NALISE gears to partner with LRCN to review library schools curriculum

The Nigerian Association of Library and Information Science Educators (NALISE), a professional and scholarly body of lecturers in Nigeria has resolved to partner with the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) to review the library school curriculum.

The library association disclosed this at its 23rd annual conference held at the University of Abuja, Abuja.

The conference which was themed “Library and Information Science Education and Practice in the COVID-19 Era”, had in attendance lecturers from different universities in Nigeria.

In a communiqué made available to the press, the association arrived at some resolution that will move the profession forward.

“Based on the presented papers and general deliberations by members, the following communiqué was issued,” the communiqué reads

“NALISE resolved that Library and Information Science (LIS) remains the uniform nomenclature of LIS programmes in Nigerian LIS schools.

“The Departments of Library and Information Science in all Nigerian universities should remain in the Faculty of the present location, pending when NUC approves the establishment of an independent and separate faculty for LIS programmes.

“NALISE rejected and condemned in strong term the present move by an NUC Committee to force LIS undergraduates to offer compulsory courses in Education. It asserts that library schools are established to train librarians and not teachers; therefore librarians in-training should not be forced to offer education courses.

“That, all universities with library schools should strive to employ adequate number of academic staff instead of using librarians from the library to run their LIS programmes.

“A four man Committee under the chairmanship of Prof A. J. C. Mole was constituted to come up with the appropriate name for the envisaged separate faculty for LIS and nomenclature of the new departments to be housed in the new faculty.

“AGM resolved to liaise with LRCN to organise the review of the existing curriculum and to develop the curriculum of the new departments.

“The AGM accepted the proposal for the inclusion of Printing and Publishing Studies in the envisaged Faculty for LIS programmes.

“NALISE resolved to liaise with NLA and LRCN to ensure the implementation of National Policy on Libraries.”

The association also elected new executives that will pilot the affairs of the association from 2021 to 2024.

Dr. Uduak U. Enang and Dr. Adeyinka Tella will serve as chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively, while Dr . Abdulganiy Okanla Ahmed and Mr Okechukwu Kalu Ogwo will serve in the capacity as secretary and assistant secretary respectively.

Dr. Esther David Okai and Dr Manir Abdullahi Kamba will serve as Treasurer and Financial Secretary respectively, while Dr. Fatimah Jibril Abduldayan and Prof. Udo Nwokocha will serve in the capacity as the PRO and Ex-officio of the association.