Introduction

No institution throughout the world can effectively meet its desired goals without a library which serve as one of the machinery to enhance hitch-free teaching and learning process. Expectedly, the quality and the size of the library play a vital role in determining the extent of academic achievement to be realized in any institution.

The library is not just a centre for academic development; information gathering and materials accessibility but it in no small measure promotes excellent research development for the benefit of both the institution and the entire human race. Library over the years continues to be the bedrock of knowledge and information that is why teaching and learning can only be infected provided through the use of the library.

The CAILS library is a centre which provides relevant materials for all academic programmes revolve as a resource centre. The management is playing great roles which can not be overemphasized for the realization of the above reasons and for objectives of establishing CAILS library.

The library has e-resources that can be accessed online (click to access e-resources)

History of CAILS Library

The history of the CAILS library could be traced back to 1992 when the college was established. At the inception, the college had a temporary building which serves as a library until present ultra-modern library was eventually constructed in 2004 through ETF intervention.

Presently, the college library complex consists of four units namely, reader, serial, reference and cataloguing/ classification units. The library traditional opens for use to its reader from Monday to Friday with an operation period within 8.am and 4.00 pm daily. However, in 2008 the college commenced extension of the library service period to 6.00 pm on a rotation basis among the library staff. There is a library guide to educate the users on the use of the library.

The users of the library include the students, academic staff, non- academic staff and researchers from outside the college community who are required to obtain permission from the Officer in- charge of the library.

Objectives of CAILS library:

1. Reading facilities for students, staff (academic and non- academic) as well as other interested public readers.
2. Research opportunities for library users
3. Borrowing facilities to staff and other researchers
4. Photocopying services to staff and students at subsidized cost.

Seating Capacity and Materials

The library is provided with a seating capacity that can conveniently accommodate eighty-eight (88) students at a time. It has approximately six thousand, nine hundred and eleven (6.911) volumes of books in all sections of the library. Each of these sections houses a volume of books as listed below.

1. Reading section - 4652
2. Reference section - 888
3. Serial section 1,100
4. Cataloguing and classification unit of the library is this unit is for the effective processing of materials with a view to making them readily available for researchers both from within and outside the college community.

The seating capacity of each section is highlighted as follows.

1. Reading unit - 36
2. Serial unit - 36
3. Reference unit - 16

Sources of Materials

The college obtains its library materials through the following sources:

• College procurement fund
• Donations from individuals
• Donations from international organizations
• Inter-library donations

Selection of Library Materials

Selection is defined as the process of taking a decision on which books to add to the library collection and sometimes in what quantity. Selection of materials for the library is determined by the basic request of the department, accreditation on reports and public interest. The College has a library Committee which oversees the improvement of library collections and the library services.

Organization of Library Materials and Services

For easy identification and location of library materials, the materials in the library have to be arranged in a logical order. The factors that influence the pattern of organization of a particular library are the size of the library, nature of academic and research programmes, level of instruction, availability of adequate funds, size, quality, of library personnel, and volume of stocks. These factors and others influence the organization of library materials.

Kwara State College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies in making the library materials easy for identification and location, the organization and description are in a logical order following the rule and regulations guiding the arrangement (organization) and description (cataloguing). The CAILS Library uses Anglo American Cataloguing Rule II (AACRII) in cataloguing/describing the materials, such as;

Heading

1. Author, Title subject
2. Title statement
3. Author statement
4. Edition statement
5. Publication distribution, date statement etc.
6. Physical description statement
7. Foot note statement
8. Added entries of tracings

For library to organize its materials. It also involves classifying method. Following the classifying rules, there are classification schemes to follow. Among these are, Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC), University Decimal Classification and others. The CAILS Library uses DDC to classify its material for easy location of materials in the library. For Library materials organization, the following are the classes/division of disciplines according to DDC:

000 – 009 - Generality
100 – 199 - Philosophy
200 – 299 - Religion
300 – 399 - Social Sciences
400 – 499 - Languages
500 – 599 - Pure sciences
600 – 699 - Technology and applied sciences
700 – 799 - Arts
800 – 899 - Literature
900 – 999 - Geography, History and travels

From time to time, there has been a frequent increase in the number of staff and students in the college. Coupled with modern challenges in the field of information the collection of materials relevant to the new information age, the CAILS Library cannot decide to live in isolation. For the library to be able to cope with information explosion and varying demands of different staff and students especially with the introduction of new courses. It is now imperative for CAILS Library to improve on its professional ad services.

Manpower in the Library

The number of library staff has increased unlike some years back when the library has a professional as a pioneer college librarian while others working with him then were clerks. Today, the library has professionals. Para-professionals, even non-professionals. Recruiting more staff into the library is with a view to enhancing service efficiency. The library is presently headed by Mrs M.D Laro.

Library Management Board

The Library Management Board of the College as at February 2008 to date consists of six members. The Provost, Dr Abdu-Sami’I Imam Arikewuyo is the Chairman while the Officer-in-charge of the library is a member including other four members while a staff of the library serve as secretary.

Responsibilities of the Library Management Board:

1. To ensure a well equipped standard library.
2. To maintain an academic standard by the provision of relevant advice to the college on improving the services of the library.
3. To encourage research and publications among all and sundry.
4. The preparations of a library guide for use in the college library.
5. To seek for the acquisition of necessary equipments, furniture, books, journals, magazines, news paper and any other properties/items required by the college library.

ALMUBINS Library Project

The library development in CAILS will be incomplete without mentioning the on-going project of an International standard donation by an Islamic organization, Al-Mustabshirun Binabiyyi Sharrif (a.k.a ALMUBINS) in honour of Shaykh Sarafadeen Saududeen Ajara who in turn dedicated the project in honour of Shaykh Mubashir Woleola Oniwasi Oke Okuta, Ilorin.

The foundation of the project took place on the 18th February, 2009. The donor desires to equip the library with current Arabic and Islamic Studies materials. The project when completed will not only serve as an international reference and research centre but will also provide easier access to materials via-electronics in tune with the global standard.