Lack of concern for institutional libraries and its effects

Abstract

Lack of funding has remained one of the most crucial resources for libraries worldwide because most library policy makers are not librarians themselves. There has been a major decline in the funding of institutional libraries. This is attributed mainly to economic reasons, from founders who view libraries as less relevant in a world where google can search for any book. The current remuneration and salary packages together with incentives for the ordinary librarian has dwindled. The rank of the librarian in some tertiary institutions are seen as a lecturer though the rank is synonymous to the pro-vice chancellor or next after the vice chancellor of a university. This has made it very difficult for staff working within the library institution to upgrade into different disciplines reducing the number of library staff gradually. Important facilities needed by every library such as printers, papers, toners, photocopiers, computers, laptops, scanners, internet accessibility etc. is mostly ignored by policy makers leaving the library under resourced. The library can take the role of most search engines if it is equipped with the need facilities to operate as such.