Unilorin to get new library block soon

To address space constraints being experienced by users of the existing library, the University of Ilorin will soon commence the construction of an additional library block.

The University Librarian, Dr Joseph O. Omoniyi disclosed in a chat with Unilorin Bulletin in his office recently.

Dr. Omoniyi explained, “This library complex was commissioned for use in 1990. We had five Faculties then. Now, we have 15 Faculties with each of them about double the population of their sizes at that time.  So, our major constraint at the Library had been space”.

The University Librarian, however, disclosed that “the good news now is that the second phase of our structure is coming up. It is to be built at the back and will be a solution to existing space constraints.”

According to Dr. Omoniyi, “The existing structure has fundamental design defects that had been identified. We had been coping with it all along. For instance, the basement is flooded with water. Library toilets are filled with water even during dry season. When rains come, the water can be about a foot or more high on all the basement floors particularly the toilets.”

He stated further, “Again our electrical system has challenges that make air conditioning ineffective. In the afternoon, the library can be very hot. We responded working on getting industrial air-conditions but the power supply defect is stalling these efforts because even small air-conditioners trip off our fuse.

 

“This administration and previous ones had made several efforts consulting professionals from Abuja who had made repeated visits and inspections. Our experts from Works, Geology, and Civil Engineering Departments had also visited this place all to no avail”.

The University Librarian explained that the design of the new structure had taken all these defects into cognizance, saying that the defects might be finally fixed during the construction of the phase 2 library block.

“The new structure for instance will have no basement”, he explained, pointing out that “it will also have expandable walls so that as students population is growing, we can have increasing space.”

Dr. Omoniyi disclosed that the new phase would adopt new technology in building design “so that as the University is expanding and library users are increasing, available library space will also be increasing without changes in structural designs or construction”.

The Principal Officer also lamented the challenges of staffing at the library, saying, “There are three broad divisions in the library each of which ought to be headed by a Deputy Librarian. The Technical Services

Division, for example, has several sections like Acquisition Section, Cataloguing Section, etc. It is the function of this section to keep books in the library.”

He said, “I am supposed to have at least five Cataloguers equivalent of Lecturer 1 and Chief Cataloguer equivalent of Senior Lecturer”, adding that the Head of the division had just been employed by the Kwara State University (KWASU), thus compounding the problem.

“I depend on para- professionals, those with Diplomas in Library Science instead of matured and experienced professionals”, Dr. Omoniyi further explained, saying even at the Readers Services Division, the Head who was equivalent of Principal Librarian (about the grade of Senior Lecturer) has retired.

Dr. Omoniyi disclosed that qualified and experienced librarians are hard to come by since almost government agencies at all levels require their services. He, however, thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Prof AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON) for the recent mass promotion of workers at the library, noting that since he joined the University Library in 1976, the staff had never experienced such a massive appreciation of their services and elevation of their cadres.

“It is one event that gives me joy. That it happened while I am here is gratifying. My hope and prayer is that this generosity will even inspire us to do more”, he said.