CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY
Library in a medical institution by definition is a special library. It serves a particular interest group or population who are involved in the field of Medicare.
A special library can be seen as one that include references and research libraries assembled and maintained by and for the use of the organization and societies representing among others, the historical, legal, medical and numerous specialized scientific and technological profession. All such special libraries are essential service centers organized for prompt service and usually issue information bulletins.
Therefore, medical library is a type of library that is affiliated to a medical institution. It collects, preserves, organizes and disseminates books, journals medical and health information. The materials are arranged in such a way that they are easily accessible to medical students and officers.
Furthermore, library services can be viewed as activities or programmes undertaken in addition or in place of ordinary library services with the intention of reaching a certain category of the population. Progress in medical science is dependent on continuous experimentation and research. A medical library plays a comparable role with the laboratory. It is necessary to acquire, organizes and make available medical literature in every medical institution through the medical library. Because the quantity and quality of information at the doctor’s disposal lies on how often he used the available materials in the medical library. And of course, materials in the medical library are functionally structured and arranged to render service aimed at accomplishing the institutions development and educational objectives of the users. Implies in this structure is the concept of the library as system with several sub systems. And the sub systems are named by a staff (Librarian) who performs one duty or the other. Such duties range from acquisition, processing, provision of medical related literatures to medical personnel in the institution in the right format and at the right time.
Thus, there are some obvious factors that may hinder the promotion of medical library, Ajayi (2004) advocate that the low rating of library may be attributed to non availability of library facilities and services. In the state or local government area. Creating documentation centers within the medical centre would enhance successful and good information channels and referral services, encouraging medical institution to work together.
Moreover, libraries as information centers require regular and adequate funding in order to yields good result. Where there is inadequate staffing or personnel, no matter the amount of allocation given to that library, it will still not function very well.
The factor is often intensified by other factors such as absence of complete bibliographic control, communication gap between library staff and users, inadequacy of available staff, out datedness of available materials etc.
The Federal Medical Centre Owerri is a territory Health institution structured mainly into two broad arms of clinical and non-clinical division. Its responsibility is primarily the provision of advance surgical and medical care to patients, as well as port grade waste and internship training programmes.