Continued inability of rural population, especially children, to access library services has resulted in poor quality of life relative to the urban centres and continues to prevent the country from achieving its United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) .
In many rural communities across Nigeria, there are no public libraries. Nigeria has the highest population of out-of-school pupils in the world, approximately 13.2 million in 2016. Children in rural Nigeria oftentimes lack the required literacy to improve their lives. The lack of library and information services affect learning processes of children generally and hinders development of rural population.
Mobile libraries can serve these rural communities during critical periods when they are engaged in various projects requiring research , e.g., planting, harvesting, irrigation, or dam building. Mobile library services can serve nomadic populations and areas in Nigeria with large numbers of internally displaced populations due to violent insurgencies and extremism. In addition, it can help to disseminate information about government policies,
instill reading habits and develop skills and knowledge of the rural population.
Establishment of Our First Mobile Library Service at Garga, Kanam Local Government area, Plateau state, Northern Nigeria
We are currently embarking on a major fundraising drive for the construction of our first Mobile Library Project to be based in Garga, Kanam local government area, Plateau state. Kanam is comprised of 4 districts – Dengi, Kanam, Garga, and Kantana. There are 57 towns and villages within the LGA, and an estimated population of 199,213 inhabitants mainly of Berom and the Jukun ethnic stocks. Hausa and Boghom are the
dominant languages spoken. Kanam LGA occupies a total area of 2,600 square kilometres and has an average temperature of 28 degrees centigrade. Over 80% of residents engage in small scale farming cultivating produce such as salads, irish potatoes, and tomatoes, cassava, and yam as a means of livelihood.
There are no public libraries in Garga or the Kanam LGA. Plateau State maintains only one public library located in the state capital, Jos, which is a distance of 200 kilometers (3 hours journey) from Garga. Children and adults in this community have no access to any form of library services. The situation in Garga is a microcosm of a larger phenomenon in rural Nigeria which is retarding the nation’s development.
Our proposed Mobile Library Project seeks to provide library and information services to rural citizens to bridge the educational gap of rural communities and urban communities in Garga, Kanam LGA of Plateau State.
Additional outputs/outcomes are provided in the project informational video.
Our Mobile Library initiative will deliver library and information services in Garga and Kanam LGA, Plateau State, which will provide access to books, CDs, DVDs, movies, computers, etc. to 57 towns and villages within the Kanam LGA. Consistent with the Foundation’s mission, this initiative among other benefits will:
- Deliver mobile library services is to promote equity of service provision by enhancing the opportunities for library and information services to rural population.
- Allow people in smaller or more remote communities to borrow books.
- Allow people to request delivery of materials from the State Public Library branch.
- Create opportunities for learners to receive computer instructions and homework help.
- Train the youth and adult in computer and information technology skills.
- Distribute textbooks and learning materials to the economically disadvantaged.
- Expand access to education for girls.
Mobile Library Vehicle – Required Special Features
- Safety features Special mudguards and mud deflectors on all wheels along with spray suppression equipment.
- A long-range fuel tank with lockable filler cap.
- Vehicle Towing provision.
- Large bumpers (fenders) as local regulations and condition deman
- A first aid kit.
- Fire extinguishers.
- Mobile phones or an alternative form of emergency communication, such as radio.
- On-line access.
- Public access pc’s.
- Staff only pc’s.
- Copying facilities • printer • access to on-line reference works.
- Kitchen facilities Basic kitchen facilities enable the vehicle to stay away from base. longer, e.g., microwave oven, sink, refrigerator, hot water and eating area.
- Toilet facilities.
- Inverter (most appliances use 220-240volts, an inverter is required to allow them to run off the vehicles batteries which are normally 12 or 24 volts.
- Awning: A pull-out awning is useful for shading the entrance (or keeping the rain off) but is useful if the vehicle is used in a promotion at local events.
- Solar panels to supplement the batteries.
- Emergency exit.
- Reversing camera.
- Double rear mirrors.
- Emergency lighting system.
Additional outputs/outcomes are provided in the project informational video.
Operational / Recurring Cost items
- Licence/Tax
- Fuel Base costs
- Book-stock
- Staff
- Vehicle repair and maintenance
- Repair and maintenance
- Telecommunication costs
- Satellite dish maintenance and licensing fees for on-line access
- Fuel costs
- Vehicle insurance
- External power costs
Establishment Financing Model - N70,000,000.00 ($140,000.00 USD)
- Required acquisition of a purpose-built vehicle, including retrofitting, colour scheme and interior redesign – Financing required: N30,000,000.00 ($60,000.00 USD).
- ICT Equipment and Volume/collections acquisition – N30,000,000.00 ($60,000.00 USD)
- Garage Base facilities – N10,000,000.00 ($20,000,000.00)
- Privately financed by Foundation’s partners and donors
Operational Sustainability Model – Year 1 N30,000,000.00 ($60,000.00 USD)
- Public, private partnership (PPP) model. (e.g., public and private grants, sponsorships, advertising on vehicle, sponsoring certain books, donations.)
- Grants - different sources – governments, private companies with charitable intentions.
- Privately financed by Foundation’s partners and donors
Project total: N100,000,000.00 ($200,000.00 USD)
Project Timeline
- Pre-construction and construction timeline - August 2021 to August 2022.
- Estimated Delivery date: August 2022.
- Sourcing for operational fund and staffing – December 2021 – April 2022
- Equipment and plant Installations and Recruitment of personnel - August to December 2022)
- Commissioning – December 2022.
