What Shoud Be The Focus of the Nigerian LIPs?

University of Botswana Gate

Briefly, I was in the Universtiy last week of May 2005. I was fascinated by the buildings most especially their new library complex. I was fascinated so much by it. This type of library is very scarce in Africa. Every level is well equipped with computers. Can you imagine entering into a library and you see books and computers. Any time you are in Botswana you must check this library.

Why Sweat it Out alone? Get Online and Get Going!

If you are able to read this, it certainly mean you are online. But how many of my African colleagues especially in Nigeria access the Internet regularly. We often feel too lonely and downcast when we are alone. You will never be alone if you cultivate the habit of visiting the net regularly. How regular? You may start now by visiting this web site called WebJunction http://www.webjunction.org/

WebJunction "is an online community where library staff meet to share ideas, solve problems, take online courses - and have fun. Register now (it's free)" What can you gain there. Many things! First, for general overview of the website, please visit the site map http://www.webjunction.org/do/SiteMap and you will be amazed the amount of resources available to you
· Policies and Practice
· Technology resources
· Buying and Funding
· Services to Libraries
· Learning center
· Community center

What I found very amazing were the fulltext articles on problems we are grappling with here in the third world.

You May Find This Logo Handy

I have found it absolutely necessary to always have this logo handy so that I can use it whenever I need it especially for web design. Just right click on it and it is yours! Absolutely free!

Searching for Book Fairs in the U.S.A and Around the World?

This page will be very useful for those who are planning on participating in Book Fairs. The Library of Congress has put a comprehensive list together on this page http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/bookfair.html.

However, LIPs in Nigeria can make available resources of this nature in the nearest future. I will want to be part of it.

About

Library and Information Professionals (LIPs) Common Concerns evolved over time when the Blogger was asked to teach his professional colleagues "How to Blog?" at a national conference. He decided to set up a demo blog which has now become a big player in the sector especially in Africa.


In 2005, I defined the purpose of the blog as "Over the years I have been priviledged to see many Library and Information Professionals (LIPs) struggle over issues that need not have over-burdened them. A look at these issues show that they are indeed issues of Common Concerns. This weblog will therefore address some of these concerns from my perspective. I welcome you to read as well as react when necessary."


Till date, we still struggle with such issues and so we have a lot to share. Isn't it?

Training: Why You Must Train Yourself

You may be wondering why I am writing on this at this time. Over the years, I have come across many LIPs who complain that their institutions have failed to train them. I always laugh when I hear things like that. The other day a young and promising guy came to visit me and was complaining bitterly that his institution has refused to train him all these years but that they want him to perform. I told him point blank that he must take his destiny in his hands. He must train himself. Years of complaints have brought him nothing. Until you take the first step to train yourself, you will alwys remain redundant.

Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that the your institution should not train you. My emphasis is on the aspect of training yourself even after such trainings. You can never get trained by attending a training program, but by practising what you learned at such training programs.

What if you had no chance of attending such, what can you do? These are some of the ideas you may try without paying a dime.

1. Visit a cyber-cafe and search for tutorials relating to the area you want to study - any topic will do. For instance if you want to learn how to use Microsoft Word; Type ~help Microsoft-Word into Google.com and see a lot of guides you can use.
2. Register for an evening lesson, but request along with this a time for practice (twice the time for theory)
3. Visit a colleague who can put you through the whole process. You may enlist with four different colleagues during your next vacation.
4. What if you do not have a job yet? That is great! You have all the time to volunteer your services to Libraries and Information Centers (LICs) and in return get hands-on training.
5. Where do I get time to do all this while in office? You may arrange with your boss and get one or two 15 minutes slots at break or after office hours.
6. Volunteer to serve at any training program in your locality where cognate skills are to be taught. Be very active so that they can call you another time.
7. Do a write-up of such training programs and submit for publicaitons in the Newspapers. This will publicise the organizers and will also get your name in print.
8. Another idea that has worked for me is the strategy of tieing an important and time-bound assignment with the learning of a software. I was forced to learn the software by all means in order to do the assignment.
9. Remember no one can train you better than yourself. Go ahead and train yourself this week.
10. Try it now!!!

I hope these help. If you found it useful why can you share it with other LIPs.

Purpose of this Blog

Over the years I have been priviledged to see many Library and Information Professionals (LIPs) struggle over issues that need not have over-burdened them. Not only them, there are a lot of library patrons who are struggling with the new technology as well. This weblog will therefore address some of these issues from my perspective. I welcome you to read as well as react when necessary.

Samuel Eyitayo