Delta State University Librarian Advocates Radical Shift From Traditional To Modern Library Practice

By Daniel Dafe/Ben Nwanne, Abraka

The need for library services to be rejigged, modernized and digitalized in the wake of the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic has been emphasized by the University Librarian, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Prof. Stephen Uwaifo.

The University Don, who delivered the institution’s 86th Inaugural Lecture titled: “In the Throes of Pandemic: Rejigging Library and Information Services for the Information Healthy and Sick Society” in Abraka, recently, added that “the enabling environment needs to be created for library and information services to be rejigged.”

Uwaifo, who was full of praises for the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Andy Egwunyenga, for the feats achieved in upgrading the library of DELSU since he assumed office, noted that despite the striking usefulness of the Internet, libraries still remain very relevant and with the threat of COVID-19 to library operations, stakeholders must brace up and tackle issues militating against the growth of the library.

According to him, despite the central role of libraries in the educational sector, many libraries have remained poorly funded, adding that other issues that must be tackled by stakeholders include inadequate information resources, inadequate personnel, erratic power supply, absence of workable national policy on ICT use and apathy to library development.

Continuing, he recommended that budgetary allocations to each library should not be less than 10percent of the budgetary allocations to its parent body, stressing that this will reduce the financial strangulation of libraries.

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Furthermore, he opined that for the highly rated academic, libraries must be well equipped to sustain their relevance, especially in the COVID-19 era.

In his words, “state-of-the-art information technologies and software should be acquired for our libraries to be able to cope with the needs of information seekers in the digital age we are in. When library services are kept active with ICTs for virtual access, library patrons will be satisfied.”

He also addressed the issue of low bandwidth, noting that many libraries, especially the ones in higher institutions of learning that are accessible to the Internet, have an embarrassing problem of low bandwidth, suggesting that such libraries should beef up to a minimum of 100 megabytes per second (Mbps).

Speaking further, he urged the Federal Government in conjunction with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Communications Commission (NCC) to put in place a workable national policy on ICT use by different organizations, stating that this will bring about functional information networks in higher institutions of learning in general and libraries in particular.

Meanwhile, Prof. Egwunyenga underscored the importance of libraries in the University system, noting that a University can only be as good as its library.

Describing the library as the “most sacred part” of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, who is providing an enlightened and committed leadership to the university, noted that the library was facing a huge challenge as a result of technological advancement.

While decorating the Inaugural Lecturer with DELSU Distinguished Honorary Medal, bestowed on any Professor who delivers his/her inaugural lecture successfully, Prof. Egwunyenga described Professor Uwaifo as a good teacher, researcher and “an academic machine”.