New imperatives for librarianship in Africa

Africa, in colonial times regarded as the “Dark Continent,” faces many challenges, whether infrastructural, cultural, or political. Despite these challenges, countries on the continent cannot afford to be complacent. The digital divide between Africa and the Western world, with its new technological innovations, has been widening. Librarianship as a discipline is invariably affected by this divide. Since having embraced a Western model of librarianship, the question is whether there can be talk of African librarianship, or a librarianship for Africa. This conceptual dilemma is further explored by a discussion of development, the role of the library, training in library and information science (LIS), the relationship between librarianship and information science, and imperatives for the future

African librarianship: a relic, a fallacy, or an imperative?

African librarianship has its roots in the colonial era, with colonial powers developing excellent library infrastructure with commensurate services in anticipation of their protracted stay in Africa. However, libraries were alien to African communities, which had a very strong oral tradition and used such a tradition to share information and knowledge. The “un-African” library infrastructure was challenged by some leading African scholars, who argued that there has to be a system of librarianship that delivers on African realities and imperatives. This paper interrogates the need to transform the concept of African librarianship in search of a path that addresses African imperatives; it also examines the need to separate the relic in pursuit of reconceptualization. There is little doubt that there is a need for, at the least, a hybrid—that is, incorporating the best from the colonial era with that which is African, such as the oral tradition—that would result in the transposition of concepts to create a new, relevant, effective, and efficient form of librarianship—namely, librarianship in Africa.published or submitted for publicationOpe

Comparative Study of Ethics in Librarianship and the Bible

This paper is a comparative study that discusses ethical issues in librarianship and the Bible. Such issues include: Laws in librarianship vs. laws in the Bible; censorship in librarianship vs. censorship in the Bible; Bible teachings on access to information and access to information in librarianship; purification (i.e., book binding), conservation and preservation practices in the library and in the Bible; weeding of library collections and weeding practices in the Bible; privacy and confidentiality in the library and in the Bible; orderliness of the library collections and the Bible; consortium building of library collections and in the Bible; and consequences of human action in the library and in the Bible. These topics are carefully discussed in order to discover the differences and similarities between the library and biblical ethics. The paper concludes that there is correlation between some ethical issues in the Bible and that of librarianship. It is clear that some aspects of librarianship are rooted in the Bible

Imperatives for a Code of Conduct and Ethics for Librarians in Nigeria

This paper discusses the imperatives for a code of conduct and ethics for librarians in Nigeria. It observes that librarians need it for professional growth and development, as well as personal well being. The specific areas that a code of conduct and ethics can help the profession, library users,  practitioners, the entire Nigerian society and humanity were identified. It assists in facilitating unhindered access to information, makes librarians responsible to users and the society; guarantees privacy and secrecy of users’ data while encouraging transparent services; promotes open access while also protecting intellectual property rights; encourages neutrality, personal integrity and acquisition of professional skills; and makes librarians responsible to their colleagues, employers and the profession

The Imperatives of Classifying Legal Materials using Moys Classification Scheme in Nigerian Law Libraries

This paper discusses Moys Classification Scheme. It reviews the problems associated with classifying law books and highlights the reason for the late entrance of classification of law library collections in librarianship. The basic structure of the scheme was discussed in line with how the scheme is used for classifying legal materials. The paper observes that the advantage of the Scheme over other schemes apart from its arrangement of materials in a way that reflects the way lawyers think about legal materials is its provision of class KP for own country. It also states that in line with the directive and mandate of the Council on Legal Education many academic law libraries in Nigeria have adopted the scheme to organize their resources. The paper concludes that as a result of the unique nature, inherent qualities and coverage of the scheme, it is more suitable for legal materials in law libraries in Nigeria. Keywords: Classification, Moys Classification Scheme, Legal Materials, Law Libraries, Nigeria

Librarians and Health Workers: Partnering and Collaborating to Support Free Access to Health Information in Nigeria

The well-being of individuals and communities depend on accessibility to accurate health information. A recent study shows the many communities in some regions of Nigeria lack accessibility to this information. Building on the success of partnerships between librarians and health care workers in the delivery of health information in other parts of the world, the Nigerian situation could be greatly improved through a number of strategies, as suggested

Consortia Building among Libraries in Africa, and the Nigerian Experience

This study focuses on consortia building among libraries in Africa, with special attention given to Nigeria. It covers the various forms of library consortia: formal and informal as well as cooperative interchanges, including partnerships for resource sharing. Affirming the aim of consortia building as strengthening libraries and library services, the study considers the problems and prospects that are associated with consortia building in Africa and proposes a way forward. It concludes with an affirmation of the need to embrace consortia building among libraries in Africa and an emphasis on the key role ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) plays in consortia development

Impact of The Legal Personnel as A Law Librarian: The Effective Managerial Perspective Re-defined

Libraries obviously contribute to the overall sustainability and development of learning in institution of higher education. Law libraries equip law students and practicing lawyers for legal duties through the consultation of its vast collection of legal information products and services. In this review, the author carefully re-emphasizes the need for law librarians to have legal background as this will enhance law librarianship and the management of law libraries for the provision of legal information and support for the teaching and learning of law in tertiary institutions. This has much implications for the management, leadership or administration of the law library. It practically has tremendous effect on the level of patronage of law library owing to the easy accessibility of relevant legal information resources and services offered in law faculties in tertiary institutions via the librarian’s legal expertise on legal information service. The dual function, knowledge of library and law of the law librarian will aid in the swift provision of law library products and services for law faculties and students. The author recommends training of existing law librarians and library staff on law and the need for law librarians to have legal background as a pre-requisite for subsequent installation or selection as law librarian along with few other recommendations. Social and practical implications were stated accordingly. Keywords: Impact, Legal Professionals, Law Library, Librarian, Managemen

South Africa’s LIS Transformation Charter: policies, politics and professionals

The rhetoric of public librarianship includes many ringing claims for the role of libraries in democracy; and, on the 20-year anniversary of the advent of democracy in South Africa in 1994, it is an opportune moment to examine the rather confusing fortunes of libraries in our young democracy. In recent years, some 20 libraries have been destroyed in social protest; yet the LIS profession would argue that libraries are agents of development and social transformation. The paper reports on the work of the authors on the LIS Transformation Charter which, after a start-stop-start process of two phases over six years, has now been handed to government. The paper analyses the political and professional forces that influenced the Charter writing process; but we argue that the final Transformation Charter offers a vision of a transformed and integrated library system that has meaning to all sectors of South African society

African Librarianship in the 21st Century

Information and knowledge are critical and strategic resources in human development. The rural and urban poor in Africa require access to appropriate information to fight poverty, deprivation and illiteracy. This is in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This paper examines the activities of libraries towards achieving these goals. It recognizes that African Librarianship is faced with challenges that are both external and internal. Externally, it is faced with the challenges of general backwardness of Africa – high illiteracy level, poor economic conditions, political instability, corruption, lack of government supports; and internally, with imported ideologies. The paper discusses the fundamental challenges of the profession and proposes two ideals for Africa’s information management – providing access to relevant information to all in all formats; and harnessing Africa’s rich cultural heritage in all forms and integrating them to the Global Information Infrastructures (GII). The paper recommends a complete reorientation of library development strategies which will include community based approaches; government involvement and aid donors to support development.