National Bibliography in Nigeria: Its Growth, Development and International Dimensions
Nigeria was the first country in Black Africa to have a current national bibliography. The responsibility for the production of the national bibliography, known as Nigerian Publications from 1953, when the first issue appeared, to 1973 when it changed its name to the National Bibliography of Nigeria, was transferred from the Ibadan University Library, Nigeria's largest research library, to the National Library of Nigeria in June 1970. Although the National Library was officially opened in 1964, it was not invested with this national bibliographic responsibility until 1970. The compilation of the national bibliography by the Ibadan University Library from 1953 to 1970 was a voluntary task not backed up by any national legislation, although the enactment of the Nigeria Publications Ordinance 1950, which required two copies of every book published in the country to be deposited with the Ibadan University College Library, as it was then known, enabled the Library to assume responsibility for the preparation of the national bibliography.
A Survey of Publisher Compliance With Bibliographic Practices In Nigeria
The inability of Nigerian publishers to conform to international standards of publishing has been identified as the bane of publishing in Nigeria. The study investigated publisher compliance with bibliographic codes and standards in Nigeria. Also interrogated were challenges faced by publishers in accessing these codes and standards, those faced by National Library of Nigeria in administering these codes and standards and implementing the legal deposit obligations, as well those affecting the compilation of the National Bibliography of Nigeria (NBN). The descriptive research adopted the random sampling technique to select 410 publishers, librarians, authors and printers. The targets were reached with questionnaires, interviews, observation of records and interaction for data gathering. Findings show unfounded fears by publishers regarding some perceived difficulties in getting these codes and conventions from the National Library of Nigeria, a general apathy among publishers towards the issue of legal deposit and the attendant difficulties in the compilation of the National Bibliography of Nigeria (NBN). Recommendations include discouraging all-comers from flooding the publishing business. The National Library of Nigeria needs to reach out to Nigerian publishers in a massive media campaign for training, semimars, conferences and workshops on issues bordering on bibliographic control, legal deposit and other sundry matters in the publishing industry. The National Library Decree No. 29 of 1970 is long overdue for revision. Government needs to introduce import wavers and dutyfree importation of essential printing/publishing materials and equipment.
The distinctiveness of Belfast medicine and its medical school.
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