Why President Kennedy Library Kongo Was Named After the 35th President of USA
President Kennedy Library Kongo is the major library in the Kongo campus of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. The library has strategically supported the overall vision, mission, and program of the University. This is demonstrated via the production and maintenance of library services geared towards retrieval, acquisition, preservation, and dissemination of information in its various forms.
History of President Kennedy Library Kongo
The name of this library has an interesting story line. Back in the late fifties the late Sardauna of Sokoto (then premier of Northern Nigeria) was bent on training northerners to fill the vacancies that would be made available by departing white colonial workers. Independence was looming on the horizon and the Sardauna realized the unpreparedness of the North.
As a matter of fact, it was this reason that made him ask the colonial masters to postpone giving independence till 1960. He was to use the three years’ grace to establish schools across the region and send out northerners to all parts of the globe for various training and development courses. He also traveled the globe seeking help and donations from individuals and nations.
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It is on record he went to the Sudan where he obtained assistance from their then Head of State, one Gaafar El nimeiri, that led to the establishment of two pure science departments for the new University he established in Zaria. It is also on record that he went to the USA and met the then newly sworn-in president, John F. Kennedy on the issue.
Kennedy directed that a grant be given to build a library for Northern Nigeria. It took time to get the money but no sooner the building was started than tragedy struck at Texas. An American named Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed Kennedy. This incident made the Sardauna to name the library after the slain president. And thats how the library got its name.
The library was eventually Established in February 1964 and officially opened on 4th April 1964. The Saudauna, Sir Ahmadu Bello Decided it should be named after President John F Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America
To this day, President Kennedy Library Kongo is the main Library of Kongo Campus, Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The library also controls and supervises all departmental libraries in Kongo Campus which include:
- Public Administration Department Library,
- Accounting Department Library,
- Local Government Studies Library
- Business Administration Department Library.
Mrs. Joan Allen was the first librarian to be in charge of the library. She headed the library from 1963 to 1967. The Library is currently headed by a qualified, academic and professional librarian in the person of Mrs. C. A. Adikwu. Mrs. Adikwu is a very experienced Staff who has worked in different Divisions of the Main Library (KIL). She contributed greatly to the development of Kashim Ibrahim Library and she is now a member of the ULAMA Committee of the KIL.
Opening and closing time of PKL
- Monday – Friday : 8:00 am – 10:00 pm
- Surtuday & Sunday : 8:00 am – 9:00 pm
E-library Opening Hours
The e-library is open from Monday to Friday, 8:00 am – 9:00 pm to provide e-resources and internet services to our customers.
President Kennedy Library Kongo’s services and collections are entirely dedicated to supporting the A.B.U community of faculties, researchers, students, and staff. It also provides the opportunity for external researchers and postgraduates to request the use of its extensive catalog of books and journals.
It contains a hybrid collection of printed materials, and other e-resources such as e-journals, e-books, electronic theses & dissertations (ETD), technical reports of research organizations, and bibliographic databases.
Feature
- Google Scholar – President Kennedy Library has numerous Open Access databases in different disciplines which can be accessed through the above link
- Microsoft Academic – These are the databases purchased by the University which require username and password before login
- Semantic Scholar – These are the collections books that are been uploaded by the library using Library management software.
- JURN – You can search for a book by title, author or keyword
SUBSCRIBED DATABASES
You can subscribe to the President Kennedy Library Kongo Subscribed Databases by CLICKING HERE
OPEN ACCESS DATABASES
You can access the President Kennedy Library Kongo Open Access Databases by CLICKING HERE
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