MODULE 6: THE NIGERIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION AND THE
In this Unit, we shall discuss the history of the Nigerian Library Association, with particular reference to its objectives and structure. We shall also examine the categories of awards given by the Association and finally examine the main achievements of the Association since inception.
2.0 OBJECTIVES/INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of this Unit, you shall be able to:
Discuss the history, objectives and structure of the Nigerian Library Association
Describe the main achievements of the Association from inception 3.0 MAIN CONTENT
3.1 NIGERIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) was established as an offshoot of the West African Library Association (WALA). It was inaugurated on December 16, 1962 after the decision had been taken that year that WALA should become a federation of West African Library Associations and each member country should establish its own national association, consequent upon the fact that many of the member nations were gaining political independence. Kalu Okorie was elected first president while John Harris became the Vice-President, F.O.
Aramide was the first Secretary/Treasurer and John Harris continued to serve as pioneer editor of the NLA journal called Nigerian Libraries. 53 delegates attended the inaugural conference of the NLA in 1962. The objectives of the association are as follows:
a. To unite all persons interested in libraries, librarianship and information services;
b. To safeguard and promote the professional interest of librarians;
c. To promote the establishment of libraries and information centres;
d. To watch legislations affecting libraries and to assist in the promotion of such legislations as may be considered necessary for the establishment, regulation and management of libraries within Nigeria;
e. To promote and encourage bibliographical study, research and library co-operation; and
f. To do all lawful things as are incidental and conducive to the attainment of the above objectives (NLA, 2019).
3.1.1 Structure of the Nigerian Library Association
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) has a hierarchal structure which helps to promote the smooth running of the Association. The National Council of the
Association is the supreme organ. It is the highest policy making and implementation body of the association. It is made up of the Executive Committee (comprising of the President, Vice President, immediate past President, Honourable Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Publicity Relations Officer), Editor-In-Chief, Assistant Editor, chairpersons of all the special interest groups, chairmen of the 37 state chapters and Chair, Federal Capital Territory.
The National Secretary is not a member of Council but is in attendance and records minutes of transactions at meetings. At the state level, the various chapters of the association have executive committees that manage their affairs.
Council meets at least two times a year while the Executive Committee meets at least three times a year. The quorum for Council meeting is the presence of at least one third of the members of Council. The annual general meeting (AGM) is held during the annual conference of the Association. The term of office for every office holder is 3 years and no more.
The thirteen special interest groups/sections currently in existence are as follows:
1. Academic and Research Libraries (ARL) 2. Association of Government Libraries (AGOL)
3. Association of News Media Libraries of Nigeria (ANLON) 4. Association of Women Librarians of Nigeria (AWLIN) 5. Cataloguing Classification and Indexing (CCI)
6. Nigeria Association of Law Libraries (NALL)
7. Association of Library and Information Science Educators (ALISE) 8. Public Libraries (PL)
9. Information Technology Section (ITS) 10. Nigeria School Library Association (NSLA)
11. Association of Libraries for Visually Handicapped (ALVH) 12. Preservation and Conservation Section (PCS)
13. Medical Libraries Section (MDLS)
Source: Nigerian Library Association 57th National Conference and AGM Programme, 2019.
3.1.2 Honours and Awards
The NLA has put in place many innovative ideas to sustain the interest of members in the Association and reward diligent service. One of such is the provision of special honours awards to members annually. The highest award and honour given to members who have distinguished themselves in the service of the Association is the award of Fellow of the Nigerian Library Association and Fellows are allowed to use the letters (FNLA) after their names. From inception to 2019, only 83 members have received the Fellow of the NLA Award. Thus, awards given by the Association are:
i. Fellow of the Nigerian Library Association ii. Eminent Service Award,
iii. Merit Award,
iv. Best Public Library Award, v. Best Section Award
vi. Best State Chapter Award.
The Association also provides prizes for the following awards:
vii. The Award for Young Library and Information Professionals (yLIPs) is presented to a promising yLIP who possesses leadership qualities, problem solving abilities and great potential for the future to attend the NLA annual conference.
viii. NLA Award for Innovation in Libraries. This prize was established at the invitation of the Nigerian Book Foundation as one of the awards to be made within the programme of the national book week.
ix. NLA Outstanding Journalist Award. This is for the most outstanding journalist who has done well in promoting the library and information sector.
In addition, individual members of the Association have endowed the following awards which competed for annually:
x. Professor M. Ajibero Award for the best PhD dissertation in Nigerian Library Schools.
xi. Dr. Victoria Okojie Award for Advocacy and Promoting of Library and Information Services.
xii. Mrs. Grace O. Odusanwo Award for the best Librarian in the Association of Government Libraries (AGOL) in Nigeria.
xiii. Dr. T. M. Salisu Award for the Most Published Librarian in Nigeria.
3.1.3 Achievements of the Nigerian Library Association Since Inception In the past 57 years of its existence, the NLA has made several notable achievements which include:
1. The Nigeria Division of WALA successfully made a proposal for a National Library Policy, which became the blue print for early library development and led to the inauguration of the Library Advisory Committee in 1958.
This committee became the forum for the discussion of library development at the national level and gave advice on library matters and conditions of service for librarians in the Federal Civil Service.
2. The Nigerian Library Association made representation to Government for the establishment of the National Library of Nigeria and the National Library Act of 1964 which was later replaced by the National Library Act of 1970. This established the National Library Board empowered to establish and maintain branches of the National Library in all the states of the federation.
3. The Association was instrumental to securing government support for the professional education and training of library personnel leading to the establishment of the Institute of Librarianship now the Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies of the University of Ibadan.
4. The promulgation of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria Decree in 1995, the subsequent inauguration of the Governing Council in 2002 and the establishment of the fully-fledged parastatal under the Ministry of Education in October 2009. The parastatal which has the same status as the National Library of Nigeria exists to date to regulate the teaching and practice of the library profession.
5. Today, the NLA has a chapter in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
6. Similarly, the association has thirteen registered subject and professional sections, each looking after its own interest group.
7. The NLA publishes a professional peer-reviewed journal Nigerian Libraries and a newsletter called NLA Newsletter. Chapters and sections also publish their own journals and newsletters. The NLA Newsletters and papers presented during NLA conferences and president’s speeches can now be accessed on the NLA Website (http://www.nla-ng).
8. The NLA manages over thirteen different categories of honours and awards instituted to reward its members for distinguished services rendered to the Association
8. The NLA has successfully mobilized its members to be aware of global in the world of information by encouraging training and retraining in the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) (NLA, 2019).
4.0 CONCLUSION
This Unit examined the history of the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) and its objectives. Particular attention was paid to its structure, awards and major achievements since inception. The achievements demonstrate the great depth in which the NLA is entrenched in the teaching and practice of the library and information profession. Its relevance from inauguration in 1962 to date signifies the high regards that members hold the Association.
5.0 SUMMARY
In this Unit, we took a close look at the history and objectives of the Nigerian Library Association. The major achievements of the Association were highlighted and the relevance to date was demonstrated. In the next Unit, shall discuss the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria.
6.0 SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE(S)
1. Discuss the history and objectives of the Nigerian Library Association 2. Describe the major achievements of the Nigeria Library Association.
7.0 REFERENCES/FURTHER READING
Nigerian Library Association (2019). 57th National Conference and Annual General Meeting Programme, Abuja, 2019.
UNIT 2: LIBRARIANS’ REGISTRATION COUNCIL OF NIGERIA