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February 6th, 2010 admin Leave a comment Go to comments

State Set

Delta State Library, Ibusa Branch Crying for Help

Mention must be made of a branch of Library situated in Umueze, Ibusa by the Delta State Government, the Library exists only as a building than a building in which collections of books, tapes, and newspapers etc are kept for people to read, study or borrow. The kind of Library located in Ibusa is supposed to be public/reference Library but the condition of the Library is simply indescribable. First time visitors to the Library will be taken aback at the degree of dustiness of the Library environment. The Government of Delta State appears to have since lost knowledge of the existence of the existence of the Library, abandoning it to the indigenes of the town. What is the idea behind setting up a Library which cannot be maintained?

The Library was set up in February, 1984 with the objective of inculcating reading habit in the vast students of Ibusa and neigbouring communities but this objective seems to have been defeated with the abandonment of the Library, this building together with the collection of books have become a real eye sore so that it has become highly necessary to advise the state Government to show recommitment and stuff up the Library with relevant materials. The book shelves of the 52-reader capacity are full of books not particularly current, and are most Encyclopedia Britannica (1958-1971) and Year Books.

The Library itself is built in form of a hall with junior section, a store which is completely empty, except for unfulfilling darkness, adult section, toilets, all purpose room full of abandoned newspapers, Librarian’s office locked up with old and near useless furniture and a notice board empty of information. But for about three users and about three staff found inside the Library, we would have concluded that the entire Library was no longer in use.

All of the indigenes inquired from on the direction of the location of the Library all described its location but added that they were unaware whether it was still functional. Information gathered showed that Government of Delta State has for long stopped supplying books to the Library and the condition of the environment said it all. In 2006, one Dr. Nwanze Okidigbe was said to have supplied the Library with books, the only supply of books the Library benefited from that year, 2007, Books such a The Norton Anthropology of World Masterpieces and Great Tales of Science Fiction and many more found in the shelves of the Library testify to the charity of Dr. Nwanze Okidigbe.

The Ibusa Family Union contributed books to the Library while, in 2008 there was no supply of books of any type to the Library. Credit should be given to Dr. Fredrick Osadebe, President of Ibusa Community Development Union (ICDU) USA Chapter, said to have been supplying the Library with every current edition of The Guardian Newspaper for the past four years running. Several notable literary minded Authors of Ibusa origin have continued to bluff the Library not wanting to make donations of books authored by them to the Library for reasons not obviously known. There are still some notable Ibusa Authors who utilize the instruments of never fulfilled promises and pledges in dealing with issue of charitably giving out books written by them to the Library. A lot of capable Ibusa indigenes have also made promises of developing the standard of the Library in various ways only never to be seen again with their promises. The fence surrounding the building is a dwarf one, Bore-hole cannot be found within the premises of the Library as staff either have to purchase water or trek miles to get some. No are no Air-conditions in the whole of the building.

Satellite TV or even a television set cannot be found in this information office, not even a Radio set. This is terrible because the Library only ends up feeding its numerous readers with half information.

This is quite necessary especially if we reason that we, the indigenes should not abandon the Library, even if the State Government has done. Literariness should be encouraged and promoted among the youths of the town. There are literary minded and well-read Ibusa men and woman who should take interest in promoting the art of reading for the benefit of their sons and daughters in the town, and in the over all interest of the town because education is one reason the Ibusa community is soaring beyond human imagination, this should be maintained if the Ibusa is to remain the giant of Anioma region.

The Delta State Library, Ibusa Branch is obviously in a sorry state and needs to revival by the relevant authorities if literariness is to be encouraged in the town and adjoining communities. Find out how this can be achieved by the government and capable Ibusa indigenes.

About the Author

Emeka Esogbue hails from Ibusa, Delta State, Nigeria. He is is a Historian and International Relations Analyst with lots of tremendous published and unpublished works.

emekaesogbue@yahoo.com