The National Librarian/CEO, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, has disclosed that the Library’s collections have hit 5.2 million in 13. 9 volumes.
Also, she said that the National Library of Nigeria has introduced a map of Nigerian languages.
She spoke at a stakeholders/citizens meeting with stakeholders in the South West on Saturday, August 17 at the Ondo State Branch of the National Library in Akure.
In her opening address, she stated that the forum was held to create awareness about the #nationallibraryofnigeria, its mission and vision, services, programs, and activities.
She also presented a paper where she said that the Library’s services and operations aimed at promoting mutual understanding with stakeholders and citizens; building and sustaining public trust; and pursuing programs and services to meet citizens’ aspirations and best practices.
Prof Anunobi told the participants that “the vision of the National Library of Nigeria is to Connect and Build an Informal Citizenry; while its mission is to Collect, Process, and Provide easy Access to Knowledge leveraging on ICT.”
She said the eight-point agenda that guides in actualizing the organization’s mandate harmonizes with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
To maintain constant touch with the citizens, she stated that the Library interfaces with the public through some of its programs/events, such as the Readership Promotion Campaign, Sensitization workshops, Electronic and virtual Services, training, and capacity building carried out at the Centre for Advanced Library and Information Management (CALIM), and collaborations and partnerships.
She listed some of the achievements recorded so far by the Library. These include digitalization, virtual library, automation of library services and operations, enhancement of branch library services, and documentation of family heritage in indigenous languages, among others.
Now, the Library has a presence in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with a staff strength of 632 across the federation.
Responding to the National Librarian’s presentation on behalf of the stakeholders, to the presentation by the National Librarian, a royal father, Oba Benjamin Omoleewo, encouraged participants to start making use of the library either by visiting its physical structures or online, having heard that most of the library services could be accessed online.
He also charged participants not to forget our indigenous languages, which are a part of our culture.
The monarch promised to go back and preach the message of the National Library to his community.
Another participant who is an educationist and a friend of the library, Basorun Seinde Arogbofa, suggested that the government should ensure that Nigeria’s indigenous languages are embedded in the school curriculum as compulsory subjects, otherwise, the languages would go into extinction.
Other stakeholders including the Association of Nigerian Authors, ANA, the ICPC, and the Ondo State Library Board, among others, all spoke on possible areas of collaboration with the National Library of Nigeria to enhance the organization’s services and impact the communities it serves.
Earlier, the Special Assistant on Administrative Matters, Mr. Dele Aworinde, said that the Federal Government had mandated all MDAs, Agencies, and Parastatals to host quarterly engagement meetings to let stakeholders know what they do and also get feedback from the people.
He informed that the National Library of Nigeria held its first meeting in the Northeast, Bauchi State and Southwest is the second phase of the meeting.
In her vote of thanks on behalf of the National Library, the Director of the Public Services Department, Mrs Olabimpe Olani appreciated the participants for their attendance, contributions, and observations.
She said that the National Librarian had noted the issues raised and would bring them to the table for further discussions on the way forward.
The Management and Heads of National Library branches in the Southwest also attended the event.
