Why the library is still relevant – Rilwanu Abdulsalami

Bookshelf: Looking at today’s level of technological advancement and particularly now that the internet appears to have taken over as the go-to place for research, how relevant would you say libraries are?  Rilwanu Abdulsalami: That’s the perception, but we in the library don’t think so. Libraries are still very relevant. Online, you are left with […]

Bookshelf: Looking at today’s level of technological advancement and particularly now that the internet appears to have taken over as the go-to place for research, how relevant would you say libraries are? 

Rilwanu Abdulsalami: That’s the perception, but we in the library don’t think so. Libraries are still very relevant. Online, you are left with millions of records to harvest from. In the library we do selective dissemination and organisation. Google, for example wouldn’t give you specifics because it doesn’t know where you are from. It will give you from different continents, countries and sources. We assist people get what they want without getting a heavy load. Search engines use key word search and this isn’t helpful to readers. We have also established e-libraries and virtual libraries for our people to use.  

Bookshelf: How would you describe your experience as a librarian and later, President of Nigeria Library Association?

Abdulsalami: I started practicing as a librarian way back in 1984 and have worked with different libraries across the country. I started my career with the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology in Zaria from where I moved to Nigerian Defence Academy when it became a university in 1985. After then I went to the National Universities Commission in Lagos. We moved to Abuja in 1992, and then I spent about fifteen years with NUC before I moved to Kaduna State University when it was opened. So I participated in the library association right from Abuja and was part of the executive of the local chapter. I was Vice President and later became President of the association in Nigeria in 2012. I spent two terms, making it four years.   

My experience has been in different sectors and I have participated in international forums on behalf of the association. We have a global body, International Federation of Library Association and Institutions, of which Nigeria is a member and have been attending their meetings each year. It has been a very rewarding and tasking experience. 

Bookshelf: With all these years spent in the library, what types of books will you say have made the most impact on you, personally?

Abdulsalami: I come across many books. During my studies we had professional books that we used and there are also those we participated in selecting for various disciplines in the university. As professionals, we don’t select books for our clientele, but rather, engage them to tell us what they need. There was an old book we used for a very important course in my profession. I will never forget this book. It is called Organisation of Knowledge in Libraries. It opened up my mind to the dynamics of the profession. It gives details about how knowledge should be organised in the library, how to sought out various groups of books, approach to library users and so on. For example, each user must come to the library with any of these three approaches: the name of author, title of book or subject. 

Bookshelf: Would you say people still visit libraries today as much as they used to?

Abdulsalami: I have never worked in a public library. In academic libraries where I work, students visit libraries because of their work, while some for their personal development. Perhaps they are pursuing their first or second degrees or other academic programmes, but over the years, reading for leisure, as we have observed, has dwindled. 

Public libraries have sections for everyone, for children, adults, and kindergarten. People used to read for leisure and even borrowed from the library. We also used to have international libraries owned by the British Council and the United States. But all these are not functioning now. 

Bookshelf: You are head of the library at Federal University Wukari, Taraba State. What has changed about running a library now compared to what used to be?

Abdulsalami: I wasn’t head of the library then, but I know that there is a marked difference because at that time the economy was good and owning a library is capital intensive. We used to have funding for books. Even though we still do, they aren’t adequate. We also used to have opportunities to attend many courses and training workshops, but now we struggle for these, including funding to buy books, get furniture, equipment and tools. We also struggle to maintain the library.  

Bookshelf: If you have the opportunity of setting up a library as an individual today, what types of books will you stock it with? 

Abdulsalami: As I said, a public library caters for the community, so it depends. If you want to set up one in Abuja, for instance, you will look at the people there. The book collection will be determined by this clientele. A public library is for all people in the community. You have to take care of the children, students, graduates, workers, and the elderly, retired and so on. You have to look at the curriculum covered by schools, also the military, para-military and retired civil servants. Because it’s impossible to cater for everybody, you have to look at what you will start with. You therefore start with the children’s section and stock them with picture books, alphabets and numbers. You then take a look at the curriculum of those undergoing junior and senior certificate examinations. Not all schools have libraries, so the public libraries are meant to supplement with books that are lacking.

Bookshelf: What is your typical work day like?

Abdulsalami: As head of a university library, I have official working hours of eight to four o’clock in the evening. But, most of the time, because we do shift activities with my staff, I don’t have a closing hour. In the mornings, there are so many committee meetings in the university system, like the Senate. Over the weekend I also go to the office to ensure readers don’t have any problem and attend to issues immediately. I have six days of work a week and ten or eleven hours of work a day.