LIBRARY IS A NECESSARY EVIL, DISCUSS?

INTRODUCTION:

Library can be defined as a building or room irrespective of its architectural design set apart for keeping and use of its collection of books and other literacy resources kept for reading, studying and consultation.

There are various types of libraries ranging from public to private libraries, school libraries and research libraries etc. each of which have their various characteristics and features.

However, one of the common characteristics of library is for knowledge acquisition, consultation and research purposes especially in the field of academics among others.

LIBRARY AS A NECESSARY EVIL:

Having defined library in its brief and stated what it is meant for, the statement about library being a necessary evil cannot be over emphasized.

I wish to supports the above indispensable and undisputable truth by discussing on the importance of libraries to so many importance bodies and organizations and some of which cannot exist without a library before concluding on the topic.

First and foremost, there hardly exists any government parastatal without a library, where to consult, to store files and other books catalogs for prospective uses and accountability.

Secondly, library has become so important that even private individuals especially the educated see it necessary to have a library at home.

Thirdly, government has taken time and money to establish several public libraries for the use of her citizen not minding the cost because of what library can do.

More importantly, education has been seen, viewed and believed to be the backbone of any nation, country or state government.

Educations is been gotten from schools and without schools, knowledge will die or remain stagnant. Without schools no nation can prepare her future citizens. No nation will develop or grow.

Libraries are seen to be the backbone of schools, whether primary, secondary, tertiary and other higher standards schools. Without a school cannot be accredited. Without library, research cannot be made. Without libraries, information cannot be stored from generation to generation of students. Therefore it can be rightly justified that library is a necessary evil.

CONCLUSION:

If education is expensive, try illiteracy. This is to say that the cost of illiteracy is worse than the cost of being educated.

Relating the above assertion to library as being a necessary evil can be seen from the aspect of the cost of building and stocking a library, maintaining it and preserving the information stored there as well as updating it with current and valid information to make it consultable at all time.

Hornestly, building a library is capital intensive. Maintenance of a library is an all life task. Library is a necessity for all schools from f primary to tertiary. The importance of library to students in schools is manifold.

Library is a necessary evil, which is why despite their cost of establishments it cannot not be over looked by institutions of learning.

More so the government of any nation cannot undermine its importance and imperativeness.

Furthermore, for government to accredit any school or institutions of learning, library is a serious factor and criteria to justify the existence of such establishment.

With these and so many other reasons unmentioned here I support the assertion that library is a necessary evil.

Reference:

Adimorah E.N.O (1983): “Library Users and their Information need in Nigeria” Nigeria Library and information science review vol. (2) p.137-147.

Alfred Loan (1980)” Measuring Library Service (Library Association Record: Vol.82 (11) P540-541