THE IMPACT OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA (A CASE STUDY OF DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

University or Academic libraries are those associated with universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other comparable higher learning institutions. The significance of finance in delivering high-quality library services cannot be overstated. It is the glue that keeps the library's facility, collection, and employees together and allows it to achieve its mission (Etuk, 2015). As such, money might be seen as the library's soul. Any library's efficacy is hampered by a lack of money (Anafulu, 1997).

It is critical for a library to have the resources necessary to achieve its objectives. Beautiful architecture, well-trained employees, and cutting-edge information storage and retrieval technology can only be appreciated if users receive exceptional service. These services cannot be delivered unless appropriate funds are available. According to Enyi, (2001), libraries of all types require funding. The quantity of financing received by a library has a direct impact on the quality of its services. While the majority of library financing comes from state and local sources, federal money is crucial in providing libraries around the country with the financial support they require to serve their communities (Ayo-Sobowale, & Akinyemi, 2011).

The existing economic realities in Nigeria indicate that the government cannot pay university education solely. Government officials, scholars, economic experts, and others have made this basic fact known to university officials in a variety of ways and on a variety of times. As a result, some of them have begun on a variety of traditional strategies to create internal revenue to complement government subsidies and subventions. Etuk, (2015) opined that these strategies or sources have not rescued the universities, especially those in the Niger Delta from the challenge of under funding and its accompanying repercussions. The necessity to hunt out for alternate cash sources has now become vital.

Alternative Sources of financing refers to individuals, groups, places/areas, paths or ways of obtaining or creating money other than the popular traditional approaches to support public university education (Enyi, 2001). The sources require rigorous planning and methods targeted at acquiring large income from certain persons or group(s) of people or activities. In reality, alternative money sources are fresh and inventive sources of revenue. Ezeuwa, (2009) observed that many countries of the globe, especially the advanced ones, do not depend on the Government for their funding. They utilize alternate sources in addition to the standard sources. In most situations, the conventional sources account for lesser percentage of their entire revenue.

The majority of universities in Europe and America are supported by grants and endowments, alumni groups, community contributions, and sponsored research activities. Nigerian universities, in general, can follow suit and address the issue of inadequate finance for their highly regarded academic programs (Ezeuwa, 2009).

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

There is no question that public universities in Niger Delta States have faced unique problems and limits in terms of funding for successful university management. Students in Nigeria's post secondary schools suffer poor study environment due to overcrowded classrooms and dorms, inadequate library and laboratory buildings, and deteriorating infrastructure. In the new century, the administration of public universities faces a severe state of uncertainty; there is a tremendous lot of pressure to meet a variety of performance standards in a context of student performance, staff development, and financial accountability (Ayo-Sobowale, & Akinyemi, 2011).

Inadequate financing has put university libraries under a lot of pressure and stress (Nwiyi, 2016). The alternative funding from internal produced income notion, on the other hand, suggests that the government does not have to assume the obligations for providing money for all of its institutions across all spending categories (Obasi, & Asodike, 2007). As a result, public universities are pushed to look for methods to generate more cash locally and regard it as a supplement to government monies in order to properly administer the institutions and fulfill their lofty goals.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of alternative sources of funding for University libraries in Nigeria. Other aims of this study are:

i.          To determine how adequate funding is for Nigerian University Libraries

ii.        To identify the sources of funding for Nigerian Universities Libraries

iii.      To identify the the alternative sources of funding for university libraries in Nigeria

iv.      To identify the gains of alternative sources of funding for university libraries in Nigeria

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

i.          How adequate funding is for Nigerian University Libraries?

ii.        What are the sources of funding for Nigerian Universities Libraries?

iii.      What are the alternative sources of funding for university libraries in Nigeria?

iv.      Are alternative sources of funding gainful to the Nigerian Universities?

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be of great significance to the education sector as the findings of this study will show how beneficial funding is to the university libraries in Nigeria. It will also be beneficial to the administrators of Nigerian Universities as this study will reveal sources of alternative funding for their academic libraries.

Finally, this study will serve as an existing material for further research and future references.

1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY

This study will be focused on the impact of alternative sources of funding for University libraries in Nigeria. It will also focus on sources of funding to the Nigerian University Libraries and the benefits of having additional funding.

This study will be using staff of Delta State University Library as enrolled participants for this study.

1.7 LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This study will be limited to the impact of alternative sources of funding for University libraries in Nigeria. It will also be limited to the sources of funding to the Nigerian University Libraries and the benefits of having additional funding.

This study will be using staff of Delta State University Library as enrolled participants for this study and as such, the results of this study cannot be used any where else until further research is carried out.

1.8 DEFINITION OF TERMS

Impact: a marked effect or influence

Library: A library is a collection of materials, books or media that are easily accessible for use and not just for display purposes.