“AULNU should meet to share professional experiences worthy of emulation”
When men come together for a good cause, the aims and objectives of the union should be clearly stated, recorded for posterity and for keeping as a means of maintaining everyone on an even keel. Any changes should be reflected. The CULNU and its successor the AULNU consist of professional and academic Librarians in charge of the hubs of the universities of the country, the university libraries complexes. They should meet to share professional experiences worthy of emulation, and discuss current developments especially the leaps and bounds of technology. The country’s schools of library science should have easy access to the Librarians for information on the practices of the profession. It is gratifying to see that some of the AULNU members are already involved in teaching in these schools. No man is an island. The AULNU President should be nominated to attend the regular meetings of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities so as to keep tabs on the lines of thinking of these Principal Officers and report to AULNU, thereby keeping it abreast of the development.
Best wishes. May God continue to guide you. Ameen.
Mal. Inuwa Dikko,
University Librarian, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1992 – 2000)“We must speak and act with one voice rather than at cross purpose”
On this auspicious and momentous occasion of the launching of a book on the Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (AULNU) (Formerly Committee of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities – CULNU), I heartily congratulate the founding fathers dead and alive, the retired members and the vibrant serving information practitioners to whom we have handed over the baton. Starting like a mustard seed in the 1972/73 session, the body has grown and blossomed into a fig tree. This tree with its branches has served as an umbrella to accommodate the basic triumvirate of librarianship. archival studies and information science. With the advent of the information explosion and modern technology, these information-based organizations now include documentation centres, information services, media resource centres, data banks and industrial information systems. Added to these are the supportive services of computers, printing and binding technology, photoduplication, micro-production machines and systems analysis. The schematic process is not yet completed and further specialization is likely.
Therefore, Librarians must brace up their sleeves and await the best in them, which is yet to come. Before the expected developments arrive, we must see modern technology as a tool in our hands, not as our master. The second piece of advice I have for my professional colleagues is that we must speak and act with one voice rather than at cross purposes. It is for this reason that we have lost too many battles within the last half-century. True, so much has been done but there is still so much to explore and accomplish. To record significant successes, AULNU must cooperate and not compete with the Nigerian Library Association (NLA); Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), National Library of Nigeria (NLN) and Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (AVCNU).
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Long Live AULNU!!!
Professor (Chief) Sam E. Ifidon, Ph.D., FNLA, MNIM
Former Pioneer University Librarian in two universities
Former Dean, Postgraduate School
Former Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences
Former Head, the Department of Library and Information Science in two universities“Whoever brought about the idea of a book by AULNU did well”
I am delighted and feel highly honoured to be nominated by AULNU to write the GOODWILL MESSAGE to her maiden book. Whoever brought about the idea of a book by AULNU did well and I hereby COMMEND him immensely. AULNU’S major preoccupation is the organization of knowledge in print (books and journals) in the university libraries. Having also been a member of AULNU for ten (10) years (2002-2012) culminating in being also the Chairman of the organization for two years (2011-2012), I know that books pose a lot of problems in the process of organizing them in libraries. The problems are usually caused by the authors and publishers, who might not keep to the ethics of publishing the books.
A standard book should be arranged in chapters, systematically paginated, with a cover title, full title pages and all other physical characteristics of a good book. From the foregoing, I expect AULNU to come up with a standard book for other publishers to emulate. I, therefore, call upon all book publishers in Nigeria and the whole world to emulate the standard book published by AULNU.
Prof. Benki S. H. Womboh
University Librarian, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola (2002 – 2012)
Chairman, CULNU (2011 – 2012)Coping with the Information Needs of the Emerging Digital Academic Community
It is of age that the University libraries in Nigeria are effectively exploring the potentials of cooperation and collaboration in information resources and services provision especially through a common ground formally known as ‘Committee of University Librarians of Nigeria (CULNU)’ now called ‘Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (AULNU)’. It is with keen interest and admiration that the Association’s efforts and milestones are succinctly documented and published in this very important publication.
It is common knowledge that the mandate of any University Library is to support teaching, learning and research of the parent institution. It is therefore necessary for University Libraries to provide current and relevant information resources regardless of the format; as well as varieties of library and information services to meet the yearnings of their customers who mostly consist of undergraduate and postgraduate students, researchers, academic and administrative staff members of the University. This is in addition to the researchers and students from other institutions in need of the services of the University libraries.
In the contemporary world of the digital age, University Libraries, like other types of academic and research libraries, are increasingly challenged to effectively provide for the needs of the numerous customers including those who may prefer not to be physically present to access the information resources and services of libraries especially on 24/7 services regime. It is no longer news to state the obvious that the University libraries, like other types of academic libraries, are painfully faced with some compelling predicaments such as: increasing customer population, decaying infrastructure, declining financial position, mass turnover of specialist staff, overzealousness of domineering Chief Executive of the institution, compromising library administrators in dear need to conceal their administrative incompetence and managerial weaknesses, and the need to continuously cope with the dictates of the emerging digital technology and society.
In light of the foregoing, one of the effective ways out of the perennial quagmire libraries and information centres have to contain within this technology-driven era, is to unequivocally embrace and key into the players of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) holistically in terms of library and information resources and services provision. They should be seen being systematically transformed into ICT-based varieties of easily adjustable and mobile-inclined information resources and services provision commons to suit the intervening information needs and expectations of the customers within and outside the library premises on a 24/7 service regime.
With Kind Regards and Best Wishes.
Prof. Zakari Mohamnicd, FNLA, fnim
Former University Librarian,
Ahmadu Bello University. Zaria (2007-2013)“The Vicissitudes this Body (AULNU) and University Libraries in Nigeria have Experienced since Inception”
As the Association of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (AULNU) celebrates its centenary meeting. I wish to congratulate this illustrious body that has kept fate with its primary mandate of managing the collective wisdom of mankind over the ages, organising and making it available in a timely fashion to students, faculty staff and researchers in Nigerian universities. This congratulation will not be complete without a cursory look at the vicissitudes this body and university libraries in Nigeria have experienced since inception.
There was the Golden Era (1948-1977), when University Libraries in Nigeria were well funded. Collection development was vibrant and there was a constant stream of newly published books and journals from Western Europe and North America to our libraries. This was followed by the Growth Era (1978-1981), when several Federal and State Universities were established with adequate funding provision for libraries. The period (1982-1998), witnessed a decline in the fortunes of university libraries in Nigeria. The Federal Government of Nigeria made spirited efforts through a World Bank loan, managed by the National Universities Commission to inject a new lease of life into the then existing 24 Federal universities. The loan facility catered for books/journals acquisition, equipment procurement and staff development.
From 1999 to 2011, University Libraries in Nigeria went into a spiral decline with the introduction of two funding lines in the universities budget, viz. capital and recurrent expenditures. With this new policy, University libraries could only be funded from recurrent expenditure. Funds for library acquisitions virtually dried up in most universities in Nigeria. The combination of inflation, unprecedented high forex rates and the introduction of import duty for books, led to a total meltdown for university libraries in Nigeria. This meltdown stage that started in 2012 is still running full steam.
The Rescue
AULNU in its travails through the ages has continuously taken bold steps to meet with the challenges of the time. In order to take advantage of collective bargaining in the face of dwindling resources, AULNU in 2005 formed NULIB CONSULTS NIGERIA LTD. NULIBin collaboration with eIFL.net has been able to provide electronic journals at a reduced cost to university libraries in Nigeria. AULNU is also championing automation in Nigerian university libraries, through awareness advocacy of KOHA, a web-based open source software.
I heartily congratulate AULNU and I wish the current leadership greater achievements in the years to come. Happy centenary meeting.
Dr. Stephen A. Osiobe
Former Director, Library Services, National Universities Commission
Presently, University Librarian, Edwin Clark University, KaigbodoChallenges of University Library Practice and Education in Nigeria: The Gathering Storm
A Keynote Address Presented at the Bi-annual Meeting of the Committee of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (CULNU) at the University of Benin on 11th May, 2015
Distinguished University Librarian colleagues, since we are academics, we fought for and attained recognition of the NUC for University Librarians who meet the academic rank assessment of their various institutions through appreciable volumes of publications, teaching experience and supervision of Masters’ and PhD theses to gain Professorial Chair, it became mandatory for us to have library schools approved to operate in Faculty and with a seedling of lecturers from the University and University Library. There are now more University Librarian Professors at ATBU Bauchi, UNIOYO, UNIJOS, UDU Sokoto, UNIABUJA and there would still be more through the special grace of God. So, try and have a viable library school with a vision for the profession or prepare yourselves through alternative avenues for survival by gaining qualifications in Law, Religion (Clergy) or Politics, or as Library Consultants.
Prof. Olu Olat Lawal
University Librarian,
University of Calabar (1997-2011)
Chairman, CULNU (2007 – 2010)The need for the existence of such forum as this (CULNU) cannot be overemphasized.
Welcome Address Delivered at the 95lh Meeting of the Committee of University Librarians of Nigerian Universities (CULNU) held at Afe Babalola Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka Lagos on 7th April, 2010
The need for the existence of such forum as this (CULNU) cannot be overemphasized. Neither could it be conceived as a mere bi-annual ritual. As a matter of necessity, it is expedient that common issues be discussed and shared at a forum as this with the vision of giving a bearing to the cause of Library and Information Profession. Service and Delivery in the Nigerian University Environment.
Again, I wish to stress that the role that libraries play particularly in an academic and tertiary environment is very crucial. In fact, it is a common knowledge that no academic progarmme or endeavour can neither survive nor thrive without vibrant library services. This is corroborated by the fact that evaluation of library resources is a major index in the accreditation processes laid down by both the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and other academic/ professional bodies.
To this end, it gives me an utmost pleasure as a university academic and administrator, to share in your vision of continual improvement and upgrading of Library and Information Services and Delivery. I also want to use this medium to express that cognizance is taken of the general trend in the library and information provision worldwide. The influence of Information and Communication Technology is overwhelming and all efforts should be made by the Practitioners. Government as well as University administrators to join this train.
May I also add at this juncture, that we are not all ignorant of the major challenge that is facing the achievement of the vision and mission of such a body as yours – funding remains the crux of the matter. We shall continue to support this cause within available means as much as possible
Prof. Rahamon Adisa Bello
The Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos