Sorry state of Sokoto library

According to her, a ‘Satryana’ is a  Biochemistry book authored and published in India, which is very popular and common among students of Miochemistry everywhere in the world.‘Booklshelf’ also gathered that the book is equally common among students of Human and Vetenary Medicine.A’ishat is gathering materials for her approved project topic “Moringa Oleifera and Alum, […]

According to her, a ‘Satryana’ is a  Biochemistry book authored and published in India, which is very popular and common among students of Miochemistry everywhere in the world.
‘Booklshelf’ also gathered that the book is equally common among students of Human and Vetenary Medicine.
A’ishat is gathering materials for her approved project topic “Moringa Oleifera and Alum, A Comparative Analysis” as a prerequisite for the award of Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry.
She was astonished at the absence of books relevant to her course of study at the Sokoto State Library.
“I came with my project file thinking I can get some materials that would enable me complete my project, but there is no sign indicating where I can find any book on Biochemistry. I checked all the signs and shelves, but there is no book relevant to my course not even the most popular and common among the students of Biochemistry ‘Satrayana,” she regretted.
A’isha who was visiting the library for the first time, said she felt disappointed and as such tagged the library “ a no-go area” for the students of Biochemistry.
Malam Abubakar Muhammed, a part-time student of Islamic Studies at the Usman Danfodiyo University also collaborated that the library was going out of stock.
He wondered how a library that is in the Seat of the Caliphate was lacking some up-to-date materials on Islamic Studies.
Another student of    part-time programme of Danfodiyo University, who is reading Library Information , Danjibo Danladi Dawai, observed that the management of the library is not ready to come to term with the reality of the day, which is  e-library.
“We are in the era of ICT, an era of e-learning, you don’t have to be keeping books like this, store some if not all of them in the system. This would make it easier for the students to get what they want as quick as possible,” he said.
However, Malam Falalu B. Ibrahim, a student of Linguistic Department at Shehu Shagari College of Education and Miss Edith Araji, a part-time student at Danfodiyo University who were met reading for their on-going examination, held a contrary view.
According to them, everything about the library is in order.
Ibrahim who is undertaking a Bachelor of Education in Hausa Language told ‘Bookshelf’ that the library has the latest books on shelves, and they were neatly arranged.
Miss Araji while concurring that added that facilities at the library are superb.
However, the users of the library unanimously gave the management a pass mark for maintaining sanity in the premises and also for making the place conducive for learning.
They also commended their security measures of a thorough check at the entrance of the library to ensure nothing dangerous is taken into the premises.
The Head of Department (HOD), Readers Services, Aminu Shehu told ‘Bookshelf’ that it is not surprising not to have all the needs of the students in stock and that their supply was  based on the recommendation by their Selection team and resources at their disposal.
“We have a team of experts that selects and recommend the books that we should buy every year and in what quantity, depending on the budget approved for the library by the government.
Shehu said “we have a lot of latest books but are presently undergoing some processes, such as stamping, accessing register, cataloguing, among others before we finally put them on shelves.
The HOD added that they would soon establish branches in the three Senatorial zones.
The Director, Library Services, Alhaji Aliyu Alkali said that 50 million Niara was earmarked for capital expenditure in the Library, which he said can accommodate 735 users at a time.
The library, according to the Director has in stock fairly up-to-date publications including a 2012 editions, which consists references, school text books, journals, periodicals, thesis, dissertations, official publications and audio-visuals materials among others
Alkali also said their supply is regular and most of their materials were coming either through direct purchase or donations, adding that they are working towards setting up e-library by December, this year.