Necesidades formativas

In a situation where the library has to take an offender to court for a penalty of N2000 fine is not worth the trouble.

12. Apathy of librarians to the profession: many librarians do not have a strong passion to practice the profession in the way other professionals such as doctors and lawyers take their calling.

4.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this Unit identified and explained some of the major challenges of libraries in Nigeria. However, the next Unit will examine the prospects that libraries in Nigeria have as they look forward to a brighter and better future.

5.0 SUMMARY

A summary of the discussions in this Unit is necessary to round up the discussion.

Various challenges faced by libraries in terms of resources, infrastructure, facilities, funding and staffing were identified and discussed.

6.0 SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISES

1. Identify and describe the major challenges faced by libraries in Nigeria.

7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING

Ezeani, C.N., & Igwesi, U. (2012). Using social media for dynamic service delivery: The Nigeria experience. Library Philosophy and Practice 814 (2012).

Nok, C (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), 1-9.

UNIT 4: PROSPECTS OF LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

1.0 INTRODUCTION

This Unit takes a brief look at the prospects of Nigerian libraries. It examines the resources, staffing, services and facilities with a view to determining how new technologies and other modern facilities provided by the opportunities in the 21^st century can be explored by libraries to improve their service-delivery.

2.0 OBJECTIVES/INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of this Unit, you should be able to:

 Identify and discuss the prospects of Nigerian libraries in the 21^st century.

3.0 MAIN CONTENT

3.1 Prospects of Library Services in Nigeria

In spite of the challenges faced by libraries in Nigeria, they have bright prospects for the future due in part to the advent of the Internet and other new technologies.

Some of the prospects are discussed below:

i. The Internet has created many opportunities for libraries to provide more efficient and effective services. For instance, the Internet gives users the opportunity to have ready access to information resources in real time and the cost of access is getting cheaper.

ii. Open Access: Libraries have access to open access resources online, which are usually accessed free of charge by users. The opportunity provided by Open Access makes users in developing countries to access information they may otherwise not have been able to.

iii. Free and Open Source Software (FOSS): The Internet also provides the opportunity for libraries in Nigeria to use free library management software if they have staff with requisite skills, thereby reducing the cost automation in libraries. FOSS which are popularly used by Nigerian libraries are Koha and NewGenLib.

iv. The advent of social media has created new opportunities for libraries.

Using such media as Facebook and WhatsApp, libraries are able to communicate faster to their members and also communicate to a wider number of users at the same time. With social media, reservation of materials can be made with personally visiting the library and libraries can advertise their new or special collections to a wider range of people.

v. The new technologies also provide librarians the opportunity for self – development, education and training. For instance, Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).

vi. Even in infrastructure, the use of solar panels provides libraries with new opportunities to tackle the electricity challenges required to use the Internet and other electronic facilities.

vii. Opportunities for fund-raising abound in the online environment. An example is the “Global Giving” programme which encourages financial donations to libraries.

viii. Libraries also have the opportunity of providing 24/7 services to users and providing remote services to users in the comfort of their homes or any location of their choice.

ix. Collaboration and partnerships are easier in the 21^st century because of the opportunities for easier and faster communication between organizations.

x. Resource sharing is made much easier in the 21^st century because of the availability of resources in electronic format.

xi. Increase in the number of library schools available in Nigeria provides the prospect of adequate staffing required in libraries. This is especially so because the number of tertiary and other educational institutions in increasing exponentially and they all require librarians to manage their libraries.

4.0 CONCLUSION

This Unit assessed the environment provided by the Internet and other electronic resources in the 21^st century and concludes that libraries have bright prospects for the future.

5.0 SUMMARY

In summary, this Unit advances reasons why libraries in Nigeria have bright prospects in the future. This is especially so with the advent of the Internet which is helping to democratize access to information.

6.0 SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE(S)

1. What are the prospects of Nigerian libraries in the 21^st century?

7.0 REFERNCES/FURTHER READINGs