The Value of Librarians: LRCN’s Situation Could be a Call

The Value of Librarians: LRCN’s Situation Could be a Call – By Sylvester Ebhonu

As reported by THE WHISTLER about 3 months ago, “Life has become very difficult for members of staff of the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) since the Federal Government removed the parastatal from Budget Funding.” However, in a startling turn of events, LRCN staff recently appeared on the popular Brekete Family programme (a prominent Nigerian talk show advocating for the rights of the oppressed) to voice their concerns over non-payment of salaries since January 2024 till date. Link to the Complete Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5F__OOtJPU.

Sylvester Ebhonu (The Digital Librarian and digital skills advocate), has released a reaction video titled: What Value Do Librarians Bring? | TheDL’s Reaction Video: LRCN Staff & Brekete Family featuring key highlights from that programme held on the 30^th of July, 2024.

This development has caused a stir in the library and information science (LIS) sector in Nigeria, raising critical questions about the value and future of librarianship in our country. The situation actually demands a reflective examination of the value librarians bring to society and the objective changes that are required to uphold essential roles librarians play.

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What is the Root of the Crisis and Public Perception of Librarians?

According to the LRCN staff on the programme, led by the chairman of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, LRCN Unit, Prince Gambari Shuaib Siyanbola, Christopher Uwague and others. They allege that in June 2023, the Federal Government informed 56 agencies, including the LRCN, TRCN and others, that funding would cease effective from 2024. Despite assurances from management that the Ministry of Education, which oversees the LRCN, would address the issue, LRCN staff have continued working without pay for several months.

This case not only reflects the immediate financial distress they face but also raises questions about the perceived value of librarians and efficacy of the LRCN. For instance, one of the most striking part of the video was the confusion about the term “librarian” itself. Consultant Iyke who was moderating the session had to consult a dictionary to correctly pronounce the word, highlighting a significant public relations challenge facing the profession. This misconception extends beyond mere pronunciation; it reflects a broader lack of understanding about the role and value of librarians in modern society.

As noted by Consultant Dr. Iyke Ezeugo who moderated the programme, there’s a perception that libraries and librarians have not kept pace with technological advancements. He criticized leadership for not adapting to recent developments, suggesting that LRCN may have been seen as “idle” by the government and the situation may be likened to what happened to NIPOST.

Interestingly, this perception gap is not peculiar to Nigeria only. A 2016 Pew Research Center study found that while 77% of Americans say libraries provide them with the resources they need, many are unaware of the full range of services libraries offer. This global challenge stresses the need for librarians to deliberately showcase and communicate their value in the era that we’re now in.

Now what questions are arising from all these? I’ve compiled a summary of ten (10) alarming questions some professionals are actually asking:

1. Why was LRCN selected among the 56 agencies?
2. What does this decision say about the public and government’s perception of librarians and information professionals?
3. Are library services in Nigeria perceived as elitist?
4. Are Libraries under-valued in Nigeria?
5. What role can Public Services Librarians play in all these?
6. Should the correct spelling and pronunciation of ‘Librarian’ be infused in LIS curriculum?
7. How can Nigerian libraries and librarians increase their visibility?
8. Are these issues, not excluding leadership, a mere foretaste of what is yet to come?
9. How can the library community respond to this crisis effectively?
10. Could the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) take a more active role in setting standards, advocating for librarians’ rights and promoting the value of the profession similar to the efforts of the American Library Association (ALA) and the Library and Information Association of South Africa (LIASA)?

My Ten Kobo

This situation serves as a reminder that the role of librarians must evolve to remain relevant in the 21st century. Modern librarians are no longer just cataloguers and custodians of books; they are information professionals, Data Curators and Managers, Digital Literacy Educators, Archivists/Record Managers, and Community and Cultural Heritage Builders. The ALA Core Competences of Librarianship policy is one document I believe Nigerian Librarians can similarly adapt to begin to align themselves with these evolving roles and better communicate to the public and stakeholders. See also, a presentation delivered by Sylvester Ebhonu at Navigating Tomorrow: Redefining Librarianship (An Exclusive Webinar for LIS Students).

On final thoughts, if you don’t empower them, don’t blame them. Government must start taking responsibility for many challenges we face today. Professionals (especially Librarians) on the other hand must understand that for them to remain relevant, the new culture should be Continuous Learning and Upskilling in areas such as data science, library automation, and emerging technologies (Artificial Intelligence, etc).

LRCN challenge today is more than just a salary issue; it’s a CALL for the entire library and information science profession in Nigeria.

Watch the complete Video on Brekete Family Channel!

Watch the Digital Librarian’s Reaction Video Here!

How you react after reading and watching these videos will determine whether libraries will remain relevant, valued institutions or actually reflect ‘public opinion.’ So, please, Share your thoughts. How do you think librarians can better demonstrate their value to stakeholders and the public in today’s digital age? How can we collaborate, what individual/collective efforts can we bring together to amplify our message?

Onward to Greatness!

Lbrn. Sylvester I. Ebhonu

The Digital Librarian

Head, E-Service and Reference/Marketing Departments

Delta State University of Science and Technology Library, Ozoro

Have any Questions? Learn more at the Upskill and Connect Village Share with others.

Sources:

Anthropic (2024). Claud 3.5 Sonnet. [Large language model] https://claude.ai/

Brekete Family [@breketefamily]. (2024). Brekete family live program 30th July 2024. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5F__OOtJPU

ALA (2023). ALA’s Core Competencies of Librarianship. https://www.ala.org/educationcareers/careers/corecomp/corecompetences

Horrigan, J. B. (2016). Libraries 2016. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/09/09/libraries-2016/

The Digital Librarian [@thedigitallibr]. (2023). Navigating tomorrow: Redefining librarianship (an exclusive webinar for LIS students). Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/live/1j41MqB8eqM