By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Library of Nigeria has disclosed that it would soon embrace digital operations by gradually adopting virtual libraries as an alternative to the traditional library system in the country.
This was made known by the National Librarian, who is also the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the body, Mr Lenrie Olatotunbo Aina.
He said virtual libraries will enhance knowledge or information in every published article, book, and gazettes to be read globally.
Mr Aina made this revelation at a two-day 2021 sensitization workshop on legal deposit compliance and demonstration of the newly developed ‘International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) and International Standard Book Number(ISBN), held in Enugu, from July 22 to Friday, July 23.
In an interview, he lamented the deplorable state of Nigerian libraries with a dearth of books and updated information to poor leadership.
However, he stressed that the organisation was working to join the modern trend of electronic and virtual libraries imploring internet services.
He disclosed that the Nigeria library services have started taking steps in this direction by gazetting the federal governments’ catalogues electronically, just as they are doing for the Lagos state government currently.
He assured that very soon, Nigeria would fully join the league of nations where the system of the virtual library is en vogue.
His words, “With a virtual library, every information you want to know about Nigeria, issues, books, gazettes will be easily accessed on the internet. We are working seriously with other government agencies to achieve this feat for the best interest of the country.”
Commenting on the purpose of the sensitization workshop on legal deposit compliance and demonstration of the newly developed ISSN and International ISBN, Mr Aina said the exercise is in line with the international community’s demand for every book published throughout the globe to have a unique number for identification.
He said the exercise was meant to ensure that two different published books across the globe must not possess the same number.
He emphasised that the exercise will also help to guard against piracy in some countries like Nigeria, where the menace is rampant.
The sensitization which is meant for publishers, authors, researchers, printers, librarians, academia, government Printers, booksellers, among others saw participants from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states.
Modupe Gbadeyanka