Nigerian Library Association
Nigerian Library Association is the recognized group for librarians working in Nigeria. It was established in 1962 in Ibadan.[1]
The Nigerian Library Association (NLA) emerged as a Division of the West African Library Association (WALA). WALA was established in 1954 as an offshoot after a UNESCO seminar on the Development of Public Libraries in Africa held at Ibadan in 1953.[2] With the political independence from colonial rule of Anglophone West African countries in the late 1950s and early 1960s, WALA national Divisions transformed into National Library Associations of their respective countries, thus giving birth to the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) in 1962.[3]
Structure
The supreme organ of the Nigerian Library Association is the Council which consists of the Executive Committee, eight elected Councilors, Chairmen of all State Chapters and the Federal Capital Territory as well as Chairmen of special interest groups (Sections). The current NLA President is Prof. Innocent Isa Ekoja[4] (2019 - present).[5] Individual members of the Association now numbering about 5,000 drawn from various types of libraries, would usually belong, in the first instance, to one of the 37 States/FCT chapters or/and one or more of the thirteen special interest groups.[6]
Special Interest Groups
The thirteen special interest groups currently in existence are:
- Academic and Research Libraries (ARL)
- Association of Government Libraries (AGOL)
- Association of News Media Librarians of Nigeria (ANLON)
- Association of Women Librarians in Nigeria (AWLIN)
- Cataloguing, Classification and Indexing (CAT & CLASS)
- Nigerian Association of Law Libraries (NALL)
- National Association of Library & Information Science Educators (NALISE)
- Public Libraries Section(PLS)
- Information Technology Section (ITS)
- Nigerian School Library Association (NSLA)
- Association of Libraries for Visually Handicapped (ALVH)
- Preservation and Conservation Section (PCS)
- Medical Libraries Section (MDLS).[7]
- Nigerian Library and Information Science Students' Association (N-LISSA)
Publication
NLA publishes the following[8]
- Nigerian Libraries: (Journal of the Nigerian Library Association) Published twice yearly, first published in 1962.[9]
- NLA Newsletter (Published twice yearly)
- Chapters and Sections publish newsletters and journals.
Conferences
The NLA, State Chapters and Special interest groups hold numerous conferences and themes throughout the year.[10] The largest conference is the annual conference.
Honours and Awards
i. The prestigious award of the Fellow of the Nigerian Library Association (FNLA) was instituted in 1989 to honour members who have distinguished themselves in their professional practice.[11]
ii. In 1991, the Association also instituted the Eminent Service Award for individuals adjudged to have rendered outstanding and meritorious services to it.[11]
Other Awards
- Merit Award
- Best Public Library Award
- Best Section Award
- Best State Chapter Award
Presidents
List of Past Presidents of NLA.[12]
Name | Tenure |
---|---|
K. C. Okorie | 1962-1964 |
W. J. Plumbe | 1964-1965 |
E. B. Bankole | 1965-1966 |
S. C. Nwoye | 1966-1967 |
F. A. Ogunsheye (Mrs.) | 1967-1970 |
S. B. Aje | 1971-1973 |
J. O. Dipeolu | 1973-1975 |
A. Mohammed | 1976-1978 |
O. O. Ogundipe | 1978-1980 |
A. H. Ningi | 1980-1983 |
J. A. Maigari | 1983-1985 |
J. A. Dosumu | 1985-1988 |
J. O. Fasanya | 1989-1993 |
Gboyega Banjo | 1993-1998 |
Mu’azu H. Wali (Alh.) | 1998-2000 |
James O. Daniel. (Dr.) | 2000-2005 |
Victoria Okojie (Ms.)[13] | 2005-2010 |
L. O. Aina (Prof.)[14] | 2010-2012 |
Rilwanu Abdulsalami (Alh.) | 2012-2016 |
Umunna Opara (Dr.) | 2016-2019 |
Innocent Isa Ekoja | 2019-till date |
References
- Aina, Lenrie (July 2012). Nigerian Library Association at 50:Promoting Library and Information Science Profession for National Development and Transformation. Abuja: Nigerian Library Association/UniversityPress PLC. p. 157. ISBN 9789780697167.
- Unesco (1953). UNESCO Seminar on the Development of Public Libraries in Africa, Ibadan, Nigeria, 27 July-21 August 1953: Brief Report.
- "About NLA". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-08.
- Babah, Chinedu (2017-01-19). "EKOJA, Prof. Innocent Isa". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- "Administration". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- "About NLA". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- "About NLA". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- "Publications". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- "Publications". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-17. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- "Conferences". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-22. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- "Honours and Awards". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- "PAST EXECUTIVE". Nigerian Library Association. 2017-07-24. Retrieved 2020-05-24.
- Martins, Ameh (2019-11-14). "OKOJIE,Dr Victoria". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2020-05-25.
- Oladipo, Bimpe (2019-07-01). "AINA, Prof. Lenrie Olatokunbo". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2020-05-25.