The fact that many Nigerian schools have so–called libraries yet provide only a limited supply of books is a serious indication of how neglected the entire education system is. The quick decline of school libraries in Nigeria is a major issue that needs to be addressed by the governments involved in this education challenge. Therefore, when I visit many public schools in Nigeria today, this negative impression of what I find in the school‘s library is intensified when I walk into the library. There are often dusty rooms filled with very little, if anything, of value to support the reading process, broken shelving that displays outdated textbooks, etc.
As such, this “quiet disappearance“ happens, and students, as well as teachers and parents, don‘t realise it until they begin to talk to students about where they will read. The result of the significant decline of libraries will have a negative impact on multiple facets of a student‘s educational experience, including what they learn, what they read, how they imagine their future world, and who they will ultimately become.
Acknowledging the Quick Decline of School Libraries in Nigeria
School libraries in the country used to be a point of pride for many Nigerian schools. Students congregated there during breaks from their classes. Teachers used the books for lesson notes. I cannot forget visiting a small library in my primary school as a young girl and feeling curious about the world beyond what my eyes had seen.
Where did it go wrong?
Several issues pushed libraries to the periphery:
- Inadequate funding for replacements and maintenance
- Lost books not being replaced
- Lack of trained librarians
- Damaged school buildings
- The growing tilt toward digital learning without sufficient planning
Although a few schools still have a library “space” to meet inspection requirements, the shelves have always been empty. There is nothing inside these buildings that supports actual reading.
The Significance of the Decline of School Libraries
Generally speaking, most schools do not have “libraries” or books, and thus, this type of library causes students to have multiple issues in their learning process. A library is not only a large room that has books; a library is support for reading, writing, researching, and finding new things to be curious about. Once a library has closed, students will also have lost access to all resources relating to textbooks. There are several ways that this has affected students’ learning each day:
- Students are only referenced to classroom notes.
- Every year teachers are teaching the same exact content.
- Students cannot go beyond the limit of one single textbook.
- Doing research becomes guesswork.
- The reading culture of students has decreased.
To put it simply, if a child has no access to books, how is that child going to discover other interests? How can a teacher expand on a lesson if there are no materials?
The Hidden Signs of a Failing Library System
Most people may not be able to see this decline immediately. The decline begins slowly, with a missing wall of shelves, with old broken chairs and books that smell old. Eventually, one day the doors to the library are locked, and no one ever complains because no one has used the library in years. Some of the indicators that libraries are at this level are listed below:
- The library has not added any new books within five years.
- The library is being used as a storage area.
- The library has been locked due to a lack of staff being assigned.
- Encyclopedias are still in the front of the library from several years ago and are outdated.
- There are damaged walls, leaking roofs, and broken windows.
Once libraries have reached this stage, students will no longer view libraries as a place to go to learn, and students will walk right past them and not even look.
The Impact on Reading Culture
The quiet demise of school libraries in this country has had a direct effect on the reading culture of our kids. If children do not see books to read, they rarely read them, simple. If teachers have no lesson materials, they can’t influence wider reading, simple.
Some obvious effects are:
- Poor vocabulary development
- Terrible comprehension skills
- Lack of interest in writing
- Poor performance in subjects that need research
- Limited exposure to the outside world
Reading should have a natural feel to it, but without books around these kids, they start to see reading as a chore. They only read when they have exams to write.
What Schools Can Do
The situation may look overwhelming, but small, steady actions can bring life back into school libraries.
Schools can:
- Reorganise their remaining books and build simple catalogues
- Put aside one block or classroom as a temporary library if the old structure is unfit
- Enjoin teachers to contribute at least one book every term
- Solicit community volunteers to help with sorting and rebuilding.
- Start a reading period once a week
- Train one staff member to assume basic library duties
These steps might be small, but they send a clear signal that reading is very important.
How Rural Communities Can Help to Halt Decline
Communities often underestimate their abilities when they have one voice and purpose. An adequate library benefits everyone, not just students.
Parents and local groups can:
- Plan and execute book drives
- Sponsor necessities such as shelves, chairs, or curtains
- Join to fix broken windows and doors
- Volunteer during reading sessions
- Encourage students who show interest in writing or research
Small rural communities across Nigeria have rebuilt simple libraries through local efforts like this. When people come together in such a manner, the difference is always clear.
Tackling the Quick Decline of School Libraries in Nigeria
The quick decline of school libraries in Nigeria, or the fading of the library from the lives of the Nigerian child, is a form of fading away of the child. Therefore, by having a strong library, students will build confidence; be able to explore and imagine new ideas and thoughts; develop independent thinking patterns; and develop a love for learning as opposed to a dislike for work (learning).
You need not have a perfect building to begin the development of an effective library; however, you do require the commitment to provide those students who deserve to have access to books through the availability of those books in libraries.
