Inset: Dr. Taofeek Salisu delivering his Keynote Address during the 6th Annual Workshop of the Nigeria Library Association, Information Technology Session held in the University, recently.
Library personnel have been charged to educate and upgrade themselves in the knowledge of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in order to ensure efficiency in the discharge of their duties.
A Fellow of Nigeria Library Association (FNLA), Dr. Taofeek Mabolaje Salisu gave the charge in his Keynote Address at the Library Information Technology Today (LITT) 2012 Nigeria Library Association (NLA) Information Technology Session, 6th Annual Workshop held at the University’s International Scholars and Resource Centre (ISRC).
Worried by the sharp decline in the quality and productivity of Library personnel in the country, Dr. Salisu, who is the Pioneer University Librarian of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) blamed the development on the apathy of the practitioners aforementioned, towards attaining or upgrading their knowledge of ICT.
The University don who lamented that an average Library Staff is not ICT compliant fingered them as been the bane of the downward trend in the output of Library personnels in the country.
Dr. Salisu pointed out that there is a symbiotic synergy between a typical library and its staff, stressing that the former is a reflection of the latter in terms of service delivery.
According to him, “The quality of service you get in a Library depends on the quality of staff there. If Library personnel are not ICT literate, no matter how huge the financial commitment to the Library, productivity will definitely be at the lowest ebb”.
Dr. Salisu described as shameful the fact that in this part of the world we are still talking about ICT as something new, when in oversees countries they have almost reached the zenith of ICT.
In view of the backdrop, the former member, Editorial Board of Independent Newspapers, said worst still, it is suicidal for a Library personnel, at this ICT age, which has reduced the sprawling world to a global village, to be non compliant.
He, therefore, charged affected library personnel, to as a matter of urgency acquire or upgrade their knowledge of ICT, else they will soon be relegated into the abyss and doldrums of the recycle bin.
His words, “A Librarian that accepts ICT will shape-in but the one that remains shy will shape-out because the concept of Library has changed. We should all engage in continuing professional education in order for us to be competent and productive.
Declaring the Workshop open, the University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole said FUNAAB and in particular, its ‘Nimbe Adedipe Library is ICT driven.
Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development), Professor Felix Kolawole Salako, the Vice-Chancellor informed that apart from having Information and Technology Resources Centre (ICTREC) as a major organ of the University, the institution library is fully computerized.
Besides, Professor Oyewole stated further that Lecture notes are readily available on the internet while lectures are delivered through the use of multimedia equipment.
“I must say that this University has been ICT compliant for many years even when many others apart from the likes of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife and University of Ibadan were still not there, we have been there”.
“We have made it a practice that our Lecture notes are readily available on the internet. Our sound lecturers are lecturing through the use of multimedia equipment. We are already in Information and Technology age”, he added.
Professor Oyewole continued, “Apart from our Library being computerized, we have our Information and Technology Centre”.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, declared that, “I want to say that where we are with our Library is not where we are supposed to be and this is why we are presently working round the clock to ensure that we get there”.
Earlier in her Welcome Address, the Acting University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Mulikat Salaam enjoined participants to take advantage of the workshop to improve their knowledge and horn their skills.
She thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oyewole and other management staff for their support towards hosting the Workshop, despite the short notice.
Dr. (Mrs.) Salaam disclosed that the Workshop was initially billed to hold elsewhere but for security consideration, it was moved to the University.
However, throwing more light on why the Workshop was moved to FUNAAB, the Chairman LIIT, Mr. Felix Azubuke informed that “we looked around not just to choose any place, we wanted a place where we have right equipment, the right tools that we need for our workshop”.
“This is because our Workshops are usually practical, of course this place, I mean FUNAAB was recommended and endorsed because we all know that you have the IT facilities we need”, he added.