The Osun State Library has stopped the purchase of daily newspapers over paucity of fund, findings have revealed.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that newspaper supply to the library has been put on hold for almost seven months.
According to sources within newspaper vendors in the state, the library stopped buying newspapers since February 2024, a situation that has become a bottleneck to access archival information.
It was gathered that the hopes of people within and from neighbouring states who regularly visit the library to analyse newspapers as well as get other information have been dashed due to unavailability of newspapers.
The medium learnt that the library has been underfunded by the present administration.
Other sources however hinted that the money earmarked for the purchase of newspapers has been diverted by some of the library officials.
One of the vendors told OSUN DEFENDER, “It is almost seven months now that the state library stopped us from supplying dailies. They placed an embargo on it around February this year.
“This is not too good for the image of the state. People do come to the library from different states to obtain information from the library. But the unavailability of newspapers have made it a difficult task.
“A state library ought to have necessary books and records in their archive. Most people now come to our stands to get old newspaper. It takes us weeks most times to get it for them.
“Another thing is that, when you have any information from the newspaper to tender in court, it is the only one from the state library that is allowed.”
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Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER on Monday, a staff of the state lirary who spoke under the condition of anonymity because he was not permitted to comment on the matter explained that the supply stopped because of an outstanding debt owed by the Osun State Government.
The staff stressed that the outstanding is being paid in batches, saying that newspaper supply would be restored soon.
The source also pointed out other challenges facing the library which include non-functioning of the e-library, furniture and lack of new edition of books.
He also accused the state government of not paying imprest to the library.
“The library has stopped collection of newspaper for now. Successive governments in the state are owing the vendors but the present administration is trying to pay the money. I hope we will start getting dailies as soon as the money is offset.
“It has not been easy for us. People do visit the library from different states to access newspaper but we helped them in getting it from private libraries. The government is not paying imprest to keep the library running.
“There are other challenges we are facing. There is urgent need to restore the e-library for easy access to information. We are in dire need of furniture as well and new editions of books,” the source said.
Commenting on the situation, A lecturer at the Department of Mass Communication, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Mr. Bolanle Jolapamo told OSUN DEFENDER about his experience at the state library late last year.
Mr. Jolapamo who was working on his Doctorate degree project at the time asserted that he went to the library for newspaper analysis but could not get most of the editions needed.
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He said: “It was surprising that a whole state library do not have record for newspapers. I could not believe that. I have to spend extra money to access the papers from the company and some from a private University library in the state.
“This is a wake up call for the state government. Something urgent needed to be done for the sake of students and academic research.”
Yusuf Oketola is a trained journalist with over five years of experience in the media industry. He has worked for both print and online medium. He is a thorough-bred professional with an eye of hindsight on issues bothering on social justice, purposeful leadership, and a society where the leaders charge and work for the prosperity of the people.
