"Since the library of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) was established in 2005, it has greatly expanded its services for the university community and pushed forward its goal of developing an e-learning strategy.
This focus on e-resources has increased access opportunities for users, as all resources are now available 24/7, regardless of location. In 2012, we saw a dramatic increase in the use of the library's e-resources via netbooks, tablets and smartphones, while the use of physical items greatly decreased – and these trends continue in 2013.
The following statistics are helpful to see this change ...
In 2012, we decided to change the library's traditional focus to that of technology: – the e-library. This year we are focusing on becoming a 'mobile' library. This includes the use of more mobile applications and better use of space, including the arrangement and shape of the library's furniture. For example, all the following pieces of equipment have been replaced by a smartphone: scanner, desktop computer, laptop, photocopy machine, and telephone. This is providing a new level of efficiency and effectiveness. It saves money, is more environmentally friendly, consumes less electricity, and takes up less space. This focus on the latest technology has dramatically increased the library's ecollections both in subscribed and open access resources. In 2013, the library has subscribed to more than 210,000 ebooks. This is more than most university libraries ebook collections in America. We are also making sure our user communities understand how to make the most of the library and its multiple resources. For example, all first-year students must take classes on how to use these new learning resources and staff are encouraged to show their students how to use eresources to accomplish their research objectives. The change in the way people are accessing information has required changes in organisational structures, workforce skills, and space too. The duties of traditional library staff have shifted to accommodate the new environment and this has meant that some rolesare no longer needed. For example, the position of 'serial coordinator' has been revised since we do not subscribe to print journals, magazines, and newspapers, except those required by the Nigerian Universities Accreditation Agency and those unavailable online.Library staff also now focus on learning and teaching on e-resources, including open access. They are using new e-readers, e-devices, and applications. Open access is an equaliser and one of the greatest contributors to the use of resources, particularly in developing countries. The number of available open access academic journals is much greater than most academic library's print journal collections. The AUN library has been actively collecting open access sources and promoting usage of these resources. Open access is the best investment for expansion of global education and development. Our library also uses open collections to help other Nigerian universities and independent researchers. In 2012, the library trained 147 faculty and administrative staff from the Federal College of Education in Yola and 20 faculty members from Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola. Open access is an integral part of library learning, resources training, marketing and resource sharing. This autumn, the library will move to its new home, which will increase the effectiveness of library services while lowering the cost of building collections, in relation to infrastructure and staff expenses. In the new building there will be more comfortable mobile chairs, fewer stationary tables and less traditional seating. Users will have more opportunities to choose their study area, whether working alone or in a group. This will create greater flexibility and free up considerably more space than in traditional libraries. As learning devices become more sophisticated and learning resources more diverse, the need for these forms of 'smart' libraries will only increase. AUN is proud of its role in this regard and pleased to have received a 2013 presidential citation from the American Library Association for International Innovative Library Project