The Commons Concept and Intellectual Property Rights Regime: Whither Plant Genetic Resources and Traditional Knowledge?

[Excerpt] The classification of plant genetic resources (PGRs) as the common heritage of humankind continues to generate controversies. The debate is between developing countries that are the primary sources of these resources and industrialized, biotechnologically advanced countries that appropriate and utilize PGRs as raw materials for various commercial products, such as medicine, seed variety, or pesticides. Scholars of diverse backgrounds express various opinions on whether PGRs obtained from plants found within a territory of a sovereign state should properly be designated “common heritage of humankind” or regarded as part of the “commons,” and therefore freely accessible. The debate also extends to and challenges the status of traditional knowledge on the uses of PGRs. The dominant but not necessarily the correct view is that such knowledge is information in the public domain, incapable of private ownership or control

The socio-cultural implications of African music and dance

Music is as old as man himself. The origin of music can be looked for in natural phenomena like the songs of the birds, the whirl of the wind, the roll of thunder, the prattling of the rain and the crackling of fire. Through the imitation of these natural phenomena, man came about his music ages ago. Dance on the other hand is patterned and rhythmic body movements, usually performed to music or percussion. Dance is the transformation of ordinary functional and expressive movement into extraordinary movement for extraordinary purposes. Each culture tends to have its own distinctive styles of dance and reasons for dancing. As aresult, dance can reveal much about a people and their way of life.This paper sets out to discuss the socio-cultural implications of African music and dance. To this end, the paper looks at African music, African dance and human culture, kinds of dance, dance and the human body, dance and the society, the interrelationship between African music and dance, the importance of dance to the society and finally summary and conclusion

THE MARKETING OF THE INFORMATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES IN THE LIBRARIES

ABSTRACT This work, study the marketing of the information products and services in the libraries, with aim of finding out the prospect and challenge of marketing of the information products and services in the libraries. Literature review method was adopted to collect and analyse related findings of researches with views to marketing of the information products and services in the libraries. Various promotional tools use in marketing of information product and services in the library were identified by the study in. Library resources and services that are available for marketing was also identified. The prospect of marketing information product and services in the libraries includes, improve library services, improve the economic base of the library, create value, make the library profession known, brings about sustainability, improves patronage/usability and encouraged feed back. The study reveals that challenges facing the marketing of information product and services includes, Inadequate budgetary allocations for library services, Non-automation of library operations, Irregular power supply, Inadequate infrastructure, Understaffing, Low computer literacy among staff, Lack of professional training in marketing, Limited media access, Death of library materials to market, lack of marketing policy. Based on the finding the study recommended that, Library should look inward and take advantage of fee-based library services to augment inadequate budgetary allocation coming to them for effective library services. Also, Library should as matter of urgency automate their library and make it functional to attract good number of users once marketing is done

RECORD MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES DELIVERY OF ENUGU ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY (EEDC) AGUATA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OFFICE, ANAMBRA STATE

ABSTRACT This research work investigated the impact of record management on services delivery of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) Aguata local government area office, Anambra state. The study was carried out using descriptive survey research design. Five specific objectives, five research questions and five null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study, hypotheses was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Population of the study comprises 164 staff of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) Aguata local government area office, Anambra state, with sample size of 120 staff. Questionnaire was used as instrument of data collection. Data collected was analyzed using mean, percentage, standard deviation and t-test. Five problems were identified which include; poor record keeping method, inefficient management of generated record, lack of knowledge on how to maintain old record, lack of professional record manager, lack of weeding policy. Conceptual review was carried out on the concept of: Record management, Method of record keeping, Various generated record, Status of old record, Personnel in charge of the record storage, Record weeding policy, and Service delivery. The findings of the study revealed that there is significant impact of method of record keeping on service delivery of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. Also, there is significant impact of record-weeding-policy on service delivery of Enugu Electricity Distribution Company. Based on the findings, recommendations were made as follows: that the management should buy and use more of electronics gadget for record keeping purpose. Also, that appropriate measure should be taking by the management to train record management staff on weeding activities

AN APPRAISAL OF TRADITIONAL AND MODERN METHODS OF SECURITY OF INFORMATION RESOURCES IN CHUKWUEMEKA ODUMEGWU OJUKWU UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

ABSTRACT This study carried out an appraisal of traditional and modern methods of security of information resources in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Library. The population of the study consists of 51 library staff, and sample size of the study was 44 library staff which was selected randomly using simple random sample techniques. Three research questions were formulated to guide this study. Data was collected using the questionnaire, and was analysed with descriptive statistics such as mean, and simple percentage. The study revealed that the traditional method of security of information resources used in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University library includes: Security Clearance check at entrance/exit door, Library stamp at certain adopted pages of library books, Single Door Entry-Exit for Staff & User, Library cards as access entry authorization, Security Guards Employed to Patrol, Fire Extinguisher & Security Equipment, and Signature of every user. The study revealed that, the Modern method of security of information resources used in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University library include: Air conditioner for Humidity control, CCTV camera, Use of password/ access code, and Digital Data Security Systems (like antivirus). The finding of the study revealed that the challenges facing the traditional and modern method of security of information resources use in Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University library include: Inadequate fund, Poor power supply, low policy implementation, inadequate professional librarian, and Inadequate library staff. Based on the finding the study recommended as follows: Library management should market library product and services to the users, and take advantage of fee based library services to generate more fund in addition to that coming from the parent institution; and Library management should take adequate measure to acquire big capacity solar energy, and big generator set for library services, to solve the issue of poor power supply

Availability of Information Resources and Students Satisfaction with the Use of School Library in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State.

ABSTRACT This work studies the influence of availability of information resources on Students Satisfaction with the Use of School Library in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. The population of the study comprises 3,760 senior secondary school students and sample of the study was 376 students which was selected randomly using stratified random sample techniques. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide this study, hypotheses was tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data was collected using the questionnaire. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Data collected was analyzed using the mean, standard deviation, simple percentage, and t-test. The findings show that, availability of fiction and book on various subject, had influence on students\u27 satisfaction with use of school library. Based on the findings, recommendations were made as follows: Since the study revealed that there is significant influence of availability of fiction on students\u27 satisfaction with the use of school library, it is therefore recommended that schools management should take it as a duty call, to always reach out to both the government and nongovernmental organizations for fund, to acquire current fictions that will help in building the reading culture of the students’. Also since the study revealed that there is significant influence of availability of books on various subject on students’ satisfaction with the use of school library, it is therefore recommended that government should be alive to its responsibility by providing adequate textbooks in all subject yearly to the school library, to boost students’ satisfaction and improve academic excellence

Problems and prospects of exploring Draw and Paint technique for digital illustration on Adobe Photoshop Cs4 application

Photoshop, a program powered by Adobe incorporated, made its debut in 1990, is used for Photo editing, digital drawing and painting, the newer versions of the software were released into the market subsequently as years went by. Awareness and use Photoshop among many Nigerian artists, photographers and advertising designers came in view in the early 21st century. In art schools and corporate graphic and advertising firm, few professional artists explore all the creative possibilities of Photoshop. In local printing and publishing firm, designers with no formal art training make use of it to edit photographs only. However, Photoshop, not only for photo editing, is also a paint program which can be used to create bitmap or raster illustrations for printing, publishing and wall art. This area has not been properly harnessed by aforementioned users of the software. The production processes for applying digital colours and rendering of line drawings scanned onto Adobe Photoshop Cs4 Layout will be explored in this study. Problems and limitations revolving round traditional to digital illustration will be discussed in this study. The research will provide basic information towards traditional to digital bitmap illustration with Photoshop CS4.Keywords: Digital Illustration, Photoshop, Vector, Bitmap, Draw-and-pain

INFLUENCE OF AVAILABILITY OF ELECTRONICS RESOURCES AND SPECIAL COLLECTIONS ON STUDENTS SATISFACTION WITH THE USE OF SCHOOL LIBRARY IN AHOADA EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF RIVERS STATE

ABSTRACT This paper investigated the influence of availability of electronics resources and special collections on Students Satisfaction with the Use of School Library in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State. The study was carried out by using a descriptive survey research design. Two specific objectives, two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study, hypotheses was tested at 0.05 level of significance. One out of the two hypotheses was rejected and one was accepted. The population of the study consists of 3,760 Senior Secondary School Students and sample size of 376 Students which was selected randomly using stratified random sample techniques. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection with Likert 4 point scales. Copies of the questionnaire were administered to the respondents by the researcher in each of the school under study and the data collected was analysed using the mean, standard deviation, simple percentage, and t-test. The findings show that, availability of electronic resources had significant influence on students\u27 satisfaction with use of school library, while the availability of special collection had no significant influence on students\u27 satisfaction with the use of school library. Based on the findings, recommendations were made as follows: Since the study revealed that there is significant influence of availability of electronic resources on students\u27 satisfaction with the use of school library, it is recommended that school management should approach National Communication Commission, oil companies and Educational Trust Fund, for donation of electronic resources to equip their library to enhance students easy and quick access to information resource. Also since the study revealed that there is no significant influence of availability of special collection on students’ satisfaction with the use of school library, it is recommended that whether special collection is collected or not, school management should focus more on collection of electronic resources to enhance students’ satisfaction with the use of school library

The Information Needs And Use By Secondary School Teachers In Western Ahoada County High School Ahoada East Local Government Area Of Rivers State

ABSTRACT This paper investigated the information needs and use by secondary school teacher in Western Ahoada County High school, Ahoada East, Rivers state. The population of the study comprises of 60 teaching staff and sample of the study was 40 teachers which was selected randomly using simple random sample techniques. Four research questions were formulated to guide this study. Data was collected using the questionnaire. Data was analyzed with descriptive statistics such as frequency count and simple percentage. The findings of the study revealed that secondary schools teachers needs information for job performance, promotion in place of work, lesson plan. The findings discovered that the respondents uses information to achieved their various target, which includes; knowledge upgrade, problem solving, decision making, effective job performance. They used information sources, such as; library, government publication, colleague, computer gadgets, to meet their needs. The study shows that the challenge faced by teachers in obtaining their information needs include: lack of public library, poor network service, lack of current information materials. The study covers the secondary schools teachers of Western Ahoada county high school, Ahoada east local government Area of Rivers state. Based on the findings, the researchers recommended as follows, that state government should build branches of public library in different community within the state; Promote the teachers as of when due; Install Free network facilities in all the public secondary schools in the state

RECORD MANAGEMENT AND SERVICES DELIVERY OF INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION (INEC) DELTA STATE CHAPTER

ABSTRACT This research work investigated the record management and services delivery of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Delta state chapter. The study was carried out by using descriptive survey research design. Three specific objectives, three research questions were formulated to guide the study. The population of the study comprises 452 staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Delta state chapter, with sample size of 213 staff. Questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Data was analysed with descriptive statistics. The findings of the study revealed that INEC make use of online storage, such as website/webpage and email, and the use of online storage help to preserve record for long period, ensure timely retrieval of information and contribute greatly to effective service delivery. The study revealed that INEC employed degree holders in record management and library and information science to manage their record, and use of degree holders in record management department help in effective service delivery. Also, the study revealed that INEC have existing weeding policy, and existing weeding policy help the record keeper to know the record to dispose and those to keep, and this promotes effective service delivery. Based on the findings, recommendations were made as follows: that management of INEC should acquire more of the latest electronics gadget for record storage purposes. That more graduate from the field of library and information science and record management should be employed to handles INEC record. Also, that, record management staff should be trained periodically to acquire new skill to manage the organizational record for effective service delivery