It is a building but way more than a building. It houses materials students could take advantage of to advance their academic and personal goals, but sadly a melee of students only know the building and not the rooms. Kowiyat Adepoju reports on the low rate of students visiting the Salawu Abiola Memorial Library.
This reporter was baffled upon entering into the library and finding not more than 10 students in the reading room that contains over 50 chairs and tables for reading.
More baffled was she when she took to the campus to ask students if they visit the library or otherwise.
“I am not aware of the existence of the school Library. In fact, I don’t even know the name,” said Bakry Mardiyah, an ND1 student of Pharmaceutical Technology.
She added, “How am I supposed to use the library when I’m not even aware of its existence and the school did not organize a library orientation for students to get familiar with the library?”
Hearing Mardiyah talk, expressing her discontent already gives you a picture of the pulse of students concerning the school library.
Mardiyah mentioned library orientation and how the lack of it has somewhat limited her from accessing the library, sharing same sentiment with her, surprisingly or unsurprisingly, was also an ND1 student, Adenuga Adeyemi who said that he does not go to the library because he lacks knowledge on library usage as the school is yet to organize a library orientation for them as freshers.
“His words, “I was hoping the school will organize a library orientation for us because I have never been to the library before and I don’t know how to use it.”
Okikiola Sulaimon, however, is an HND2 Student who had his ND in the school. This means that for 5 years he has been in the school.
Sulaimon recounted how the library orientation when he was in ND1 abetted his library usage.
“I got to know of the existence of the school library during the library orientation I had during my ND1 days.”
He affirmed that the library has exposed him to reading and knowing what’s happening in the world and things pertaining to his course of study.
So, the question on your lips would be, why has the school not continued the tradition of library orientation? We’ll get to that subsequently.
For now, some students, it is way beyond the orientation that accounts for their disinclination to the library.
“I am aware of the school library existence but I do not have any reason to use it,” Amusan Ayandunni said.
“I am not encouraged to use the school library because there are no new books of my choice in the library,” Adeleye Temitope, an HND1 Student of Mass Communication.
Ayomide Tella, an HND2 student of Mass communication said there’s no need for her going to the library when she can easily read her textbooks at the corner of her room.
Sharing the same thought was Aqwe Kome, an HND1 student of Mass communication, she opined, “I’m much aware of the school library but I don’t use it because I believe my books are enough for me to read.”
Times have changed, and generally in the country, the talk has been that people hardly read as much as they do in the past.
Technology has been attributed to be one of the reasons we have this narrative in the society today, and it seems such sentiment is not unfounded.
“My phone can serve the purpose of a library, so I don’t go to the library to read,” Abdulrahman Alabi, ND2 student of Business Administration.
Olawunmi AbdulWakeel, an ND2 Student of Pharmaceutical Technology, took a different side to the whole conversation, where she noted that the lecture time does not afford them the time and space to indulge in library usage.
Her words, “Where is even the time to go to the library to study when virtually all the time has been slated for lectures? Imaging having lectures from 8 am to 6pm, it’s choking.”
Library Pass
The library pass is a pass authorized by the school as the valid document to see a registered student gain access to the library and every of its features.
For some students, the library pass is the clog in their wheel of immersing themselves with the books there are in the library.
Emmanuel Kalu, an HND 2 student aired his view, “The library pass discourages me seeing that I don’t have one and a tedious process awaits should I decide to request for one.
“Typically, the criteria should be a running students ID card rather than a document to grant me an entry only to the library.”
In the same vein, Idowu Bolaji Aminah, an HND2 student of Accountancy said she does not have a library pass; hence, the reason she does not use the library.
Similarly, Helen, an HND2 student of Mass communication stated that she is yet to collect her library pass and that’s what often discourages her from using the school Library.
Let’s hear what the School Authority has to say to all this
Speaking with a librarian, Mrs. Afusat Akinsanya, at the Salawu Abiola Memorial Library, she gave reasons as to why there is a low turnout of students in the school library and what the management is doing to have more students in the library.
“The students need to know that they have come to school for a purpose. They have to develop themselves and improve their reading culture because if they do not read, they can’t pass their exams. We have many books in the library that can help them, even in their personal life. There are many vocations that have been put into writing such as bead making, shoe making etc such that when students get to read these books, they become expert in that field.
“Also, the library with the help of the management and a body called TETFUND have supported the library to acquire relevant and current books in every discipline and course that is taught in the school so that every student can have access to them.
“The major reason why students don’t come to the library is that majority of them are lazy. They don’t want to read. You see many of them cheating during exams and this is because they have failed to read. If they had actually loaded their brains with information that will help them during exams, they wouldn’t have had any cause to cheat during exams or get involved in examination malpractice.”
Mrs. Akinsanya added, “Another factor is that many of them rely only on class teachings, their notes and textbooks alone, and that alone is not enough. The library is open to them to get diverse information on various disciplines. Coming to the library to read other books makes them versatile and have broader view on their field of study.”
Fielding question on what the school management is doing to ensure that more students patronize the school library, she revealed that school will soon bring back the Library as a compulsory course for all students.
She said such will help students get familiar with the library as regards its usage while exposing them to the benefits in maximizing the library.
“As parts of the measures being put in place to have more students patronize the library is bringing back the method of incorporating library as a compulsory course to the students. By doing that, it will help students to get familiarized with the library, learn library usage and it will enable the students maximize the benefits inherent in the usage of the school library. By coming to the library, the students will be able to know the subjects and books relevant to them in their field of study, they can get to undertake and embark on research and solve societal problems. Like I do say, you cannot give what you don’t have and you are as good as the number of books you read,” explained Mrs. Akinsanya
On the issue of library orientation categorically, she revealed, “As regards the issue of library orientation, the school library does organize library orientation for freshers to familiarize them with the library and also teach them how to use the library.
“Very soon, we shall arrange one for the newly admitted students. When we have fresh students, we arrange for general library orientation and departmental orientation introducing each departmental books to the students so they can find it easier locating their books. Like I said earlier, the use of library as a course is in progress.”
Speaking on if students are authorized to borrow books from the library and the time the library is open, Mrs. Akinsanya said that such system is not yet found in the school because MAPOLY is not residential.
She added that the library is open to all students 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
“Students are authorized to borrow books from the library but the reason we don’t do that is because the school is not residential and we wouldn’t want a situation whereby students will take our books outside the school and do whatever they like with them but as a student if you are keen in getting one, you should let us know, we will know how to arrange for that. Then, the library is open to all students starting from 8am to 6pm; Mondays to Fridays. We also operate on weekend: mostly Saturdays but the hours are not that of working days. We close latest by 1pm,” she disclosed.
