Problems of Bibliographic Control in Nigeria
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Bibliographic control simply has to do with the organization of information.
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Bibliographic Control helps in properly identifying a source of
information, avoid unnecessary repetition, and encourage the easy
sharing of information and resources and the re-use of the
bibliographic records. The importance of bibliographic control is so
that information about sources can be systematically arranged in such
a way as to help information seekers know which information is
available and where such can be found. This will aid learning and
personal development in the nation. When each nation attempts to
capture every book under its scheme, it becomes a national
bibliography while the collective effort by various nations of the
world is called the Universal Bibliographic Control.
It is the responsibility of a National bibliographic agency (NBA) to
provide an authoritative bibliographic record of publications in its
own country. This record should then be made available to other
National bibliographic agencies around the world, libraries, archives,
communities, and museums in the country. All for the purpose of
increasing access to the bibliographic record.
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Problems of Bibliographic control in Nigeria
Lack of access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in libraries
and information centres in Nigeria is yet to be popular. The use of
technology helps to digitize and automate data and records. Many
personnel in the Library and Information sector are not equipped for
its use and thus lack the education and skill needed to make the
library sector more digitalized.
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Lack of suitable automation software
Libraries in Nigeria lack access to the appropriate software to be
used to automate and manage their database. This is a setback to
organization of information in Nigerian libraries. Lack of access to
the appropriate software is caused by issues such as lack of funding
to invest in the purchase of the needed software, lack of building to
house the automation equipment and unavailability of trained
personnel.
Publishers and printer’s non-compliance
There are many printing houses littered all over the country. Many of
these printing houses are not well equipped. However, these ones keep
publishing for many people. This makes it very difficult to know what
has been produced and by whom and hence, difficult to compile a
national bibliography. The Legal deposit law which requires
publishers, distributors and printers to freely provide copies of
their publications to the national collection is usually not adhered
to. There is also no set agency established to ensure these laws are
adhered to. This is a setback to bibliographic control in Nigeria.
Education of librarians and Information Technology Personnel
In order to ensure bibliographic control in Nigeria, all stakeholders,
to include agencies and bodies in charge of Bibliography must ensure
students of library and information course and all information
professionals to be are well taught and equipped to handle the growing
are fully prepared for the increasing complexity of the information
environment where they will work. The lack of adequate education for
information personals in Nigeria has contributed to the problems of
national bibliographic control in Nigeria.
Lack of cooperation
Once, the National Library of Nigeria came up with an initiative to
centralize all the catalogue entries for every book acquired by all
libraries in the country. The project was not successful because some
libraries lacked funds to participate.
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Non-reading culture of Nigerians
There is a nonchalant attitude or total neglect of the book industry
by the masses in Nigeria. This has hindered the growth of the book and
the information sector of the country. This is in turn stands as a
major obstacle in the production of national bibliography in Nigeria.
Non- compliance with International standards
The Universal Bibliographic Control is a programme aimed at attaining
a standard registration of national bibliographies that are all
connected. This is so that anyone can retrieve a document published
from anywhere in the world. It is therefore important that Nigeria’s
bibliographic standards comply with international standards.
The National Library of Nigeria
The National Library of Nigeria needs to be empowered to perform its
functions of Bibliography control. This includes the ability to
implement laws and policies in order to achieve national bibliography
control.
Ineffective management of the National Library of Nigeria houses
In order for the production of the National Bibliography to be
relevant, it must be done regularly and on time. This depends on the
employment of skilled manpower, funds, and the availability of the
needed technical equipment. The Ineffective management of National
libraries, as well as lack of funds, has made it impossible to publish
an annual national bibliography.
Poor record-keeping
Many times, old documents are often destroyed quickly and not properly
kept by a responsible agency. The poor record-keeping system in
Nigeria can be solved through the establishment of
technology-controlled systems in storing data.
The problem of cataloguing and Classification schemes adopted in Nigeria
The national bibliography in Nigeria is faced with the problems of
cataloguing and classification scheme used by the National Library of
Nigeria. The classification schemes adopted are not adaptable to the
Nigerian context. The National Library of Nigeria needs to create its
own expansion of the classification systems to address the country’s
specific needs, in terms of her history, literature and geography. The
Nigerian context has its own issues such as ethnic diversities,
different languages and requires professional skills and expertise
well adapted to the Nigerian context to deal with them.
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For example, the Anglo- American Classification Rules Second Edition
(AACR2) which is popularly used in Nigeria does not help when with the
treatment of non-western and non-Christian names and that of corporate
and governmental bodies. Although, this issue is starting to be
addressed as rules for the treatment of names in languages other than
English have been given to the international body in charge so as to
achieve Universal Bibliographic Control. The Anglo-American, British
and American cataloguing rules are the main codes followed by
catalogues here. However, these codes are applied and interpreted
differently by libraries in the country. Although it is important that
the cataloguing process conforms to international codes, however, it
has to be practicable in the context of Nigeria.
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Bibliographic control simply has to do with the organization of information.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Bibliographic Control helps in properly identifying a source of
information, avoid unnecessary repetition, and encourage the easy
sharing of information and resources and the re-use of the
bibliographic records. The importance of bibliographic control is so
that information about sources can be systematically arranged in such
a way as to help information seekers know which information is
available and where such can be found. This will aid learning and
personal development in the nation. When each nation attempts to
capture every book under its scheme, it becomes a national
bibliography while the collective effort by various nations of the
world is called the Universal Bibliographic Control.
It is the responsibility of a National bibliographic agency (NBA) to
provide an authoritative bibliographic record of publications in its
own country. This record should then be made available to other
National bibliographic agencies around the world, libraries, archives,
communities, and museums in the country. All for the purpose of
increasing access to the bibliographic record.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Problems of Bibliographic control in Nigeria
Lack of access to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in libraries
and information centres in Nigeria is yet to be popular. The use of
technology helps to digitize and automate data and records. Many
personnel in the Library and Information sector are not equipped for
its use and thus lack the education and skill needed to make the
library sector more digitalized.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Lack of suitable automation software
Libraries in Nigeria lack access to the appropriate software to be
used to automate and manage their database. This is a setback to
organization of information in Nigerian libraries. Lack of access to
the appropriate software is caused by issues such as lack of funding
to invest in the purchase of the needed software, lack of building to
house the automation equipment and unavailability of trained
personnel.
Publishers and printer’s non-compliance
There are many printing houses littered all over the country. Many of
these printing houses are not well equipped. However, these ones keep
publishing for many people. This makes it very difficult to know what
has been produced and by whom and hence, difficult to compile a
national bibliography. The Legal deposit law which requires
publishers, distributors and printers to freely provide copies of
their publications to the national collection is usually not adhered
to. There is also no set agency established to ensure these laws are
adhered to. This is a setback to bibliographic control in Nigeria.
Education of librarians and Information Technology Personnel
In order to ensure bibliographic control in Nigeria, all stakeholders,
to include agencies and bodies in charge of Bibliography must ensure
students of library and information course and all information
professionals to be are well taught and equipped to handle the growing
are fully prepared for the increasing complexity of the information
environment where they will work. The lack of adequate education for
information personals in Nigeria has contributed to the problems of
national bibliographic control in Nigeria.
Lack of cooperation
Once, the National Library of Nigeria came up with an initiative to
centralize all the catalogue entries for every book acquired by all
libraries in the country. The project was not successful because some
libraries lacked funds to participate.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
Non-reading culture of Nigerians
There is a nonchalant attitude or total neglect of the book industry
by the masses in Nigeria. This has hindered the growth of the book and
the information sector of the country. This is in turn stands as a
major obstacle in the production of national bibliography in Nigeria.
Non- compliance with International standards
The Universal Bibliographic Control is a programme aimed at attaining
a standard registration of national bibliographies that are all
connected. This is so that anyone can retrieve a document published
from anywhere in the world. It is therefore important that Nigeria’s
bibliographic standards comply with international standards.
The National Library of Nigeria
The National Library of Nigeria needs to be empowered to perform its
functions of Bibliography control. This includes the ability to
implement laws and policies in order to achieve national bibliography
control.
Ineffective management of the National Library of Nigeria houses
In order for the production of the National Bibliography to be
relevant, it must be done regularly and on time. This depends on the
employment of skilled manpower, funds, and the availability of the
needed technical equipment. The Ineffective management of National
libraries, as well as lack of funds, has made it impossible to publish
an annual national bibliography.
Poor record-keeping
Many times, old documents are often destroyed quickly and not properly
kept by a responsible agency. The poor record-keeping system in
Nigeria can be solved through the establishment of
technology-controlled systems in storing data.
The problem of cataloguing and Classification schemes adopted in Nigeria
The national bibliography in Nigeria is faced with the problems of
cataloguing and classification scheme used by the National Library of
Nigeria. The classification schemes adopted are not adaptable to the
Nigerian context. The National Library of Nigeria needs to create its
own expansion of the classification systems to address the country’s
specific needs, in terms of her history, literature and geography. The
Nigerian context has its own issues such as ethnic diversities,
different languages and requires professional skills and expertise
well adapted to the Nigerian context to deal with them.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
For example, the Anglo- American Classification Rules Second Edition
(AACR2) which is popularly used in Nigeria does not help when with the
treatment of non-western and non-Christian names and that of corporate
and governmental bodies. Although, this issue is starting to be
addressed as rules for the treatment of names in languages other than
English have been given to the international body in charge so as to
achieve Universal Bibliographic Control. The Anglo-American, British
and American cataloguing rules are the main codes followed by
catalogues here. However, these codes are applied and interpreted
differently by libraries in the country. Although it is important that
the cataloguing process conforms to international codes, however, it
has to be practicable in the context of Nigeria.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
jQuery(document).ready(function( $) { $.post(
'https://nigerianfinder.com/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', {action:
'mts_view_count', id: '291046'}); });
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