Future of Academic Libraries, Library Schools and Roles of Library Associations and Regulatory Bodies in Nigeria

Abstract

There are closer relationships among academic libraries, library schools, library associations and regulatory bodies. These relationships are in areas of staff exchange program, collaboration, accreditation, curriculum design and implementation. Academic libraries and library schools perform complimentary role hence the former strive to meet the information needs o users through information services delivery while the later serves as training ground to produces middle and high level manpower in the field of library and information professions. The paper explore issues on the future of academic libraries and library schools as well as roles of regulatory bodies with reference to role of information as ingredient and efforts made by academic libraries; training of library personnel with associated challenges of meeting the conditions and the poor reading culture among youth. The employer’s demands made library schools to incorporate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) components into their curriculum. The roles of Nigerian Library Association and it sections as well as the regulatory bodies include: curriculum uniformity, accreditation of library and information science programme; continuing professional development; and advocacy and lobbying, funding and readership promotion campaign. Challenges explore were those of funding, indifference of LIS professional, divergent curriculum and influence of modern technologies on reading habit. Recommendations were proffered amongst include: collaborative effort by library associations and regulatory bodies so as to embark on aggressive translation from traditional mode of librarianship to the 21st Century mode of information service delivery.