A SWOT ANALYSIS OF UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND RECOMMENDATION

A SWOT ANALYSIS OF UNIVERSITY LIBRARY AND RECOMMENDATION FOR PROPELLING WEALTH CREATION FOR THE UNIVERSITY BY N. A. AJAYI UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN

THEME: RESOURCES MOBILISATION FOR INCREASED IGR

Protocols The Vice Chancellor Deputy Vice Chancellor(A) Deputy Vice Chancellor(D) Registrar Bursar Provosts & Deans Ladies & Gentlemen

Preamble • I feel honoured to be called to stand before everyone here, on behalf of the University Library, • To deliver a proposal on avenues of generating revenue internally for the University. • Thus while we teach students, we also provide their needs at a token fee. We provide for their academic needs as well as personal needs. • Thus services they would have sought for elsewhere is made available at their door step, and the same money which they would have paid outsiders is charged for their services.

History of EKSU Library OAU Library OSUA Library • Established in 1982 • Started operations immediately • Renamed in 1984 UNAD Library Renamed in 1999 EKSU Library • 2011 • 5 -year strategic plan in 2012.

ICT and the Library • Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has grown sporadically extending to provision of broadband internet access which has put the campus on Wi-Fi network • Thus the University has provided a good platform which should necessitate the provision of services and resources in libraries, even at a fee. • IGR is not strange to the Library community though it is not really imbibed in the ethical standards of library profession as the profession upholds free services which must satisfy needs.

Library Automation • The initial automation software which the library commenced its services with was: • SLAM(Strategic Library Automated Management Software), the second one is: • SLi. MS (Senaya Library Management System), and we are looking forward to another one, maybe: • KOHA, which works well with Resource Description and Access, a platform for cataloguing information materials on the internet.

IGR and the Library • IGR in the Library and information community is seen as fee based library services. • This is a type of services provided, which augments the core services in the library, but which is provided at a fee. • Many libraries especially in the United Kingdom, Ireland, New Zealand, USA, Holland many other countries, have commenced its application and have started using a business model for certain services in the library. • Fee-based library services is still new to the libraries especially in Nigeria.

Core & Augmented Services Augmented services • additional services peculiar to each user, which such user requires to satisfy his needs. • the library would have to take extra step, effort, and money to make sure that a user gets exactly what he wants. • fee based service Core service • core services were given freely

Nigeria fee-based Library service • Medline, a database normally subscribed for at a high fee was used as the basis for application of fee based library services. • A survey was carried out to understand the feelings of users, who are medical students. • Findings showed that majority of the medical students patronised Medline database as they viewed it as a medium to satisfy their information needs, and not necessarily as a burden. • Thus the fee attached was not a discouraging step but a bolster to their academic engagement.

The mission of EKSU & Library Services • Provision of high quality educational experience shaped by outstanding teaching and research that benefits culture, society and the economy; locally, nationally and internationally • In line with the above, the below services are recommended as a takeoff of internally generated revenue for the Library. • The reasons for recommendation of services are also stated.

Reserved Reading Carrels • Reserved reading carrels for library services is invaluable for a cognitive development of readers. • Thus the library can reserve few rooms as discussion rooms for readers to book on a token fee. • The aim of the above is for readers to collaboratively grow together. • Unused rooms in the university library which can be turned into means of generating the above type of revenue.

Reprographic services • Reprographic services like photocopying, scanning, book snap shots, printing etc would be at a fee. • Private individuals from outside can be invited to bring their photocopy machines to be accommodated in the Library. • These individuals will be allowed to operate within the library, and to pay a yearly rent into the library purse.

Bindery services • The bindery unit of the library is a major source of library IGR base. • Thus if the unit is well equipped with adequate machine and human resources, it is capable of binding books, university documents, dissertations and thesis for the entire student population, lamination, spiral binding at affordable prices.

E- Library • IGR can be generated from the e-library as listed below. • Access to databases which the University would have subscribed to. Databases like “Proquest”, for a token. • Coloured printing at a fee • Image making at a fee. • Scanning at a fee. • Printing at a fee. • Attaching and sending of electronic resource to recipients. • Sourcing for electronic resources required by a user at a fee.

Library Registration • The University management has graciously approved that loss of library identity card, borrower’s ticket and mutilation of books to attract penalties. • Also penalty for returning library book late. • Replacement of lost book would be charged according to the prevailing market price.

Endowment & Launching • Another very viable avenue to generate revenue internally is through endowment and launching. • University Library contractors and book suppliers can be invited to financially assist the Library.

Gifts and Exchange • Revenue generation can be in form of cash and kind. • Therefore gifts, donations, and exchange from philanthropists should be more encouraged and intensified.

Diploma Programs in Library and Information Science • Commencement of diploma program in Library and Information Science would provide revenue for the University. • This is because the university would use academic staff already available in the library and no extra expenses while the fees accruing from the program would be used in paying token fees to the lecturers. The bulk of the revenue from it would be IGR for the University.

Certificate Programs in Library and Information Science • Several government agencies and organisations with non-qualified librarians. The secondary schools in Ekiti State do not have trained librarians; and it is against educational standards. • Establishing a certificate program for Library Assistants.

Recommendations • The provision of a handbook which contains services, rules and procedures in the library. • The handbook would be given at a token fee at the point of registration. The handbook would also include diverse services that would be provided to students on request and at a fee.

Recommendatn. Contd. • Strengthening the reprographic services in the library by employing more staff to provide photocopying services. • Staff could also be trained on how to scan, snap or video record pages of books as part of delivery services.

Recommendatn. Contd. • Commencement and strengthening of reference service section of the library. • The reference section of the library would be responsible for reference services. • The strengthening of the university library bindery section by employing six additional staff.

Conclusion • Fee based library services(FBLS) has come to be the mainstay of many libraries. • Though the fees normally attached is not to replace the sustenance percentage normally given to the library, however the token fee normally attached provides sustenance to certain services that would have been additional burden to the University.