COST-DRIVERS AND THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING COST DRIVERS FOR VARIOUS LIBRARY ACTIVITIES

COST-DRIVERS AND THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTING COST DRIVERS FOR VARIOUS LIBRARY ACTIVITIES, 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The shift from the teacher to the learner has been a significant one. It does not mean that the role of the teacher is redundant, rather, that it is a change; that the act of learning must be substantially a proactive one and that access to learning resources is even essential than it has been prior to now. “In the traditional sense of the world, library is a collection of books and though derives from the Latin word “lire” meaning book, it can be referred to as an individual or private collection, but more often it is a large collection of information resources and a group of services that is funded and maintained by a city or institution. In the senses, it is not merely a collection, but an organized collection, intended for use, accompanied by a group of services for users. The collection and the services are often used by people who chose not to –or cannot afford to purchase an extensive collection themselves, who need materials.” Calvin R. (1999). However, with the collection or invention of media other than books for storing information, many libraries are now also repositories and points for maps, prints, or other art works , microfilms, microfiche, audio tapes, CDs, LPS, video tapes DVDs, and provide public facilities to access CD-Rom and subscription data base and the internet. Thus, modern libraries are increasingly being redefined as places to get unrestricted access to information in many formats and from many sources. In addition to providing material, they also provide service of specialists who are expert in matters related to finding and organizing information, interpreting information needs, called libraries. It is essential, the library service a multiplicity of purpose, that its staff is able to meet the demands of a sophisticated and literate audience, capable of using a variety of information and communication media. Libraries perform a range of functions in the society, academic libraries for instance obtain, collect and store literature for education and research purposes and is usually open to the general public. Public libraries provide communication with a wide choice of more general literature and other information media with as much of them displayed on open shelves. In addition online information searches on databases stored in CDROMs are also available, including photocopying, reading and printing from microfilms. ‘The role of public libraries has been changing in the past few years, notably through the acceptance of new media of communication, the recognition of the new social objectives and parities, which index reaching out to those who do not at present use the library services, thus,