Bappah Magaji Abubakar
Department of Library and Information Science,
Bayero University, Kano-Nigeria
P.M.B. 3011, Kano
Introduction
Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa that is geographically and
well located on the West African coast. It has a great diversity in the area of
its natural components that comprises of varied topography, climatic conditions
as well as vegetational patterns. With a population of 140 million people,
Nigeria is the largest country in Africa and accounts for 47 percent of West
Africa’s population (World Bank, 2010). In terms of land mars it covers an area
of about 924, 000km and is bordered on the north by the Niger Republic, on the
east by Chad and Cameroon, on the south by the Gulf of Guinea, and on the west
by the Republic of Benin (Diso, 2005). Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural
resources that spread across its 36 states as well as its Federal Capital
Territory (FCT), Abuja.
Nigeria has a number of universities attached with academic libraries.
At present there are about eighty nine (89) universities in Nigeria (Lawal,
2007). Also there are a number of polytechnics and colleges all attached with
academic libraries. Nigeria’s university system is been supervised by the
National Universities Commission (NUC), a parastatal body under the Federal
Ministry of Education; while the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)
and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) supervises
polytechnics and colleges respectively.
Academic libraries are libraries attached to tertiary institutions such
as universities, polytechnic institutions, colleges of education, colleges of
agriculture, colleges of technology and also research institutes (Akporhonor,
2005). Singh and Kaur (2009) stressed that preservation and access to knowledge
and information is the main mandate of academic libraries along side supporting
the mission of their parent institutions which is teaching and research.
Paradigm Shift in Academic Library Services
With the advent of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs),
the role and position of libraries has dramatically changed. Etim (2004) cited
in Okon (2005) observes that the rapid pace of development in the field of
information technology and the advent of networked information services have
prompted a comprehensive review of the Library and Information Sciences (LIS)
profession. The global trend is now characterized with a fundamental shift from
traditional information environment to an e-environment where emphasis is
placed more on the acquisition of e-resources such as e-books, e-journals as
well as online databases. However, traditional library and information services
and functions are still relevant.
Today, the contemporary practice in academic library services in the
21st century is being propelled with an information explosion, and the
inclusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in all aspects
of library services. Kumar (2009) notes that academic libraries are changing
dramatically by adopting new means of technology in all activities of print to
e-environment where a variety of manual method, are replaced by computerized
system which provides opportunity for online accessibility.
Libraries are now expected to provide to users a range of information
and communication technologies necessary for retrieving information quickly
from both immediate and remote databases, as well as creating a need for
library cooperation and consortium initiatives (Okiy, 2005)
The present-day academic library services in the 21st century is
focusing more on the area of digital, virtual or libraries without borders all of which have transformed academic
libraries and led to transition and transformation in the academic library
environment. The transition and the transformation are accompanied with
sophistication in the changing pattern in the information needs of users which
is growing rapidly. Singh and Kaur (2009) observed that there is a paradigm
shift from stand alone libraries to library and information networks; from
printed publications to digital documents; and from ownership to access. The
transition according to them is as a result of the impact of ICTs, the Internet
and the web which is affecting all types of libraries.
Developments in ICTs have now offered academic libraries an exciting
and challenging opportunities that requires them to respond positively in all
facets of their services and functions if they are to remain relevant in the
21st century. Thus, academic libraries must devise means of survival.
Academic Libraries Situation in Nigeria
Academic libraries in Nigeria are at a crossroads. This is because they
are operating in an era of dwindling finances where resources (financial and
materials) are not forthcoming. Nigerian academic libraries derive the greater
part of their funds from the government (both Federal and State). Okiy (2005)
notes that of all the different types of libraries in Nigeria, only university
libraries have a clearly defined policy of funding, because they are allocated
10% of the recurrent annual budget of their parent institutions. However, it is
regrettable that such monies are not forthcoming as most university
administrators tend to flout that decision (Okiy, 2005; Yetunde, 2008)
The situation in private universities also tends to portray a gloomy
picture as the story seems to be the same. Yetunde (2008) observed that in most
private universities in Nigeria the founder and the board of trustees usually
determine the share of university library’s budget which in most instances is
not adequate. This ugly situation affects the efficiency and effectiveness of
their functions.
However, despite the not so encourage situation in terms of funding,
recent efforts made in the area of Internet and ICTs in academic libraries in
Nigeria has been reported in the literature (Womboh and Abba, 2008; Fatoki,
2005; Etim, 2006; Ani et al, 2005) where academic libraries made series of
attempts to adopt the technologies for improved services. Although despite the efforts, very little
success has been recorded. A lot still needs to be done.
Providing current awareness services to an ICT driven target academic
community requires dynamic, innovative, timely and adequate communication
technologies (Fatoki, 2005). However, most academic libraries in Nigeria are
severely constrained by a number of factors that includes erratic internet
services, lack of hardware and software and in most instances the
non-availability of the said ICTs in most academic libraries.
Besides, there is difficulty in the importation of books and journals
from abroad due to the high rise in foreign exchange. This has deterred many
academic libraries from acquiring current and relevant titles that will support
the academic programmes of their parent institutions. Thus the efforts of most
academic libraries in providing modern information services is thwarted by the
existence of the aforementioned problems whose genesis is that of inadequate
funding. Also IT literacy among academic librarians in most libraries is still
at the peripheral level. Nok (2006) observed that many staff of university
libraries are not computer literate as such they find it difficult to cope with
the requirements of the electronic age.
However, the recent establishment of digital libraries in three (3)
universities in Nigeria i.e. Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (A.B.U.);
University of Lagos; and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) by the MTN
Nigeria, which has been reported by IT News (2010) can be considered as a
stepping stone towards provision of viable and vibrant academic library
services that are desired in the 21st century Nigeria.
The Way Forward
For Nigerian academic libraries to provide the desired information
services to their respective communities, that will match the requirements of
the 21st century, emphasis should shift towards:
Academic libraries should explore more alternative sources of funding
as over reliance on the government on monies that are not forthcoming may not
provide the desired solutions.
New initiatives are required in the form of consultancy services,
marketing of information products as well as other income generating services.
The need for the committees of university librarians, and their
counterparts in polytechnics and colleges to sensitize their respective
institution’s administrators on the central role of academic libraries in
teaching, learning and research activities in academic communities.
More emphasis should be placed on the provision of online access and
services such as OPAC, e-journals, e-books, and networked information services.
Improvement in ICTs such as the Internet, Intranet, hardware and
software as well as Internet band with.
The need for the Nigerian Library Association to be proactive in the
21st century.
Improvement in ICT training for academic librarians
Finally, government must realize the central role of academic libraries
to national development which requires provision of more funds for academic
library development in the country.
Conclusion
Digital revolution has dramatically changed the face of libraries in
the 21st century. This posed a challenge to academic libraries to digitize
their services and resources through appropriate ICT application in order to
remain relevant. However, academic libraries in Nigeria are faced with enormous
problems notably that of lack of proper funding. Despite that, they must
against all odds try to measure up with their contemporaries elsewhere. Their
ability to overcome some of the major challenges undermining their efforts in
providing the desired services to their communities in this information age
should therefore serve as one of the coping strategy methods for the 21st
century academic library service in Nigeria.
References
Akporhonor, B.A. (2005). Library Funding in Nigeria: Past, Present and
Future. The Bottom Line: Managing Library Finances, 18 (2), 63-70
Ani, J., et al. (2005). Adoption of Information and Communication
Technology in Academic Libraries: A strategy for Library networking in Nigeria.
The Electronic Library, 23(6), 701-708
Diso, L.I. (2005). Information production, transfer, and delivery: Mass
Information work and television journalists’ dilemma in Nigeria. International
Information and Library Review, 37, 285-286
Etim, F.E. (2006). Resource sharing in the Digital Age: Prospects and
problems in African Universities. Library Philosophy and Practice, 9(1)
Fatoki, O.C. (2005). Prospects of GSM technology for academic library
services. The Electronic Library, 23(3), 266-273
IT News Africa (2010). http://www.itnewsafrica.com accessed 14/1/2010
Kumar, M. (2009). Academic Libraries in electronic environment:
Paradigm shift. A paper presented at the International Conference on Academic
Libraries (ICAL) held at the University of Delhi, India. P. 105
Lawal, O.O. (2007). Standards for Library and Information Science
Programmes in Nigerian Universities. A lead Paper presented at the conference
of the National Association of Library and Information Science Educators
(NALISE), Nigeria held at Imo State University, Owerri. P. 4
Nok, G. (2006). The challenges of computerizing a University Library in
Nigeria: the case of Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Library Philosophy and Practice, 8(2)
Okiy, R.B. (2005). Funding Nigerian Libraries in the 21st century: will
funding from alternative sources suffice?. The Bottom Line: Managing Library
Finances, 18(2), 71-77
Okon, H.I. (2005). Effective Communication and Smooth Administration of
Academic Libraries in the 21st Century: A new Paradigm in Nigeria. Library
Philosophy and Practice, 8(1)
Singh, J. and Kaur, T. (2009). Future of Academic Libraries in India:
challenges and opportunities. A paper presented at the International Conference
on Academic Libraries (ICAL) held at the University of Delhi, India. P. 52
Womboh, B.S.H. and Abba, T. (2008). The state of Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) in Nigerian University Libraries: the Experience
of Ibrahim Babangida Library, Federal University of Technology, Yola. Library
Philosophy and Practice.
World Bank Report on Nigeria (2010). Nigerian Investment.com. available
at: http://wwww.nigerianinvestments.com/index.php
Yetunde, Z.A. (2008). A study of internally generated revenue (IGR) by
University Libraries in Nigeria. Borno Library, Archival and Information
Science Journal, 7(1), 1-14
Curled from: http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/abubakar.htm
