allow patrons to utilize the library resources within the ambit of the
library. The other type of library service is the lending, whereby library resources are
 given out on loan for a specific period of time depending on the policy of the library as
well as the academic level of the library users.
vii. Readers Advisory Service: this is concern with the provision of reading guidance to
individual users. The Librarian directs the user on the information material to reads for
his or her information needs.
viii. Current Awareness Services: this service is done to keep the users up to date with
the happenings in their subject areas of interest. It is to ensure that the users are aware
of recent developments in their field of their interest; hence users are informed of latest
documents available to the library or information obtainable elsewhere.
ix. Exhibitions and displays: these services are essential to draw attention of library users
to the services rendered by the library. It publicizes the services through illustrative
materials on display stands, display boards etc.
x. User Education: this service is provided in order to equip a user with enough
knowledge on the use of library. This will enable the users to use the library resources
effectively and efficiently.
xi. Referral services: this service is rendered in situations in which a reader might be
directed to another library or an alternative source of information, such as professional
organizations, research institutes and individual specialist which can meet the
information requirement/ needs of the reader.
Summary
We have examined reference books as an important class of library resources.
Reference books are those materials in a library which are consulted for specific items
of information The two most common reference books are encyclopedias and
dictionaries. Other types of reference sources and services are also described.