Ibadan Book Club pays Courtesy Visit to Oyo State Library Board, Discusses ways to move reading culture forward in Oyo State

 

IBADAN BOOK CLUB PAYS COURTESY VISIT TO OYO STATE LIBRARY BOARD, DISCUSSES WAYS TO MOVE READING CULTURE FORWARD IN OYO STATE.

 

As part of its strategies in reviving and promoting reading culture in Oyo State, the Executive members of Ibadan Book Club paid a courtesy visit to the Management of the Oyo State Library Board on the 30^th of April, 2021.

Led by Ibadan Book Club Coordinator, Mrs. Ayobami Odunyemi, the visit was part of the Club’s outreach efforts aimed at boosting its relationship with the State Library Board.

Other members of Ibadan Book Club team that made the Visit to the Oyo State Library Board were: Jude Asogwa - Assistant Coordinator, Ndukwo Mary – Secretary, Emeka Emmanuel - Information Secretary, Oyewole Oyebode Daniel - Social/Welfare Secretary and Akinyemi Jelili - Financial Secretary.

 

Mrs. Ayobami Odunyemi disclosed that the visit had opened up a new episode in the relationship between Ibadan Book Club and the Oyo State Library Board, who should leverage on each other’s strengths to deliver better in the area of enhancing the reading culture of the state.

 

In the course of the visit, discussion was held on areas of assistance by the Oyo State Library Board.

 

In her remarks, the State Librarian Mrs. A.I Akinlolu commended Ibadan Book Club for her efforts in promoting reading culture in Oyo State. She also highlighted the contributions and efforts of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, the Executive Governor of Oyo State in transforming Oyo State Library Board to an enviable position. According to the State Librarian, the proposed synergy would also go a long way in realizing one of Engr. Seyi Makinde’s key concerns, which is to improve the teaching and learning environment with the provision of quality and quantity of infrastructure and to ensure that students adequately fit into the mainstream of the dynamic global system.

Also at the meeting were Pastor Akintunde, Director, [Public Library Service] and Mrs. Sekinat Akanbi, Director, [School Library Services] who corroborated the remarks of the State Librarian.

The Oyo State Library Board under the current headship of Mrs. A.I Akinlolu (State Librarian) came into existence historically in 1955, to support the free primary education of Western State Government led by Late Sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It was then known as Western Regional Library, was established by the Western State Government to:(i) compliment the efforts of government toward improving the educational standard (ii) provide qualitative library services to the people of the region and to the school environment (iii) to encourage reading culture among the school children.

 

In 1976, when Oyo State was carved out of the Western state, the library nomenclature changed to Oyo State Library under the Ministry of Education while the Head of Library was renamed the Chief Librarian.

 

The development of Library services actually took place in 1988 when the Military Administration of Col. Sasaenia Oresanya decided to enact a law for the establishment of Oyo State Library Board which is regarded as an autonomous government parastatal with the enactment of Edict No 18 of August 1988. This development thereby gave way for the

composition of Board led by Prof. Adebimpe Aboyade and supported by four (4) other professional librarians including Prof. D.F. Elaturoti (then Dr. Elaturoti) and Mrs. Oderinde (then of Kenneth Dike Library, University of Ibadan). The composition of the Board brought the

introduction of active library services in the state while the mandate given to the Board became more pronounced and includes provision of qualitative and quantitative library services throughout the state. These includes: (a) library services to the rural populace, (b) services to school libraries,(c) training of library personnel working in schools, local governments, ministries and other government parastatals (d) to serve as legal depository of all works published in the state.

 

In 1999, the State government approved the nomenclature of the Head of Library to change from the Director to the State Librarian; and now has 4 directorates namely (a) Public Library Services Department (b) Schools Library Services Department and (c) Administration and Supply (d) Finance and Accounts. The Board has two (2) functional Branch Libraries in Ibadan at Elekuro and Bodija. Three Zonal Libraries were built outside the State capital at Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Saki respectively. The first two Zonal libraries are functional, while the other

one is almost complete.

 

Presently, the Headquarters’ complex comprises of about 8 sections including an ICT unit which provides Information Technology services free of charge to the registered library users.