ROLE OF LIBRARY COMMITTEE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACADEMIC LIBRARY
ABSTRACT
This research work is aimed at finding out the role of library committee in the development of an academic library: a case study of Imo state university. The benefits problems and reasons for the development of the committee are discussed. Questionnaires are sent to Imsu library and were collected back which the major instrument for data collection.
Opinions of people were gotten from questionnaire which was used in the frequency table.
Recommendations are made by the researcher on the ways and means of solving some of the problem hindering the development of the library committee in academic library.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF STUDYÂ
The researcher would want to explain this topic by defining the term library committee. Library committee is defined as a group of people appointed by a larger group to deal with a particular matter in the institution. In other words they are fully involved in the planning and improvement of academic libraries in the institution.
According to Izebekher (1992) library committee is a crucial internal government unit of the library, a partner in progress and a force to drive home the demands and needs of the library in the academic board.
In this, the establishment of the library committee has become an accepted practice in academic libraries in Nigeria. Therefore in every well organized library, especially in the academic context, emphasis has been made on the existence of a result oriented library committee. In some academic libraries, they are as old as the library itself. According to Oduagwu (2006): library committee is the management of a library, the government of a library, the library board, library trustee board, library advisory committee etc. the library committee plays an important role, it is the committee that is responsible to provide an atmosphere where student and faculty alike will feel free to seek help of libraries and staff in obtaining information either from our own collection or from other sources. They also take part in the college programs as it strives to meet the needs of students, faculty and staff in their academic and research programs as well as providing materials for their leisure and reading needs. Library committee could be seen as a group of people appointed by the institution and government to control the entire library system. The library committee is the body of the library that makes policy. They are appointed by the institution and the government as well. Their appointment does not base because of their profession and trust but because of their ability for leadership, and are devoted to the conviction that information seeking, reading are very essential to the institution. However it should be noted that the future of the library will depend on the effectiveness with which trustees members are handling polices, and serve the interest of the library.
