Reported by: Inya, Agha and Olanrewaju Ajala.
Librarians from different parts of the country, Tuesday, berthed at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka to learn the application of free and open source software to create, generate and disseminate information in Nigerian libraries. The training was under the auspices of Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, (LRCN) in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA)
The Registrar/CEO of LRCN, Dr. Victoria Okojie, said that the workshop was necessitated by the need to acquaint librarians with the requisite ICT skill that will dispose them to meet the demands of information seekers.
“This workshop aims to make librarians and information managers aware of the possibilities Free and Open-Source Software offer Nigerian Libraries to evolve and to facilitate information sharing. It will also strengthen their technical capacity in deploying FOSS tools such as DSpaceTM, GreenstoneTM, KohaTM and ABCDTM.
“We are here to encourage knowledge workers in Nigeria to share experience and exchange information through the available communication technology platform”, she said.
Dr Okojie maintained that the software was free, accessible and easy to maintain, but regretted that most librarians were either not aware of its availability or lacked the skills to use the facility.
While thanking the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Bartho Okolo and the University Librarian Prof. Charles Omekwu, for providing a congenial environment for the workshop, the registrar noted that the University of Nigeria library was the best she had seen in the country both in terms of size and facilities.
The commissioner for education, Enugu state, Prof. Chris Okoro, said that the state government was paying attention to the development of libraries in the state and making ICT infrastructure available to people at the grassroots. He promised to partner with the LRCN to train Librarians in Enugu State.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof. Bartho Okolo said his administration had taken particular interest in the development of library facilities in the University. “The facilities that have been brought here in the past four years have helped to make our library what it is today”, he said.
The Vice-Chancellor, who spoke through the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof. Malachy Okwueze, said that the interest of his administration in the University library was informed by the strategic importance of libraries to the growth, visibility and accreditation of any tertiary institution. He therefore thanked the LRCN for taking steps to enhance the performance of libraries in the country.
In a goodwill message, the Ag. Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Dr. A. S. Daura commended the effort of LRCN in bringing librarians up-to-date with ICT facilities and said that his Agency was partnering with LRCN and other relevant stakeholders to produce guidelines for library standard and practice in Nigeria. According to him, the standard would serve as a blue print document for promoting the application of ICT in librarianship in Nigeria.
Dr Daura, who was represented by the Director, Corporative Strategy and Research of the Agency, Dr, Emeka Ezekwesili, expressed belief that the outcome of the workshop would support the digital transformation agenda of the Federal Government and add vigour to existing initiative in the use of ICT in information management.
