The immediate past University Librarian of the University, (FUNAAB), Dr. (Mrs.) Mulikat Salaam has condemned the state and management of Libraries in the country compared to other parts of the world.
Dr. Salaam made this known while delivering the Keynote Address titled, “Library: A Social Tool,” at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) Ogun State Chapter, held at the Federal College of Education, Osiele, Abeokuta.
Making a pictorial comparison of both Foreign Libraries and their Nigerian counterparts, the former University Librarian called for the need to make the country’s library buildings attractive.
According to her, “Our Libraries should be designed in such a way to promote comfort, relaxation and silence” and most importantly, “Librarians should be more creative and innovative to encourage the library users”.
Dr. Salaam also advised the Librarians to apply best practices to service delivery in our Libraries as obtainable in advanced countries.
To further advance the beauty and working of the Library, she recommended that “Electronic libraries need to be well equipped and set rolling in our internet-based world because no one has time to walk to a library, when they can access internet services on their palms”.
She noted that “without adequate funding, there cannot be growth; the Government, both at National and State levels, should take the issue of library development in all sectors as a serious matter”, charging Librarians to start making noise for their voice to be heard among other professions.
Mentoring the participants at the AGM, the Pioneer University Librarian of FUNAAB, Dr. Taofeek Salisu advised the Librarians to invest in themselves, by spending their money on the search for knowledge.
Dr. Salisu urged the Librarians to participate in Seminars and Workshops, and most especially, take their integrity paramount.
He tasked the Librarians to be loyal to their Executive Officers and Senior ones at their various places of work, noting that, they should avoid belonging to any “caucus” at place of work because, “When two Elephants fight, the grass suffers, and when two Elephants engage in a friendly play, the grass suffers still”.
Earlier, the Chairperson NLA, Ogun State Chapter, Dr. Oyinade Tomori welcomed all participating Librarians to the Annual General Meeting.
She noted that the Library has been an Institution that had been in existence from time, with great impact in the areas of acquisition of knowledge, research, academics, innovation and preservation history, moral, religious and social information.
According to her, “The Library has had, is having, and will continue to have much and un-quantified social impact on man and humanity.
