The Oyo State Library Board came into existence historically in 1955, to support the free primary education of Western Government led by Chief Obafemi Awolowo. It was then known as Western Regional Library. It was established by the Western Government to;

  • Compliment the efforts of government toward improving the educational standard
  • Provide qualitative library services to the people of the region and to the school environment.
  • To encourage reading culture among the school children.

Our Vision

To serve as an instrument of improvement in the reading habit of the entire citizenry of the Library Services of the State particularly the Schools including those in the rural areas. A swell as the repository of all publications within the State.

Our Mission

To improve virile communities where information flow would improve the academic performance of the educational sector and make available to the various interests and institutions the widest possible range of books and other records of human intellectual work in Arts, Science and Technology restoring the glory of the State as a pace setter.

Our Objectives

  • Provide services as are usually provided by libraries of the highest standard in the world and serve as an instrument of improvement of the entire citizenry of the state.
  • Be responsible for the control, maintenance, operation of all state and local government libraries including those in the ministries, parastatals and school.
  • Render effective lending and reference services to both adults and children in all its service point;Serve as legal depository library for all books and journals that are published in the state.
  • Provide proficiency training in the rudiments or librarian to library assistants,personnel assistant and teacher librarians performing library duties in schools, L.G. ministries and private establishment.

Contacts

Address: Oyo State Library Board, Opposite Cocoa House P.M.B 5082,Dugbe, Ibadan,Oyo State.
Phone Number: 08033490612, 080033273351, 08059428037.
E-mail address: oyslb@yahoo.com

The library users comprise mostly the students of primary and secondary schools, students seeking admission into higher institutions, part-time students, students of institute of chartered accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), retirees, job-seekers, etc. The headquarters, being in the central area of Ibadan city, various individuals with different professions and educational backgrounds make use of the library. The headquarters is well being patronized by medical students from University College Hospital, Ibadan due to its moderate proportion of medical collection in its vast collection.  The Oyo State Library system comprises of the Headquarters, Dugbe, Bodija Community Library, Bodija Estate, Elekuro Children’s Library, Ogbomoso, Oyo Zonal Libraries and 7 ICT/Civic Libraries in Educational Zones of the State (under construction).

  • Headquarters, Bank Road, Dugbe

This is situated at the one of the busiest commercial area of Ibadan city. It was British Council building. It is surrounded by banks and the NIPOST. It is mostly used by Secondary school leavers, accountancy students (e.g. ICAN), unemployed/job the former seekers, bankers, retirees, tertiary students, primary school pupils (there is Children’s Section on the 1st floor). It comprises of five buildings including a two storey building (housing the Readers’ service section, Technical and Children’s sections), Administrative Block(housing the Reference, Schools’ Loan, Video, Local Government Libraries and  AV room), ICT building, Legal Deposit/Nigeriana building and the Hall (housing the Braille Library and Oyo State NLA secretariat).

  • Elekuro Children’s Library

The Library has since metamorphosed from being a children’s library to accommodate adult users. It is situated in the indigenous urban area of the city, surrounded by primary and secondary schools in Aperin, Oniyere Elekuro (adjacent and very close to Iwo Road Ibadan/Lagos Expressway), Ibadan. It derives its users from these schools including technical schools and college of education satellite campuses. Apart from the above mentioned users, job seekers and teachers also make use of the library.

  • Bodija Community Library

This library was handed over to the Board by the Nigerian Book Foundation (headed by Prof. Chukwuemeka Ike) in 2002 under the chairmanship of Prof. Jadesola Akande. It has since been use by the Bodija Community. It is located at Adeyi Avenue, Old Bodija, Ibadan. Its users comprises of tertiary students, part-time students (especially from the nearby Educational consult), civil servants, secondary students, primary school pupils. It receives assistance from the community apart from funding from the State Government.

  • Ogbomoso and Oyo Zonal Libraries

They serve as Public Libraries in Ogbomoso and Oyo zones and are situated at the heart of the two famous cities (Arowomole and Isale-Oyo respectively). They derive their clienteles from all around the cities including the technical schools, secondary and primary schools, colleges of education, e.t.c.

  • ICT/Civic Libraries in Educational Zones of the State

In 2009, in an effort to make available quality library and information services to all citizens of the state, the state government approved  replication of facilities at the headquarters for seven out of the eight educational zones in Oyo State. This would encourage high patronage in the zones as experienced by the public library headquarters at Dugbe. These zones are:

KajolaOkeho
OgbomosoOgbomoso
Ibadan Less CityMoniya
OyoOyo
ShakiShaki
IbarapaEruwa
IrepoKisi

Based on the knowledge of the researcher in her capacity as an employee, the above project is yet to be concluded due to logistic reasons, political interference, lack of funds and other factors. Most of the centres in the project are between 30% to 70% completion with some equipment on ground at the library headquarters for installation.

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 independent government parastatal with the enactment of   Edict No 18 of August 1988. Thereby gave way for composition of an independent Board led by Prof. Adebimpe Aboyade and supported by 4 other  professional librarians including Prof. Elaturoti (then Dr. Elaturoti) and Mrs. Oderinde (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 include provision of quantitative library services throughout the state. These includes library services to the rural populace, services to school libraries, training of library personnel working in schools, local governments, ministries and other government parastatals. In 1999, the government approved the nomenclature of the Head of Library to change from the Director to the State Librarian; thereby paving way for establishment of 4 other directorates namely (a) Public Library Services Department (b) Schools Library Services Department (c) Administration and Supply Department and (d) Finance and Account Department. The Board has 2 Branch Libraries in Ibadan at Elekuro & Bodija. Three Zonal Libraries were built outside the State capital at Oyo, Ogbomoso, and Saki. The first two Zonal libraries are functional, while the other one is almost complete. Presently, the Headquarters’ complex comprises of about 8 sections namely:  ICT unit, Reference, Readers’ Section, Schools’ Loan, Local Governments, Braille Library, Legal Deposit and Nigeriana, Technical Section which provides Information Technology services free of charge to the registered library users. The organogram of the Board reflect the composition of the establishment.

The Oyo State Library Board serves the state which comprises 33 local governments with the population of 5,591,589 according to the 2006 census. Since its creation from the Western State Library, it has served well over two million who has used its facilities in one way or the other.

Services to the populace include, Braille Services(supported by Nigerwives), ICT, Video Library, Local Government library services, school loan service,  Extension library activities, Mobile library services to villages, selected computer training to users and other less privileged, consultancy services, establishment of Geo-Educational zonal services and other library services peculiar to public librarianship.

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