BRIEF ON NIGERIAN ARMY UNIVERSITY BIU LIBRARY
The Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) was established to develop highly skilled manpower with distinctive competence capable of providing technological solutions to the problem of the Nigerian Armed Forces in particular and the nation at large. To achieve the set goals, NAUB Library commenced operation in a temporary building on 30 October 2018 to aid teaching, learning and research through the provision of current books, journals and periodicals in a serene environment. The construction of the state of the art ultra-modern NAUB library complex is expected to commence soon.
University libraries have long been recognized as the “HEART” of academic institution. No institution of higher learning can thrive academically without a well-organized and up-to-date library. This is so because the library contains collections of print and non-print materials preserved for the purpose of referencing or consultation. Libraries are source and pinnacle of academic pursuit per excellence.
The acquisition and processing of the library prints and non-print materials are done by professional librarians through series of departmental processes which includes amongst others selection, acquiring, inspection, verification, storage, processing and shelving. The NAUB growing library has three divisions and sub-divisions; the Information Resources Development, Reader Service and e-Library. The sub-divisions include among others Acquisition Unit; Cataloguing and Classification; Reference and Reserve Services abd Serial Section. While, divisions such as Research and Bibliographic Service, Bindery/Reprographic and the Media Division would take off as the library develops. The library services are also extended to faculties and will in due course outspread to all the departments in the university.
NAUB LIBRARY MISSION
“To deliver an excellent, innovative and responsive library and information service, fully integrated within the life and academic pursuit of the Nigerian Army University”
NAUB library mission statement is achieved this through the following objectives:
- Innovation, improving and extending the range of services and
resources we deliver, exploiting the opportunities offered by emerging technologies.
- Supporting students and staff to make use of library, managed information resources and services and connecting them to the other sources of information and university services.
- Championing the delivery of information, academic, research and digital literacy skills.
- Providing warm and hospitable library environment that meet the need for individual learning, research and collaborative study that are safe and secure.
- Engaging with our students and working closely with the wider academic community to ensure that their needs and expectations are fully met.
- Ensuring our staff have the skills, competencies and expertise to provide an effective service in a complex and changing environment.
NAUB LIBRARY VALUES
“Our Clients are paramount in everything we do”
The following services are rendered in line with the library’s values statement:
- Providing a welcoming and professional service that always exceeds expectations.
- Optimistic about change, challenges, innovation and creativity.
- Accomplishing success through teamwork, collaboration and individual effort.
- Promoting openness, integrity and fairness in everything we do.
- Guaranteeing accessibility, equality and diversity in all of our services.
- Committed to investing in staff development.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF NAUB LIBRARY
The NAUB library is organized into three divisions under the control of the office of the University Librarian. A breakdown of the sections of NAUB temporary Library is as follows:
- Information Resources Development
- Reader Service Division.
- e-Library Division.
OFFICE OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN
The University Librarian(UL) Office is responsible for the effective management functions and administration of the library for efficient service delivery. The UL office is saddled with the responsibility of planning, organizing, staffing, budgeting, supervision, measurement and evaluation of activities, operational procedures and services among others. The UL is the administrative and executive head of the library and reports to the Vice Chancellor(VC). He is assisted in the day-to-day administration of the library by the management team composed of the Deputy University Librarian’s and Heads of Divisions. The UL and other management staff worked as a team and policy decisions are made after wide consultation with all members of the team. The UL also recommend to the VC the employment and discipline of erring library staff. Major General MM Bunza PhD, CLN is the University Librarian.
INFORMATION RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT DIVISION
The Information Resources Development Division is responsible for the acquisition of books and other library materials through purchases, gifts and exchange in conformity with the NAUB library laid down selection and acquisition policy. The library is expected to within available resources ensure quarterly acquisition of additional volumes of books and journal titles to develop the library collections. Book selection are done jointly by library staff and faculty members to ensure that materials acquired by the library met the departmental requirements. Library collections are also developed through Gift and Exchange Unit saddled with the responsibility of sourcing for books, manuscripts, pamphlets and other materials from organizations, agencies and philanthropic individuals.
CATALOGUING AND CLASSIFICATION SUB-DIVISION
The Cataloguing and Classification Division is saddled with the task of cataloguing and classifying of books processed by the Information Resources Development Division. The division also provides cards for the library’s catalogues. This is done after cataloguing-in-publication (CIP) and original cataloguing done by staff of the division. Both the CIP and original cataloguing involve basic listing of information about books such as author(s), title, date of publication, series, size and the International Standard Book Numbers (ISBN) on cards.
The processing of library books also includes classification that involves assigning of call marks to books so that they can be grouped together on the shelves with books of the same characteristics. The Cataloguing and Classification of library materials is regarded as Behind-the-Scene activities. This technical processing is done to facilitate easy access of library materials by users. NAUB library uses the Library of Congress Classification Scheme to classify its books and journals. A catalogue cabinet, the keys to the library’s collection is maintained by the cataloguing division.
The Information Resources Development Division is headed by Mal. Ibrahim Aliyu (MNLA).
READER SERVICE, EDUCATION AND INFORMATION DIVISION
The Reader Service, Education and Information Division is saddled with the responsibility of organizing and controlling the use of library materials, charge and discharge of books and register library clientele as well as continuing education of library staff and clientele. As the main reading area, it is always in close contact with readers and ensures that library rules and regulations are strictly adhered to. Reader Service Division has further sub-divisions; the Reference, Reserve, Documentation and Serials.
All enquiries by the library users and reference services are handled by the respective sub-divisions. The division is also charged with the conduct of junior library staff training programme and the University’s General Studies Course (Library Instructions, Use of Library and Study Skills). Additionally, the division handles library publications. The following services are also provided by the division:
Circulation/Enquiry Desk: Is saddled with the responsibility of attending to the needs of library user such as registration, charging and discharging of borrowed library materials by the clients, answering users’ queries/enquiries, as well as refer users appropriately to where information materials can be found within the library.
Open Shelves Area: Is an area of the library where books are systematically arranged on shelves with reading tables and chairs. This area is conveniently curved out for library users to study, make research and consultations based on their information needs. Library users are usually advised to leave consulted library materials on the table, after use.
Library Catalogue Cabinet is placed at the entrance of the reading sections A & B of the library for users to browse through the records of library holdings and to enable them locate information materials on the open shelves. The filling of the catalogue cards is basically done by Author, Title or Subject.
SERIALS SUB-DIVISION
The serial Division processed the library acquired periodicals such as local and foreign journals, magazines, newspapers, annuals, bulletins, conferences reports, handbooks, memoirs, proceedings, monographic series etc. This is to support books and non-print collections of the library etc. Library users are expected to consult these materials in this unit and they are not meant for borrowing.
The Reader Service division is headed by Maryam Sabo Sulaiman CLN
REFERENCE AND RESERVE SUB-DIVISION
The Reference, Reserve, Documentation and Bibliographic Service Division stocks mainly materials including amongst others: encyclopedias, dictionaries, government publications, decrees, enactment of laws and proceedings, gazettes, maps, atlases, documentaries, research reports, theses/dissertations, advanced monographs and other ephemeral materials. The Division’s materials are not loanable and access to them restricted to users. Undergraduates require letters of recommendations from their heads of departments for consultation of specific materials within the unit’s reading area for a specified period of time prescribed by the Reference Librarian.
The Reference Librarian is a master of the entire library holdings and functions. The entire library holdings on shelves are at his fingertips and can within a twinkle of an eye lead an enquirer to the place where materials in the library can be found. Additionally, interpret, evaluate and recommend information resources to assist patrons with specific information needs. Reference librarian services goes beyond the walls of the library, he can therefore be reached on phone or mail by library patrons for information needs at any point in time. The Reference and Reserve sub-division is headed by Abullahi Rabiu
THE e-LIBRARY DIVISION
The e-Library Division is responsible for the development, organisation and handling of the Library’s electronic services. It also serves as an online library that stores digital contents accessible via internet. Other services the e-library provides includes internet accessibility, computer availability for users use, access to online and offline databases, management of the library software, teleconferencing, consultation and training. NAUB has at the moment two functional e-libraries with online and offline data bases.
The e-Granary Digital Library enable access to enormous offline services to both staff and students. The e-Granary consists of 1,310,000 e-Books, 523,000 e-Journals, 118,000 tutorial videos, 87,000 tutorial audios and 52,000 essays. NAUB e-libraries has over 200 desktop computers networked and connected to automated library software. The division is headed by Ugochukwu C. Ekeh CLN
LIBRARY AUTOMATION
Automation in libraries has been covered as an important act geared towards the development of modern day libraries, hence its roles in making sure that information is provided to library clients cannot be overemphasized. Modern libraries are complex systems that consist of many procedures and functions. Traditionally, these functions have included acquisition of materials, cataloguing and classification, circulation and interlibrary loan, serials management, and reference services.
The most important function, however, has been the provision of service to the users. For centuries, librarians have managed warehouses of documents by acquiring, cataloguing, classifying books, journals, and other materials, and circulating them to their clients. Computer and telecommunication technologies have empowered the new breed of information professionals to select, organize, retrieve, and transfer (SORT) the actual information effectively and efficiently to the users. Library automation is the use of automatic and semi-automatic library activities as acquisition, cataloguing, and circulation.
In line with the mission of Nigeria Army University Biu and NAUB Library, which is geared towards the delivery of an excellent, innovative and responsive library and information service to staff and students. The significance of automating NAUB library resources cannot be underestimated. This is so because NAUB library is poised to deliver a “Modern-Day” academic library. The process of automating NAUB library services is ongoing.