The National Librarian, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi has expressed concern over how some Nigerian publications fall below international standards.
Anunobi spoke in Abuja on Thursday at a Sensitisation Workshop on Legal Deposits and International Numbers Utilisation organised by the National Library of Nigeria (NLN).
The theme of the workshop is tagged: ‘Bibliographic Control in Information Resources Publishing in Nigeria”.
The national librarian said there was need for authors and publishers to have the international standard numbers for proper documentation and collation of Nigeria’s heritage.
According to her, ”documentation of history of a people could determine the root of the people.
”The law of the National Library of 1970 gave the national library the mandate of legal deposit which is the collation of what is published and depositing them for posterity.
”While the documentation of this history makes it possible for a society to trace its roots, it becomes easier to access and utilise the history for the diverse needs of the people.
”’Documentation of the knowledge heritage is one aspect while publishing them in the globally acceptable standards is another.
”How embarrassing will it be to have our published heritage despised and/or criticised in comity of global documented knowledge. Such is also the concern of National Library and by extension the global publishing industry.”
She added that a published document would be globally accepted where it has international standard numbers.
She, therefore, urged authors and publishers to also make it a point of duty to submit electronic copies of their resources for proper documentation and collation.
She added that the national library had succeeded in automating the process, while calling on authors to familiarise with the requirements as well as ways and means of getting published resources assigned the standard numbers and newsletters inclusive.
”Our decision to begin this conversation in Abuja this year is derived for the observation that many Ministries, Agencies and Departments (MDAs) publications fall short of international standard expectations.
”It is then a case of rushing to help a neighbour make his bed when yours is in disarray. Thus charity begins at home , we must surely give back to the seat of federal might before moving to the states,” she added.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Adejo, called for concerted efforts to collect all materials published in the country.
Adejo, represented by the Director, Special Duties in the ministry, Zubairu Abullahi, commend the National Library for the continuous effort in sensitising the public about the legal requirement of publication.
He also said that proper documentation is foundation for all materials stored in books to get to digital space.
”Nigerians are good in writing and creativity for a very long time, most of the time we do not have a standard procedure of recording our achievements.
”The best of what you have done if it is not recorded in accordance with international best practices, there is every chance that over time you are going to miss it.
”So for the sake of history, posterity and longevity, this particular exercise we are doing with the national library is good for the country.
”This is because it will bring a new change in the way educational materials are recorded and archived for prosperity,”he said.
