‘Higher institutions should employ certified librarians’
The Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) has called on all vice-chancellors and other heads of tertiary institutions in the country to employ and promote only certified librarians. A statement issued by the Assistant Director, Information, Mrs Ngozi Oboh, said the Registrar of LRCN, Professor Michael Afolabi, made the call when he paid a courtesy […]
The Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) has called on all vice-chancellors and other heads of tertiary institutions in the country to employ and promote only certified librarians.
A statement issued by the Assistant Director, Information, Mrs Ngozi Oboh, said the Registrar of LRCN, Professor Michael Afolabi, made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Professor Ignatius Akhakhia Onimawo.
“The call became necessary considering the key roles that libraries play in the education system. Books, journals, research materials in both audio and visual formats used in learning and teaching are preserved in the libraries.
“A library accounts for storage of knowledge and information that help men in their pursuit of excellence and in generating new schools of thought, making innovative discoveries, and generally contributing to adding to world information and knowledge,” he said.
According to him, libraries are self-contained educational establishments that can shape the educational destiny of students and others who come into contact with them.
Professor Afolabi therefore stated that only qualified library and information science professionals could deliver services that would guarantee positive learning and teaching experience in the institutions.
The registrar noted that LRCN has written to all employers of labour in Nigeria to engage only librarians that have obtained the council’s certification and also solicited the support of the universities towards the implementation of the policy.
The vice chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Professor Jude Aigbe Agho, said adequate strategy would be put in place to ensure that all librarians within the system are certified and that a process to weed out non-certified staff in the future would be considered.
The courtesy visit held on the sidelines of the sensitization meeting for the Library and Information Science Professionals in the South-South geo-political zone, organized by the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria in Edo State.
Professor Afolabi said the meeting was put together for the stakeholders to brainstorm on how to advance librarianship in the country.
The stakeholders were briefed on LRCN’s activities and upcoming events including the council’s conference of certified librarians, induction and the workshop on data base management to be held in Ibadan in November.
He explained that from 2018/2019 academic session, the council will commence induction at points of graduation.
He said: “We have reasoned that bringing our activities closer to you will enhance your participation in the induction which will provide you the opportunity to be certified and be positioned to contribute meaningfully to librarianship locally and internationally.”