E-book Library

The E-Book Library Nigeria

Intro: Educational, Research and Development in Nigeria

E-Book Library Nigeria is a division of Starlat Investment Nigeria Limited. We cater solely for academic research and development of young Nigerian students.

EBLN specialize in bringing-out the best in our youths through academics. Discovering and nurturing inbuilt talents is also our priority. Together with our partner abroad, Theiblibrary.com U.S.A, we have published several authors from Nigeria and other parts of Africa and some of their books are featured on our online platform. We have held educational seminars for students and teachers, and we have also provided scholarship to selected students in Lagos state. We are determine to do more in this vital area of human development-EDUCATION.

In our quest to ensure qualitative education to all Nigerian students, irrespective of parental social and financial status, we presented a positive proposal of partnership to the Nigerian Educational and Research Development Council- the hub of Nigeria Primary and Secondary Schools educational curriculum, and selected local government council areas in Lagos State. We are also paving the way for partnership with other States in Nigeria, in order to bring to fore the vital attention and process of preparing our youths for tomorrow's challenges. We are extending this important partnership (Creation of standard E-library) to every school on the African continent for a better tomorrow.

There are many reasons why Schools and the society might want E-libraries. They might make research easier for scholars and students. They might ease the budget pressures on conventional libraries. They might solve our increasingly urgent preservation problems, or they might help libraries extend collections into new media. But perhaps their most important advantage would be their ability to help Schools and Society, to make information more available, raise its quality, and increase its diversity.

EBLN formed an E-book task force in February 2012 to evaluate academic libraries' experiences with electronic books (e-libraries), to investigate the e-book market in Nigeria, and develop operating guidelines, principles and potential strategies for further exploration of the use of e-books in Nigeria Primary and Secondary schools.

Our major discovery indicate that electronic books offer creative possibilities for expanding access as well as changing learning behavior and academic research in Nigerian schools. With E-library, contents can always be accessible, regardless of time or place, to be read on PCs or on portable book readers or even on cheap phones.

Books need never go out of print, and new editions can be easily created. One can carry several titles at once on a portable reader, and over time, build a personal library. Features such as full text searching, changeable font size, mark-up, citation creation, and note taking will enhance usability. Print text can be integrated with multi-dimensional objects, sound, and film to create a whole new kind of monographic work. We are bringing this technology to your school to enhance the performance of your students, and for your students to join other students in developed countries in making our world a better place through sound knowledge.

Despite the considerable promise of E-library in our Schools, our task force concluded that all the elements that would make the E-library viable in Nigeria are not quite in place. For this reason, EBLN has partnered with international agencies (InquiryEducation.com U.S.A) that could work with us to solidly kick start this important developmental huddle. The vision, technology and work-force are now in Nigeria and carrying-out implementation. Together, we can aim to create a sense of global mindedness amongst our vibrant youths.

Can E-Libraries be implemented and survive in Nigerian-Schools?

Based on our comprehensive research at EBLN, we say an emphatic 'YES. But this will depend on how we fund, regulate, and manage our E-libraries, the new communications infrastructure and the new technologies which drive them. It will also depend on commitment and seriousness of individual schools (I.T Section) on ways of improving the academic quality of their students, and the drive to want to prepare them for future challenges. Whether we like it or not, E-library has come to stay, and it is fast taking over from conventional libraries, especially in developed countries of the world. Nigerian schools will set the pace for other African countries, as India and China is already setting the pace in Asia, Argentina and Brazil in South America to mention a few.

Undoubtedly, conventional School libraries are faced with two simultaneous problems: their inability to buy enough new materials for students, and their inability to keep enough old materials. Electronic library can, in principle, be an answer to both. DPI will install more than enough academic contents for committed Schools, ranging from, Nigerian Pre-primary, Primary and Junior Secondary School curriculum, International curriculum (curated International Baccalaureate), various academic textbooks and countless novels that will aid mental development and articulation of our young students. In addition, more development that will enhance teachers to students interaction will be created along the line.

Production/Logistic Cost

Considering the challenges facing Africa in general, we are very conscious of the cost implications in an emerging economy like Nigeria. The cost of providing a standard E-library has been brought to the lowest margin for Nigerian Schools at this initial stage.

The cost in Africa is much lower compare to India, China, Australia and South- America. This is largely made possible by InquiryEducation.com U.S.A, whose primary aim is to lead the crusade in making quality education accessible to the rich and poor students in developing societies. InquiryEducation.com aim to create broad international cultural and academic relations amongst students around the world.

Service Categories

The below price information is subject to changes and local government involvement. Based on the huge subsidy provided by some local government council in Lagos, the prices below may sound irrelevant to Schools that falls under those local government council areas in Lagos State. However, please read the below to have an overview of our standard prices.

Customized E-Library. This is a specially branded library bearing your School logo, students and staff pictures. It will also bear the School's past and upcoming activities. A section can be made available for advertisement by corporate bodies that wish to associate with parents, teachers and students in your school, thereby bringing needed revenue for your School development projects.
Also, students may be charged a token (by School authority) annually to keep alive and maintain your School E-library site, and this is another huge source of revenue for the school to develop her I.T department and embark on scholarship provision for outstanding students and the less priviledge. Our special opening offer for customized site stands at N275,000.00 and a subsequent annual payment of N216,000.00 only (Without local government huge subsidy).
Special Branding. This is a special combination of Schools in the same category, sharing a common E-library, using a single password. It usually comprises a minimum of five and maximum of ten Schools. There will be limited representation of each School on the site. Adverts and School activities will be managed among the Schools involved. Our special opening offer stands at N95,000.00 and a subsequent annual payment of N76,000.00 only (Without local government huge subsidy).
Unique Branding. This is a unity between several Schools sharing a common E-library, and using a single password as access. It comprises of a minimum of ten and maximum of twenty Schools. There will be very limited representation of each School on this site. Adverts and School activities will be managed among all the Schools, and guided by DPI. Our special opening price stands at N66,500.00, and a subsequent annual payment of N48,250.00 only (Without local government huge subsidy).

In the near future, our students will be able to interact with international/local authors. Tutoring via this customized site will also be conducted. The branded site is expected to bear the School activities. Advertisement line will be provided to interested corporate organizations presented to us by the School authority, as this could be another vital source of revenue for School development, especially the I.T department of the School. Above all, E-library is a perfect avenue for students’ development on a broad range of subjects and international relation.

Advantages of E-library in our Schools

E-library provides a starting point for all research for teachers, students and parents.
It helps the State and federal government to provide adequate and appropriate educational opportunities for all students regardless of socio-economic status of parents.
The E-library is ideal in support of students receiving their schooling using distance learning education, especially in trouble zones, like the north-eastern part of Nigeria.
Provide excellent opportunities for a broad range of topics for students and teachers to find appropriate research materials all in one place.
The access to information is not dependent on the student or teacher being in one location. It can be accessed anywhere and at anytime.
E-library need not be dependent on each user having a particular type of computer or even a computer at all. It can be access on cheap phones, tablets and laptops.
E-libraries can be customized so user can have access to what they want and need to use only.
The school and teachers are in full control of the selection of materials for the E-library.

Advantage of E-library to Schools Integrity

It raises the profile of a School by it usage of technology to drive academic development amongst Nigerian children.
Students annual charges by School authority ranging between N2,000.00 to N5,000.00 per student (School authority decision) for exclusive E-library access, can be channeled to develop (or expand) the I.T department of the school. School will also have revenue to offer scholarship to outstanding students and improve the well-being of their teachers from the excess acquired.
Schools can also generate revenue by partnering with corporate bodies ( business owned or managed by parent of their student) that wishes to associate with them through the placement of advert on their E-library site
E-library usage will enable students in your school to mentally develop at a fast rate, as a result of a vast exposure to unlimited resources, compared to students that do not have access to such facility.
Schools with E-library are directly assisting/adhering to UNESCO objective of eradicating illiteracy in sub-Sahara Africa by the year 2025.

Disadvantages of E-library

Access is an equity issue.
Enough but too many resources.
Budget

Our Technical Responsibilities to School as E-library provider

EBLN will convert all of the Nigerian Base Education books to pdf/digital form to a special collection.
EBLN will Provide page content: Curated IB curriculum, Nigeria curriculum and several other relevant books for students academic improvement.
Monitoring the audience for the page: adult, child, or not specified
Description of page content and any noted usability issues.
Providing world class standard and innovation in digital services to schools, offering students and teachers the ability to move at their own pace with endless varieties of knowledge.
Monitoring subscriptions by multiple school libraries, offering high-quality information both within the E-library site and physical visitation to schools.

Our Vision ( Immediate Future Responsibility)

Creating an avenue for complete academic interaction on our E-library site. In the immediate future, Student will have the chance to ask questions on pressing subjects or topics, and answers/explanations will be provided at once.
Fund raising for textbooks authors through local and international partners
Academic award to Schools with highest percentage of success by their students through E-library usage to be monitored by our engineers.
Academic scholarship to students with the highest percentage of academic success through E-library usage to be monitored by our engineers.
Provision of E-library equipment to public and selected private schools across the nation on random basis.
Annual meeting with P.T.A in all state of the federation
Annual academic seminar involving all stake-holders in education powered by EBLN/LGA.
Indoor and outdoor coaching classes for students preparing for examinations.

Conclusion/Summary:

EBLN will “make digital” the Nigerian Base Curriculum at no cost to Schools (We pay royalty to publishers).

EBLN will make the E-curriculum available at the lowest cost possible to all Nigerian schools nation-wide

Requirements overview

The digital library project must be able to support the following high-level goals.

Providing robust and sustainable online access for digital resources
Building a critical mass of high quality digital materials from the School’s collections to serve research, scholarship, teaching, and learning by assisting scholars and students and elsewhere in the pursuance of their works.
Supporting multi-disciplinary variations in usage and requirements whilst promoting cross-disciplinary use and re-use.
Providing long-term, sustainable and managed storage for digital resources.
Facilitating and promoting the creation of digital content.
Supporting funding activities for further digital resource creation and digitization.
Developing and setting standards for E-libraries in Nigeria Schools.
Providing advice and consultancy services for projects, for example on copyright, resource creation, digitization and scanning

We are delighted to be associated with your School for this important mission. We look forward to our joint success in improving our students access to educational materials, improving the educational conditions of young Nigerian students, improving educational research works and training of our teachers for the enormous task ahead.

Thank you.