Providing Access to Knowledge in Africa: the Need for Capacity Building in Classification, Indexing & Abstracting Skills

The realities of the present era of globalization and information and communication technologies (ICT) culminating in the African Virtual Library and Information Network (AVLIN) have made it expedient that African information professionals should be able to develop, showcase and make accessible African indigenous information to the knowledge world. This literature-based opinion paper has tried to identify with the view of the conference organizers that “Major digital initiatives involving African content are currently being undertaken by non-African organization without widely accepted protocols and agreement”. The paper argues that there is a serious need for a theoretical and policy framework necessary to provide a basis for systematic training of library and information science professionals to place African knowledge on a pedestal that will make it accessible to the world of knowledge. It was found that the library schools in most African universities are ill-equipped to train professionals to handle information in the new digital era. This is exacerbated by the fact that professional associations are not doing enough to retool the existing workforce for the task ahead. The paper recommends, among other things, that much emphasis should be placed on the training of cataloguers and indexers in African research institutions and universities to be able to organize African knowledge and produce information surrogates that will help researchers locate them on the internet

Institutional policy and management of institutional repositories in Nigerian universities

The development of institutional repositories in libraries has come as a blessing to universities in Africa. It is envisaged that it will solve problems of low visibility of African content on the World Wide Web (Internet), greater speed of dissemination of knowledge from Africa, increased citation for authors whose works are published in the repository and improved ranking for the universities amongst others. However, evidence from past studies has revealed some doubts about the effectiveness of institutional policies in facilitating the growth and development of academic projects in African universities. The study which is a conceptual one is designed to review the development of IR in Africa with emphasis on Nigerian environment, determine what should constitute an institutional policy, and situate this within the framework of conditions for registration of IR by DOAR and ROAR. The study noted that between June 2011 and December 2014 Africa has dropped from 4% to 3% of world registered IRs. In Nigeria the study pointed out that 106 of 129 registered universities have websites but only eight have registered IR and out of this number only one has policy in some aspects of the operation. It was recommended that government interventions are crucial in this regard as this would serve as watch dog in monitoring/ensuring strict adherence to the implementation of the projects

Effect of Remedial Reading Instruction on Word Recognition Problem for Inclusive Education in Nigeria

This study investigated the effect of remedial reading instruction on word recognition for inclusive education in Nigeria. Two research questions were posed and two hypotheses formulated for the study. A quasi-experimental design was used. A sample size of 20 primary school pupils selected out of a population of children with reading disability in Nsukka local government area were assigned to treatment and control groups. All the pupils recommended and identified by grade three teachers and continuous assessment record in reading respectively were pre-tested using adapted diagnostic checklist for oral reading and the grade reader. At the end of the treatment session, the participants were post-tested with the same instrument. The data were collated and analyzed using mean and standard deviations to answer the questions. While t-test statistics was employed to test the null hypotheses. The result of the study among other things revealed that there was mean difference in remedial instruction on word recognition, though they were insignificant. Keywords: Remedial, automation, content, processes, diagonisti

The Intermediate Filament Cytoskeleton of Macrophages

This study characterizes two-and three-dimensional ultrastructure and surface topography of polymerized networks of intermediate filaments (IF) isolated from mouse peritoneal macrophages. Isolated IF bound to monoclonal anti-IF antibodies in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Immunogold labeling of IF with specific antibodies revealed that epitopes are distributed along filaments particularly at junctions where filaments interconnect. Networks of IF, viewed by scanning electron microscopy, organized as ropelike groups of interconnecting filaments which swirl and encircle each other to form three-dimensional lattices containing ellipsoidal-, circular-, and vacuole-shaped cavities. Cavity diameters were similar in size to organelles and vacuoles; diameters were grouped as small (12-288 nm), medium (0.3-1.7 μm), and large (2-3 μm). The walls of the cavities appeared as beaded structures with alternating globular and linear regions. Linear regions were 14 nm. Repeat distances taken from the central axis of globular regions were 23-27 nm. The lattice organization of IF observed in vitro was similar to images seen in vivo in Triton-insoluble cytoskeletons immunofluorescently labeled with specific antibodies. In whole cells processed for TEM, swirling bundles of IF were found encircling membranous vacuoles. Based on the lattice architecture of IF, cavity dimensions, and IF location, we postulate that intermediate filaments may function in the mechanical and spatial distribution of vacuoles in the cell cytoplasm

Providing Access to Knowledge in Africa: The Need for Capacity Building in Classification, Indexing, and Abstracting Skills

The realities of the present era of globalization and information and communication technologies (ICT) culminating to the African Virtual Library and information Network (AVLIN) have made it expedient that African information professionals should be able to develop, showcase and make accessible African indigenous information to the knowledge world. This literature- based opinion paper has tried to identify with the view of the conference organizers that “Major digital initiatives involving African content are currently being undertaken by non-African organizatiosn without widely accepted protocols and agreement” and therefore, argues that there is a serious need for a theoretical and policy framework necessary to provide a basis for systematic training of library and Information science professionals to place African knowledge in a pedestal that will make it accessible to the world of knowledge. It was found out that the library schools in most African Universities are ill-equipped to train professionals to handle information in the new digital era. This is exacerbated by the fact that professional associations are not doing enough to re-tool the existing workforce for the task ahead. The paper recommends that much emphasis should be placed on the training of cataloguers and indexers in African research institutions and universities to be able to organize African knowledge and produce information surrogates that will help researchers locate them on the Internet

The Challenges of Software Use in Nigerian University Libraries: Review of Experiences from 1990- 2009

This work examined the challenges faced by Nigerian university libraries in implementing software regimes in their automation/computerization projects. The study argued that Nigerian university libraries have had a long history of attempts at automating/computerizing their operations, but most have not made appreciable efforts. The major problem has been that of selecting the appropriate software to drive these projects. The specific objectives of this study include: to identify the types of software available in these libraries, to identify the extent of use of the available software, to identify the problems associated with software use in these libraries and to suggest the strategies for sustaining software use in libraries. The descriptive survey research method was adopted for this study. The population consisted of the federal university libraries in the southwest geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The result showed that there was no uniformity in the type of software used in these libraries. Also it was found out that the libraries have each used more than one software in their automation projects. The challenges these libraries have had to overcome to implement a sustainable software regime include, lack of proper planning and evaluation of software before acquisition to lack of knowledge of how to evaluate the software. To overcome the challenges the following strategies were suggested. Study and evaluation of the software before purchase, regular seminar/workshops on software maintenance and collaborating with ICT experts and bodies to identify quality software. A number of recommendations were made to remedy the situation

Services for Conflict Resolution: The Role of Nigerian Academic Libraries

Conflict in simple terms, means a state of disagreement, controversy or opposition. It could also mean the existence of a prolonged battle, struggle or clash between two or more parties. Obegi and Nyamboga (2008), quoting Nicholas (1992) described conflict as situations where two people (or groups) wish to carry out acts which are mutually incompatible. He further states that conflict involves, “the pushing and pulling, giving and taking, process of finding the balance between powers”. In either case, conflict is generally characterized by a breach of peace or understanding among parties involved. Various dimensions to the causes of conflicts have been identified by writers. Namande (2008), citing Donelson (1999) asserts that any factor that creates dissatisfaction can increase the chances of conflicts among people and this may include struggle for resources, egocentrism, ethnocentrism, bigotry, assertion, struggle for recognition, ignorance, pride and fear. According to Obegi and Nyamboga (2008) conflict has structural causes, proximate causes and trigger which are evident in the presence of pervasive public policies and structures, inadequate security measures and unsatisfactory state of economy. Though it is often said that conflicts are desirable in shaping human ideologies and relationships, they never occur without negative consequences. Very often such consequences constitute serious threats to humanity and undermine particular human development objectives. Such threats may be in the form of diseases, hunger, poverty, high death toll and destruction of property which are evident in the wars going on in some countries of the African subregion. There is therefore the need to design effective measures for resolving conflicts. Wikipedia (2005) sees conflict resolution as the process of attempting to find solution to or settle a dispute. This process may take different patterns which include the use of force or authority of the state to enforce peace and the establishment of relationships or agreements among groups (Obegi and Nyamboga, 2008). The application of force or coercion and adjudication in resolving conflicts seem to be harsh strategy capable of bringing about uneasy peace that could be easily eroded. Thus, a more permanent way of resolving conflict should make use of negotiation and arbitration. This approach relates to the “conflict transformation” approach of Lederach (1997) as identified by Obegi and Nyomboga which sees conflict as caused by changes in relationships which can only be resolved when negative or destructive interaction patterns are transformed into a positive or constructive relationships and interactions. The application of this approach would result to lasting peace between the groups in conflict. However, one factor that has been found common in a conflict situation is the absence of the right information or breach of communication between the parties involved. Provision of the right information has been seen as the Panacea for conflict resolution. According to Gisesa (2008), researches regarding conflict and peace have revealed that conflicts are based on deficiency of information, stressing that cases of misinformation, wrong information or missing information enhance disparity in opinions and social differences which may lead to as well as heighten conflicts. Against this backdrop, the library is seen as a very important system that provides the relevant information that helps society to understand the realities of any conflict situation. In addition to providing information for resolving conflicts, libraries can as well help in preventing conflicts. Echezona (2001) citing Ogunkelu asserts that libraries equip researchers with techniques of identifying and preventing conflicts at an early stage, which could be by inviting discussions and brainstorming from experts on conflict resolution in workshops and seminars, and documenting the information so generated for users to learn the art of resolving and managing conflicts, thereby increasing the value of human intellectual output. Though the public library has been conceived by many as being better situated to reach out to the society for conflict resolution, the academic library through the community service aspect of its function is also in a very good position to offer conflict resolution services. Perhaps, the realization of the potential roles of the academic libraries in offering congenial services for conflict which is now seen as a global problem has prompted some universities to introduce the course “Peace and conflict resolution” as general studies course. Thus, the academic library is expected to offer conflict resolution services by making materials available both for teaching and learning as well as for community out-reach programmes. There seems to be total lack of research on the role of the academic library in conflict resolution. This research, therefore intends to bridge this gap

Electronic information resource sharing among university libraries in southern Nigeria: opportunities and challenges

The study explored the state of electronic information resource sharing among university libraries in Southern part of Nigeria, highlighting the prospects and the challenges. The study was an empirical research which adopted the descriptive survey as the design. The questionnaire was used to collect data from the population comprising university librarians of the 37 public universities in Southern Nigeria. It was found that the university libraries had diverse kinds of electronic information resources and some ICT facilities but lacked web-based OPAC and library management software, which are fundamental for e-resource sharing. They could not engage in any meaningful form of structured resource sharing initiative as a result of lack of institutional policies and standards. This implies that access to information is endangered where the libraries are unable to collaborate to bridge the gap between the information-rich and information – poor libraries -– a scenario which conversely would affect the relevance and image of the poor libraries. It was recommended that the management of the universities and the Nigerian Library Association should advocate for government support in formulating standard policies and development of standard software that would drive effective consortium formation among libraries for a more effective resource sharing.Keywords: Electronic information resources, Electronic resource sharing, Access to information, University librarie

The Chemistry and Health Outcomes of Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Leachate: Exposure to E-Waste Is Toxic to Atlantic Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) Embryos

Although there is rising global concern over the environmental, ecological, and human health risks associated with the discharge of leachates from e-waste dumpsites into the aquatic ecosystems, little is known in this research area. Thus, for this study, we first defined the chemistry of the test leachate, followed by assessment of the leachate on the development of a model aquatic organism (Fundulus heteroclitus) used extensively as a bioassay organism in pollution studies. Chemical analyses revealed that levels of phosphate (20.03 mg/L), cadmium (Cd) (0.4 mg/L), lead (Pb) (0.2 mg/L), and chromium (Cr) (0.4 mg/L) were higher than the 2009 US EPA and the 2009 National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) permissible limits. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) burdens were dominated mainly by the high molecular weight congeners, specifically the ∑4rings (73 µg/L). Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) levels ranged from 0.00 to 0.40 µg/L with the ∑deca PCBs reaching the highest concentration. For the biological studies, F. heteroclitus embryos (48-h post-fertilization) were divided randomly into groups and exposed to one of six e-waste leachate concentrations (10, 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001, 0.0001%). Significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between treated and control groups were observed in standard and total length, and head size. Further analysis using Duncan’s post-hoc test of multiple comparison also revealed specific differences within and between specific treatment groups. We conclude that e-waste leachate arising from indiscriminate dumping into aquatic ecosystems in Nigeria contains mixtures of toxic constituents that can threaten ecosystem and public health