Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Abstract
This paper looks at the use of of Information and Communication Technologies, (ICTs), and audio-visual resources in developing children’s reading culture in Nigeria. It has been observed that most children in Nigeria have very poor reading culture as reading is not associated with pleasure. Developing reading culture in children has been identified as the foundation and the building block for life-long learning. This paper therefore tries to highlight the use of ICTs and audio-visual resources as veritable resources in associating reading with pleasure by encouraging children in learning how to learn, visual literacy, and associating reading with pleasure. The central roles played by Libraries in promoting reading habit in children were highlighted. Some of the identified reading problems associated with children include dyslexia, speech apraxia, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Other factors include poor learning environment and lack of functional libraries, inadequate supply of reading materials and poor reading campaign. The paper concluded that in order to have any functional education system that will encourage sustainable development in any nation, it is therefore indispensable to inculcate reading culture from the scratch in order to have informed citizens who will intellectually advance the nation to globally competitive level. This could be done by providing a reading environment such as libraries, provision of adequate reading materials, and proactive public awareness programmes on the importance of reading for national development.