National Library to collect books directly from publishers …purchases vehicles for mission
As a result of noncompliance, the National Library of Nigeria has purchased dedicated vehicles for its state branches that will be on a continuous visit to collect publications from publishing outlets.
The National Librarian and Chief Executive Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Lenrie Olatokunbo Aina, stated this yesterday at a sensitization workshop organised for key stakeholders in the publishing industry, held at the University of Ibadan, South West Nigeria
This was contained in a release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the National Library of Nigeria, Mr. Vershima Orvell-Dio.
In his welcome address at the workshop, Prof. Aina stated that “The National Library has the responsibility to collect publications emanating from Nigeria, publications about Nigeria and any work authored by Nigerians anywhere in the world. However, this responsibility is facing the challenge of non-compliance, by publishers and authors, despite the legal deposit collection provisions as espoused in our enabling Act. This is why we have intensified efforts in sensitizing the public about this obligation.”
Prof. Aina further added that because there has been a growing concern about non-compliance by most publishers, authors, printers, academicians and government printers with international standards for publishing, the sensitization activities have also been focusing on adherence to publishing standards through the obtaining of International Book Number (ISBN) for books, monographs, reports, etc and International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) for journals, newspapers, and magazines, by all categories of producers of publications.
Earlier in her opening remarks, the Zonal Coordinator for the workshop in the South West, Prof. Mrs. Iyabo Mabawonku informed participants that “today, three papers will be presented by notable scholars speaking on strategies and perspectives of improving legal deposit collection and access to ISBN/ISSN in Nigeria. Additionally, this workshop will dedicate the second day to practical and hands-on demonstration on how to obtain ISSN/ISBN using online platform by visiting the NLN Website.
In presentations made by a staff of the Legal Deposit Department of the Organisation, Mrs. Lauretta Isioma Ekwemuka, informed the audience that legal deposit collections has increased from an average of 8,000 volumes of 3,000 titles in 2014 to 53,000 volumes of 12,500 titles in 2018, representing a compliance level of about 600% in terms of volume, 400% in terms of titles.
The NLN is mandated by the National Library Act 1970 to collect all materials that are published in the country. Section 4(1) requires publishers of every book published in Nigeria to, within one month after the publication, deliver, at his own expense, to the National Library of Nigeria for permanent preservation. The collections form part of the total stockholding of the nation’s repository library. The Act which was amended in 1987 is presently being reviewed to suit contemporary times.