Stakeholders urged to develop framework for engaging govt, citizenry

Stakeholders in the education sector have underscored the need for the Nigerian Library Association, National Library of Nigeria and the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria to develop a framework for engaging government and the citizenry.

This, they say, is to promote diversity and inclusion in delivering quality library services in the country.

This was revealed in a communique at the just concluded 62nd National Conference/Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association.

No fewer than 83 papers were presented by Library and Information Science Professionals from across the country and abroad at the conference themed, “Promoting Diversity and Inclusiveness through Innovative Library and Information Services in Nigeria”.

In a communique signed by the President and Chairman of Council, Nigerian Library Association, Dominic Omokaro, stakeholders tasked the Federal Government to fund the completion of the National Library Headquarters building in Abuja to promote national inclusion and diversity of our cultural and intellectual heritage

The communique reads, “There is the need for an appropriate library policy on the training of Library and Information Science Professionals in Nigeria through seminars, workshops, conferences, on-the-job training, and other capacity building programmes.

“There is the need for Government to continue to fund the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) so as to help facilitate the practice of librarianship and reduce the engagement of quacks to head libraries in Nigeria.

“There is the need to recruit librarians into the federal civil service to replace aging and retiring librarians from the service.

“There is the need for the three tiers of government to appoint librarians as Senior Special Advisers(SSA) on Library and Information Development as this will galvanize inclusiveness despite our diversity”