Annals of Library Science ami Dor umcn ration 1<)~~' . '-fA ., 12:-' 130

TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATION IN NIGERIA CASEFOR A NATIONAL NETWORK

Tbe extsttng system of library services isinadequately structured to meet tbe informationneeds of technologists in Nigeria. Some of theinadequacies have been observed and evidenceof available basic facilities for a more systematicapproach bas been noted.

The particular relevance of locally generatedtechnological information to national needshas been stressed. It has been considered that anetwork of all libraries and documentation cen-tres concerned will greatly improve informationservices to the technologists.

BACKGROUND

Concern over the absence of adequate arrange-ment for disseminating the results of appliedresearch and utilising them in concrete develop-ment projects has been expressed by the variousgovernments of Nigeria, The present administra-tion and the one from which it took over, parti-cularly the present administration has been morepractical in its approach to the issue. For exam-ple, the limitation of import licences for rawmaterials for almost all consumable items is apractical demonstration of the present govern-merit's commitment to ensure that industriesresort to local sources of raw materials forproduction. The measure is probably in con-sonance with the dictates of the increasingcrunch of the current economic crisis.

Consequently, there has been a consistentcall recently at every public gathering of Nige-rian scientists and technologists for a search foralternative raw materials for local industries.This author is of the opinion that librarians,documentalists and information scientists shouldalso be called upon to make the relevant infor-mation available. This is because adequate know-ledge of the existing information is a pre-requisite to the conduct of a successful re-search. What is necessary is therefore, a returnto the technological information and know-ledge already generated within Nigeria's borders

Vol 34 No 3 December 1987

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for local raw materials to brew beer. product'flour for baking bread, increase food prodw:·tion, manufacture drugs, pomade, cosmetics,and meet other basic needs. If developed countries have effectively harnessed t echnologica:information for productive purpose throughspecialized subject information systems, \) [.geria can start humbly by networking exist.inctechnological libraries and documentation U'\1·

tres, hence this presentation.

BASIC CONCEPTS AND DEFINITION~

Technology usually stands for a branch of know-ledge that deals with industria: »rts. appliedscience, engineering, etc. A common distinctionis made between techniques and technology andaccording to Freeman [1 ], technology is, "simp-Iy a body of knowledge about techniques", Tlwword "technique" was used by Freeman to referto arts, skills, methods, procedures, and so onand derives from the Greek word "technic"meaning art, skill.

Besides, the distinction between technologyand techniques is related to the distinction bet-ween the "soft" and "hard" side of technology.The phrase "technological knowledge", whichaccording to Granstrand (2) is actually tauto-logical, is used to emphasize the fact that physi-cal manifestations are not referred to.

Some authors broaden the concept of tech-nology and go beyond knowledge pertaining tothe natural sciences, engineering and traditionalinventiveness and include, for instance, till'social sciences. According to Jantsch l S] : .

Technology denotes the broad area ofpurposeful application of the contents ofthe physical, life and behavioural sciences,It comprises the entire notion of l.(·('hni-ques as well as the medi.-at. agricull ural,management and other fir-Ids with tlwirtotal hardware anti scfr wan- .ontC'nts.

Usually "technology" is not used in such abroad sense but rather in accordance with Free-man's definition above. Technology then refersto knowledge about industrial products andprocesses and includes knowledge from, forexample, medical or agricultural fields but notknowledge about management.

Information is man's cumulated knowledgein all subjects, in all forms, and from all sourcesthat could help its users to make rational deci-sions. Technological information is, therefore,man's cumulated knowledge "about industrialproducts and processes---". Honson[ 4] hasgiven the following as reasons why a techno-logist needs information:

(i) To stimulate thought and action by theinjection of, and interaction with otherpeople's ideas, knowledge, experienceand achievements;

(ii) To promote continuous awareness ofwhat others are doing so that anindividual (or group) worker may knowof development in his own specialfield;

(iii) To provide introductory and back-ground information for work in un-familiar fields;

(iv) To provide specific information anddata needed for work in hand.

The reasons show that the technologistneeds appropriate information as a matter ofroutine in the daily performance of his profes-sional activities.

EXISTING LIBRARY AND DOCUMENTA-TION SERVICES FOR TECHNOLOGY

All the· public institutions concerned withtechnological activities in Nigeria have specializ-ed libraries and documentation centres as sup-port units. Some of their expressed functionsinclude [5,6] :

(i) Providing a directory of research find-ings from the local institutions;

(ii) Providing an inventory of researchdone in other countries but consideredrelevant for use locally;

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(iii) Providing a union list of scientificand technological publications;

(iv) Providing a register of technologistsand their areas of specialization andactivities so that they can be consult-ed on technological matter;

(v) Providing an index of postgraduateresearch dissertations and reports onprojects submitted to local educationalinstitutions;

(vi) Providing appropriate scientific andtechnological information for all cate-gories of trainees;

(vii) Extending information to the worldscientific and technological communityon the individual parent organization'sareas of speciality particularly whereit is of global interest,

(viii) Enhancing the level of practice ofspecialized librarianship and documen-tation, particularly in developing coun-tries.

In spite of the expressed functions, indivi-dual efforts are mainly directed towards meetingthe needs of the respective parent organisation.As a result, their acquisition policies often ref-lect indepth coverage of a narrow subject area.However, applied science is inter-disciplinaryand as expected Ikhizama[7] has said that:

Despite the well-balanced collection main-tained by the research libraries, there wouldstill be some information required by theresearch officer which the library cannotmeet.

The above situation appears to be worsen-ed by the challenge posed by the problem ofrecent information explosion which accordingto Kent[8] has assumed certain dimensions offrustration including:

(i) The economic impossibility of indi-viduals or their organizations of pro-cessing for later retrieval the majorityof literature of possible pertinentinterest;

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TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATION NE1WORKS

(ii) The inadequacy of traditional librarymethods and tools in coping effectivelywith the detailed requirements ofindividuals in identifying informationpertinent to a given problem.

Informal cooperation has therefore featuredprominently among Nigerian technological libra-ries and documentation centres. According toAdedigba[9] it has been based on "who knowswho" and involves a small number of librarieswhich are geographically closely located.

For example, such informal cooperationexists among agricultural libraries in Ibadanmunicipality. The objectives and areas of co-operation of the existing system are inter-library loan, photocopying, access to materialsby research scientists of the parent organizationsof the cooperating libraries, exchange of dupli-cates of materials and training of non-profes-sional staff. He also noted the following as theproblem of the existing informal cooperation:

---no tools for locating books and a lot ofvaluable time (manhours) is wasted throughpersonal -visits to other libraries in an at-tempt to locate materials --- Because of theinformation nature of the system, thereare instances of negative response and lackof cooperation -- Photocopying service andcharges are not standardized. Documentdelivery is slow because there is neither arequest system nor a fulfilment system.

STANDARDIZATION

In accordance with the provisions of the decreeestablishing it, the National Library of Nigeriahas since its inception pursued programmes thatwould ensure the highest standard of practiceof librarianship and information science inNigeria. In this connection, it provides excel-lent training opportunities for its staff. Suchtraining includes training for input preparationand systems utilization at international level.Knowledge and experierrce gained from thetraining are imparted to others through theservices of its various organs dedicated to thepromotion of international standards and aware-ness of the value of information throughout thecountry.

Such services include compilation and publi-cation of the National Bibliography of Nigeria,

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National Union Catalogue, National Union Listof Serials; cataloguing of preprint materialsfor publishers (Cataloguing-In-Publication); is-suance of both International Standard Book andSerial Numbers. Others are National ReadershipCampaign and National Copyright InformationCentre for copyright information dissemination.These activities are evidence that practicalstandard requirements necessary for library andinformation network at national level have beenestablished.

LOCAL TECHNOLOGICAL INFORMATIONRESOURCES

Technological problems have been investigatedin Nigeria mainly at the following organisationallevels:

(i) Department under relevant federal andstate ministries and parastatals;

(ii) Research institutes;

(iii) Relevant faculties of universities, poly-technics and colleges of technology;

(iv) Others, such as government and privatetechnology based consultancies, firms,industries, etc.

As a result, sources of technological infor-mation and knowledge in Nigeria include govern-ment ministries and departments, researchinstitutions, experimental stations, relevantfaculties of universities, polytechnics andcolleges of technology, research students in theuniversities within the country, seminars,conferences, workshops and similar cooperativeexchanges. Others are from results of privateefforts of individuals and organisations atinventiveness, innovation and adaptation oftechnology .

THE NEED FOR A NATIONAL NETWORK

The works of Aina[lO], Odeinde and Alabi[ll],etc, show that physical carriers of technologi-cal information and knowledge locally generatedsuch as books, journals, research and technicalreports, notes and memoranda, annual reports,conference reports, patents, theses, trade litera-ture, etc. abound in Nigeria and are in factgenerated on a continuous basis. The question

,.)-_I

then is what is the state of technological infor-mation in Nigeria with regards to its organisa-tion and easy accessibility?

The above question becomes more perti-nent when we realize that many of these docu-ments are produced at great cost to the nation.And that when they are inaccessible they haveto be "discovered" or the research redone atanother cost whenever there is the need for theinformation and knowledge they contain.Although the cost of unintentional duplicationof research due to failure to obtain informationabout the works of others may not have beenassessed in Nigeria, evidence from the literaturefrom the developed countries such as the worksof Martyn[12], etc, show that they are veryexpensive.

There is, therefore, the need for a formalnetwork of libraries and documentation centresto effectively harness the increasing technologi-cal information particularly those generatedlocally within prevailing budget constraints.This would avoid waste of resources due toduplication of research. It will also ensuretimely exploitation and delivery of technologi-cal information and knowledge to satisfy theroutine information needs of the technologist.

That these facts are appreciated even ingovernment circles is attested to by the factthat Nigeria's Fourth National DevelopmentPlan, 1981 - 1985 [13] has stated that therewere certain inadequacies which militate againstthe realization of government developmentefforts in research and development activities inthe research institutions and industries inNigeria. These inadequacies were ident.ified as:

=-insufficient coordination among the re-search institutions to [a cilitate exchange ofideas (emphasis mine) and use of commonfacilities and to prevent unne cessarv du pli-cation ofpffo/'ts (emphasis again mine).

It specifically noted that:

=-there was 110 satisfactory arrangement fordisseminating the results of applied researchand utilizing them in concrete developmentprojects.

The importance of the application of exist-ing knowledge to achieve increased productivityhe, h(,(,11 stressed by the British Committee oni;,,!ustrial Product ivi tyj Lq ] in a report in 1949where it dr-c-lan-d that:

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---an early increase in productivity couldbe achieved by the rapid application of exis-ting knowledge rather than by the conductof fresh scientific research.

The same fact has been expressed in otherwords by the British Advisory Council onScientific Policy [15] when it noted that:

A country's wealth and power are todaylargely determined by the extent of itsscientific knowledge and its capacity to usethat knowledge.

Universal Availability of Publications (UAP)and World Scientific Information System(UNISIST) are world-wide programmes thatemphasize interdependence of nations in infor-mation use and management. Nigeria as a mem-ber of the international community has identi-fied with these efforts. However, her perfor-mance at contributing her local informationresources to the world pool of informationremains to be assessed before the extent ofher involvement in the international endeavourscould be asscertained. There is, therefore, urgentneed to assess Nigeria's contribution to theworld technological information resources espe-cially by a Nigerian familiar with her achieve-ments in science and technology. The Inter-national Information System for the Agricul-tural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) net-work programme planned to cater for theworld information needs in food science, agri-culture, fisheries and forestry to which Nigeriahas been contributing since its inception in theearly 1970s provides a good opportunity forthis assessment.

MODEL OF THE NETWORK

A library network can be defined as two or moreautonomous libraries which are linked in a for-mal relationship to provide increased access totheir holdings and services for better realizationof their common or respective goals and objec-tives. Swank[16] has said that a library networkhas certain characteristics such as node with adistinct data base at each node. That it iselectronically switchable and has high speedcommunication and remote users. Palmour andRoderrer] 17 J have also said that a local networkmay cover a single city or country or extendover a significant portion of a state and that its

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TECHNOLOGY INFORMATION NETWORKS

level of formality usually increases with size.Network may be among libraries of the sametype, of two types or of all types. The purposeof a network of libraries according to Brown[18] might be to share resources, to equalizeaccess to information, accelerate informationprocessing or provide better bibliographicservices.

There are many types of arrangementsamong formally associating libraries that qualifyas a network. The adoption by members of aparticular type of arrangement would be deter-mined by their common aims and objectives.The model proposed by Cohen [19] is suggestedfor adoption by Nigerian Technological Librariesand Documentation Centres. It consists of anational coordinating centre and libraries ordocumentation centres in all organizationsconcerned with technological activities through-out the country.

ACTIVITIES OF THE NETWORK COORDI-NATING CENTRE

The major needs in the management of techno-logical information in Nigeria which should becatered for at the coordinating centre includethe following:

(i) Coordination of the functions of indi-vidual libraries and documentation cen-tres as contained in their expressed ob-jectives as enumerated above;

(ii) Act as a kind of repository for statisti-cal records and reports of all activitiesof the individual members of the net-work;

(iii) Organisation of workshops, seminars andconferences that will expose librarians,information scientists and the usercommunity of technologists to its acti-vities and those of the individual mem-ber libraries;

(iv) Intensive study of inforrnation userneeds;

(v) Development of national policy for themanagement of technological informa-tion;

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(vi) Identification of the need for moretechnological information centres andspecial libraries, and the need to increasethe supply of trained informationpersonnel;

(vii) Improved bibliographic control for moreeffective utilization of information re-sources;

(viii) Substantial increase in the holdings ofthe world's literature available in thecountry generally; and

(ix) The need to supply small industries andlocal entrepreneurs with technologicalinformation.

CONCLUSION

Networking appears closest to a device thatwould ensure better control of technologicalinformation particularly those generated locallyand easy accessibility of such holdings of themember libraries. It will eliminate duplication ofresources, ensure savings in labour and costvery essential in a nation undergoing a traumaof economic recession. Desirable statistical datawill be readily available. It will instil a sense ofself-sufficiency and enhance self-determinationto play a role in an interdependent worldamong library and information personnel.

As the nerve-centre of the nation's technolo-gical activities, the network will provide theatmosphere that would enable technologiststo interact more freely with themselves, withmember libraries and with the coordinatingcentre. Such interaction will promote betterunderstanding through regular consulationamong them thereby satisfying more of theirinformation needs.

REFERENCES

1. Freeman C: The economic of industrial innovation.Harmondsworth, Penguin Books, 1974.P.18.

2. Granstrand, Ove: Technology, management andmarkets: an investigation of Rand D innovation inindustrial organization. London, Frances Pinter,1982.P.4.

3. J antsch, E: Technological forecasting in perspective.Paris, OECD, 1967. P.lS.

129

4. Hanson, C W: Introduction to science informationwork. London, ASLIB, 1973,1>.12.

5. Lawani, S M: Grain legume documentation andinformation: the contributions of the Interna-tional Institute of Tropical Agriculture. QuarterlyBulletin of the International Association of Agri-cultural Librarians and Documentalists 1982, 27(2),47-53.

6. Orgwu, F N C: Aspects of transfer of technology:research and documentation of scientific informa-tion. In: Amoda, M and C D Tyson, eds: Technolo-gical development in Nigeria: Nigeria - U.S.A.workshop, April, 1979. New York, Third PressInternational, 1979, 127-152.

7. Ikhizama, B 0: National Cereals Research InstituteNewsletter. Ibadan, NCRI, 1977, 5-6.

8. Kent, Allen: Generating use and transfer of infor-mation. Information News and Services 1975,vii, 306.

9. Adedigba, Yakub A: The design of a local networkfor the agricultural research libraries in Ibadan,Nigeria, Nigerian Library and Information ScienceReview 1984, 2(~), 13-27.

10. Aina, L.O: Access to scientific and technologicalinformation in Nigeria: problems and prospects.Nigerian Libraries 1983,19(1-3),35-41.

11. Odeinde, T 0, Alabi, G A: Provisions, accessibilityand use of scientific literature in Nigerian uni-versities. In: Ukoli, F M A., ed: What science?:problems of teaching and research in ~ience inNigerian universities, Ibadan. Heinemann, 1985,131-149.

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12. Martyn, John: Unintentional duplication of re-search. New Scientist 1964, 21, P.338.

13. Nigeria, Federal Republic of: Fourth NationalDevelopment Plan, 1981-1985, Vol.1, Lagos,Federal Ministry of National Planning, January1981. Pp.206-208.

14. British Committee on Industrial Productivity:Report. London. HMSO, 1949. P.3.

15. British Advisory Council on Scientific Policy:Report, London. HMSO, 1960.P.14.

16. Swank, R C: Inter-library cooperation, inter-library communications and information networks:explanation and definition. In: Becker, J, ed:Proceedings of the Conference on Inter-LibraryCommunications and Information Networks, Sep-tember 20 - October 2, 1970, Chicago., A.L.A.,18-26.

17. Palmour V E, Raderrer N K: Library resource shar-ing through networks. Annual Review of Informa-tion Science and Technology 1978, 13, 147-177.

18. Brown, G W, Keenan, T A: EDUNET. New York.John Wiley, 1967. 4.

19. Cochin, J B: Management of scientific and technicalinformation in Nigeria. In: Amoda, M and C DTyson, eds: Technological development in Nigeria:Nigeria - U.S.A. Workshop, April 1979. New York,Third Press International, 1979, 153-163.

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