Nigerian Library Association (NLA) is a recognized organization for librarians and library and information science educators in Nigeria. [1] Its headquarters is in Abuja (the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria). It was established in 1962 in Ibadan. [2] It was born from the West African Library Association (WALA). The NLA provides a forum for cooperation, knowledge sharing, and advocacy for the advancement of libraries and information services across the nation among librarians, information scientists, library professionals, and associated stakeholders. Kalu Chioma Okorie (OON), [3] its pioneer president, is also one of the first to receive the Fellow Award of the association. [4] The current president of NLA and chairman of the council is Pastor Dominic Omokaro. [5] [6] [7] NLA mission is to: [8]
The aims of NLA
Nigerian Library Association has a structured organogram made up of a Council that comprises the chairmen of all the State Chapters and the Federal Capital Territory; the National Librarian/CEO of the National Library of Nigeria; the Registrar of the Librarians Registration Council of Nigeria and the chairmen of all the sections/special interest groups that represent all the compartments of libraries and information centers. [9] [10]
These interest groups are:
Nigerian Library Association Library and Information Technology Today (NLA LITT)
Nigerian Library Association, Cataloguing, Classification, and Indexing Section
Nigerian School Library Section (NSLS)
National Association of Library & Information Science Educators (NALISE)
Public Libraries Section (PLS)
Academic and Research Libraries (ARL)
Association of Government Libraries (AGOL)
Association of News Media Librarians of Nigeria (ANLON)
Association of Women Librarians in Nigeria (AWLIN)
Nigerian Association of Law Libraries (NALL)
Medical Libraries Section (MLS)
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) had a news conference in Abuja in April 2024, where it spoke on the issue of appointing non-librarians to head the various libraries in Nigeria. According to the President of NLA, Mr Omokaro, “The appointment of non-librarians to head libraries in Nigeria is an anomaly because the profession is highly regulated. We have a government regulatory agency that regulates who a librarian is and what qualifications you need to have to practice as a librarian. So, it becomes an aberration when you take a lawyer, doctor, or engineer to head a library, so we are advocating that our jobs are not taken away from us because we have trained librarians. As I speak, we have over 150 professors of the library, 500 to 1,000 librarians with PHD and over 14,000 members in the association captured and recognized as librarians.” [11] NLA also made cases on the completion of the National Library Project which has been going on for years. There was also the appeal to look into the State Library Boards by working for the standardization of the Public Library System in Nigeria. This is to enhance the public library services, as it is described as the poor man's university. Another intervention by the NLA on the school library system was reported as causing the collapse of education in Nigeria. [12] [13]
NLA participated in the Network of Book Clubs and Reading Culture Promoters in Nigeria (NBRP) on August 17, 2023. The event aimed to promote reading culture and increase the voice of readers in the book ecosystem in Nigeria. [14]
NLA plans and provides training, workshops, and seminars on conferences (both National and International) for members. These help to strengthen members' capacities and enrichment of service delivery. [15] [16] [17] For instance, there has been training on digital workspaces to enable members to build their capacities on modern technologies in library services. [18]
The NLA, State Chapters, and Special interest groups hold numerous conferences and themes throughout the year. [19] The largest conference is the annual conference. [20]
NLA gives awards and fellowships to its deserving members during its annual conferences. [23] One of such award was to Dr. (Mrs.) Modupe Aduke Aboyade CLN, FNLA, FIMPD of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso in 2023. [24] NLA also appointed Brand Ambassadors in 2023. [25]
The Nigerian Library Association publishes newsletters, books, conference proceedings, and journals. They are:
Newsletters:
Books:
Conference Proceedings:
Journals
Name | Tenure |
---|---|
K. C. Okorie | 1962-1964 |
W. J. Plumbe [28] | 1964-1965 |
E. B. Bankole | 1965-1966 |
S. C. Nwoye | 1966-1967 |
F. A. Ogunsheye (Mrs.) | 1967-1970 |
S. B. Aje | 1971-1973 |
J. O. Dipeolu | 1973-1975 |
A. Mohammed | 1976-1978 |
O. O. Ogundipe | 1978-1980 |
A. H. Ningi | 1980-1983 |
J. A. Maigari | 1983-1985 |
J. A. Dosumu | 1985-1988 |
J. O. Fasanya | 1989-1993 |
Gboyega Banjo | 1993-1998 |
Mu’azu H. Wali (Alh.) | 1998-2000 |
James O. Daniel. (Dr.) | 2000-2005 |
Victoria Okojie (Ms.) [29] | 2005-2010 |
Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina (Prof.) [30] | 2010-2012 |
Rilwanu Abdulsalami (Alh.) | 2012-2016 |
Umunna Opara (Dr.) | 2016-2019 |
Innocent Isa Ekoja [31] | 2019-2022 |
Dominic Omokaro [32] | 2022-till date |
Inter-library loan is a service that enables patrons of one library to borrow materials that are held by another library.
The University of Abuja is a federal university located in Abuja, Nigeria. It was established in January 1988 as a dual-mode university with the mandate to run conventional and distance learning programmes. Academic work began at the university in 1990 with the matriculation of its pioneer students.
The National Library of Nigeria came into operation in the mid-1960s with the enactment of the National Library Act of 1964 which was later replaced by Act No. 29 of 1970. Before the passage of the National Library Act, a series of educational conferences conducted in Ibadan served as the intellectual basis for the creation of a network of libraries funded by the federal government to provide accessibility of educational materials to Nigerians. A government advisory committee was later created concerning the necessity to develop a local repository of knowledge. The committee was charged with finding a way to aid the government in bringing to prominence the intellectual foundations of its policies, creating a national bibliographic center, and providing an arena for the promotion of knowledge. The committee was the first major formal body that called for a National Library as part of its recommendations. The government accepted the demands of the advisory committee and undertook the necessary steps to build a National Library.
Jesus Lau is a Mexican librarian, and a contributor to the fields of information science and library and information science since 1977; his research focuses on information literacy and the development of information competencies. He is a member of several organizations related to the library field, such as the American Library Association, the Mexican Library Association, the Border Regional Library Association, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), and the Special Libraries Association. He has facilitated nearly 150 courses, including workshops and seminars on library and information science, with special emphasis on information literacy and management and leadership at several institutions in Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Estonia, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, USA, Venezuela, among others.
Helena R. Asamoah-Hassan is a Ghanaian librarian who is the present executive director of African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), the board chair for the Ghana Library Authority and the secretary general of African Regional Memory of the World Committee.
The Federal University Otuoke is a Federal Government-owned University sited in Otuoke, a town in Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State, Southern Nigeria. The university is one of the nine new Federal Universities established by the Federal Government of Nigeria in February 2011 under the administration of president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Federal University Otuoke is sited in the heart of the oil-rich Niger-Delta Region of Bayelsa State. The university was established in 2011 and started with 282 pioneer students. The university has six (6) faculties and offers degree courses at undergraduate levels. and Post Graduate Levels - offering Post Graduate Diploma, Masters, and Doctorate Degrees.
Chinwe Nwogo Ezeani, is a Nigerian Chartered Librarian and the immediate past University Librarian of Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (U.N.N.). She is a Professor of Library and Information Science. Her tenure as a University Librarian (UL) at Nnamdi Azikiwe Library was between March 2014-March 2019. She is the first female University Librarian since the inception of Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, University of Nigeria Nsukka. In April, 2021, Dr. Ilo Promise Ifeoma took over as the current University Librarian of Nnamdi Azikiwe Library, (U.N.N)
Established in 1895, the California Library Association (CLA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Members of CLA include library staff members, professional librarians, library and information science graduate students, and those individuals "interested in the development, promotion and improvement of library services" in the state of California.
Donna Wills Scheeder was an American librarian who was president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 2015 to 2017, under the theme "Libraries: A Call to Action". Scheeder participated in the IFLA Governing Board for 6 years.
The African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA), commonly referred to as AfLIA, is an international not-for-profit organization headquartered in Accra, Ghana. The Association is registered under the laws of Ghana as an NGO. It is managed under the general guidelines of its Constitution and by-laws.The Institution is currently being led by Dr. Helena Asamoah-Hassan as the Executive Director.
Helen Kay Raseroka is a librarian who was born in Kwazulu-Natal (Sudáfrica) with Botswana citizenship. She is a former President of The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 2003 to 2005, under the theme "Libraries for lifelong literacy".
Christine Deschamps is a French librarian. She was president of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) from 1997 to 2003. She wanted to lead the library sector towards a truly international work, and make it more inclusive for those whom English was not their first language. She stated that she wanted her presidency to be remembered as a pragmatic mandate.
The Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) was established as a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Education by Act 12/Decree 12 of 1995 by the Nigerian government. The Council is responsible for providing leadership in the field of librarianship by regulating education for library and information science and its practice in Nigeria.
Covenant University Library, also known as Centre for Learning Resources (CLR), is the library of Covenant University in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. It is housed in a three-story glass building with a seating capacity of 3,500.
Victoria Okojie is a Nigerian librarian, academician and administrator. She was the first Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Librarians' Registration Council of Nigeria, a parastatal of the Federal Government of Nigeria. Okojie is also a past president of the Nigerian Library Association as well as a member of the governing board of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA). She is a lecturer at the Department of Library and Information Science, University of Abuja, Abuja.
Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina is a professor of Library and Information Science, and former National Librarian/Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) Abuja.
The Zimbabwe Library Association (ZimLA) is an association that represents library, records, archives and information professionals in Zimbabwe. Membership for those who wish to join the association is voluntary.
Anambra State Library Board (ANSLB), is a Nigerian-established Library Board that manages all the public libraries in Anambra State. It is situated along Awka – Enugu express road by Aroma junction in Awka, the capital of Anambra State. Its headquarter is located at Professor Kenneth Dike State Central e-Library, Awka. It has eleven public libraries, comprising three Divisional libraries with seven Branch/Community libraries and the headquarter that houses the Library Board – Professor Kenneth Dike State Central e-Library, Awka. The State Library Board has won awards for the Best Public Library in Nigeria for three consecutive years, earning it another award for the Ever Green Public Library in Nigeria
Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Anambra State Chapter is one of the 37 chapters of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) with its headquarters in Abuja. It is a recognized group of librarians in Nigeria. The State chapter is made up of librarians working in library schools, public libraries, school libraries, government libraries, special libraries, and other library sectors in Anambra State, Nigeria. NLA, Anambra State Chapter won the Best State Chapter Award of the Nigerian Library Association for three consecutive years. These were in 2009, 2010, and 2011 and these earned it the "Evergreen Award." The State Chapter is located within Professor Kenneth Dike State Central e-Library Awka. However, some of the challenges of the State Chapter include non-payment of membership subscriptions by members, non-attendance of chapter meetings, and non-identification of retired members to the chapter.
Doris Bozimo is a Nigerian librarian, academician and administrator. She is a professor and former university librarian at Kashim Ibrahim Library, Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna state. She was the country coordinator representing Nigeria at Electronic Information for Libraries (EIFL) as well as a member of the Nigerian Library Association.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)