The predicament of librarianship: its problems and prospects in Nigeria

Discusses problems of and prospects for librarianship in Nigeria, especially in relation to other professions in the country. It begins with the philosophical foundation of man’s place in the universe, and a brief discussion of the evolution of librarianship as a profession. Subsequent problems are traced back to the influence of Melvil Dewey. Analysis proves the validity of librarianship as a profession and its problems in the Nigerian context are discussed. These problems are seen as teething ones, and particularly in relation to the country’s “Vision 2010”, the long term outlook and opportunities are very optimistic. Some recommendations to enhance development of the library profession in Nigeria are presented.