In Nigeria, a lot of people perceive libraries as elitist institutions, patronised by only those who can read and write. This explains the need for us to stress the true significance of libraries, especially public libraries, as we need to portray them also as spaces fitting for the unschooled, dropouts, as well as artisans. Hence, the need to make everyone (the seemingly ‘less-elitists’ inclusive) know that they are good enough to make use of a library, and how much information and skill for a better life they can acquire from using a library.

A good number of educated people in Nigeria often abandon libraries after schooling because they do not see the need for using libraries afterwards, and the root of our “wahala” in Nigeria can largely be attributed to that. This also tells us that libraries, in the light of their total essence, have to be redefined to Nigerians. Nigerians need to know that everyone, regardless of demographic and socio-economic status need library services at every stage of life and for one reason or another – at infancy, through school, for workforce development, start-up information, business success, as senior citizens, et cetera. Ironically, we (librarians and libraries) have so much boxed ourselves in as ‘necessary adjuncts for quality education,’ forgetting that …continue reading