PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU UNIVERSITY ANYIGBA

P.M.B 1008, ANYIGBA, KOGI STATE

NAME: ITOLO SUNDAY AJE

QUESTION:

As a 300level student of Library and Information Science, Faculty of Education,

Prince Audu Abubaka University Anyigba, itemize and explain serially five (5)

major rationale for library computerization in West Africa

LECTURER: DR. AZAKI Y. JIBRIN

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Introduction

The concept library computerization process originated quite some decades ago in the more

technologically advanced countries of the world such as the United States of America, Canada,

Great Britain (AKINTUNDE, 2002). It is observed thus that the trend has gradually transcended

to other states of the world especially the impetus is more in the growing third world countries

such as in the African, Asian and the Caribbean countries.

Library computerization is the process of adequately utilizing computer hardware cum software's

and its varying facilities such as networking cables, software packages, scanners aid pointes in

accomplishing library functions which were originally performed manually by the librarians.

Obaseki (2007) stated that “[…] computers have transcended, the status of mere computing to

communication as the uses of computers worldwide are primarily for communication data in

networked environments”.

Computerizing the library functions and services encompasses the initial:

 planning processes;

 Selection of hardware and software;

 Acquisition of selected hardware and software;

 Training of library personnel on the use;

 Maintenance of these novel system;

 Networking of computer terminals (inter linking of computers);

 Retrospective conversion of the library collections i.e. printed materials and artifacts

records by means of computer software into machine readable options.

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Benefits of Library Computerization

The computer application and use the libraries all over in Nigeria have proved to be

magnanimous contribution to the over-all educational enhancement of all humans irrespective of

social, economic, religious cum racial affiliations. This is a truism as library computerization

has led to the:

a) Increase in the patronage and use of information resources at various information centers

especially the library, vis-à-vis the growth in personnel information quotient of persons

in the world. This is so as the provision and application of computers and its other

peripherals in the library have transformed the library into digital studios were

information easily could be manipulated and acquired. In addition this novel trend of

library computerization attracts patrons to the library for various purposes, some for

sightseeing, recreation, research etc. It is observed that the rate of library patronage

especially in universities universally has increased drastically, as in case with Nigeria,

were people hardly use the library in early 1990s. The situation has changed as librarians

and library management now employ means to curtail the overpopulation of their

libraries especially in university (academic) libraries e.g. Bayero University library were

clienteles want to use, touch or have the feeling of being around a computerized digital

library.

b) Increase in moral and prestige of library staffs/personnel's. In most Africa states per se

the concept of who a librarian is, to the lay man outside, was subjectively dehumanizing

to the library personnel: Hence they were viewed only as Book-keepers/Book sellers of

little importance to the society. This reason however was owned to the decline in our

level of education cum the inability of the past African states government especially the

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 colonial authorities to shed light on the importance of libraries to educational

advancement of all society as obtainable in Europe and the Americas. Recent

development in the universe has precipitated the novel concept of information age,

which entails that all human has to live, eat and sleep with information. It was observed

that to easily get this information in the era the library has to be technologically

improved, hence the gradual change from manual to computerized ways of performing

all libraries functions and services. Thus the presence of these equipments in libraries

attracted persons to the librarians who the patrons now see as technologist or experts in

manipulating these equipments and at same time above the library staffs. On it own the

egoistic attributes on the librarian have swelled as they now view themselves as

information scientists/managers rather than book keepers.

c) Faster and easier ways of getting library functions, services and activities done. Book

selection and acquisition; bibliographic searching and reference services; interlibrary

loans and cooperation are some of the tasks of libraries that were before now done

manually i.e. with human efforts and much time. These recent trends of library

computerizations have made these task a mere children game. This is so as the eventual

"[…] application of computer to library has made the library work easier and faster to

accomplish” (KUMAR, 1995). Also library computerization when properly applied has

the tendency of breeching internationally acclaimed physical boundaries. This is truism

as with the use of the international network system libraries computerized can participate

in resource sharing activities amongst themselves; this will lessen the amount of funds

spent in acquiring physical information resources.

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d) Creation of job opportunities within the library. This is necessitated by the presence of

computers and its accessories. Observed that the library has transcended to the height of

an organization, in less than a decade, from the focal point of just building where books

are kept. At present there are novel men job categories in libraries, especially the

academic libraries such as web developers, computer instructors, maintenance officers,

ICTs managers/officers, just to mention a few.

e) Computerization of libraries has provided libraries with cheaper means of purchasing

information resources for their libraries. This is so as other methods were the libraries

have to apply the use of manual means in selecting and acquiring its resources is more

costly and involves more human efforts. Thus libraries now acquire information

resources through the World Wide Web and Internet, this have made it more affordable

for libraries to procure more current information resources such as journals, which are

very costly when procured in physical format.

Though these noticeable novel trends that are resultant effects of library computerization have

gone a long way in shaping and stabilizing the educational aims and objectives of all

international state especially in African states such as Nigeria. There exist still some

impediments towards proper library computerization. They include:

1. Financial impecuniosities

Often it has been noted that library management and librarians are willing and ready to make

changes from the traditional method of library to novel trends, there is the negating factor of

scarcity of funds. This factor over time has been viewed as a resultant posture of library

management lukewarm approach to library development. Hence management exhibits their tight

fist nature towards funds release for the procurement of novel library technologies and tools.

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 2. Dearth of Qualified Competent Librarians

Libraries especially in developing countries are be quitted with arrays of personnel’s who are

not librarians by qualification. Hence these persons who function as library personnel’s do not

have the capacity of functioning properly in a library environment thus leading to the under

development of the library in function and services rendered.

3. Lackadaisical attitude of librarians towards rendering of service

The future of libraries lies in the ability of librarians to collaborate with faculty. To do so, the

librarian needs to be considered as an equal with faculty members.

Today’s librarian should develop awareness of the culture of her library and the culture in which

the library exists, they should live and participate in the intellectual discourse so vital to the

university community and the librarian should be constantly involved in scholarly research. In

doing this, will eradicate the notion of many persons towards who a librarian is.

Other impediments include:

 Inadequate library legislation;

 Submissive attitudes of library heads;

 Autocratic/dictatorial stance of library parent management.

Furthermore, Amekuedee (1995) stated that barriers to successful library computerization in

Ghana include:

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  Lack of co operation among university libraries;

 Attitudinal problems among librarians; and

 Personnel problems.

Once these above hindrances are tacked librarians and libraries, all over the globe will definitely

take a deep breath of satisfaction as result of the habitable atmosphere created by library

computerization.