An Academic, Professor Victor Nwokedi, says Libraries are now platforms for transformation, which, if properly harnessed through technology, could foster the development of society.
He made the submission in Yenagoa while delivering the keynote address at this year’s Annual Conference of the Nigerian Library Association, Bayelsa State Chapter.
The theme of the Conference was ‘Beyond Books: Technology, Transformation, Entrepreneurship and Tomorrow’s Library’.
According to the Keynote Speaker, Victor Nwokedi, an Associate Professor of Information Science at the University of Jos and Pioneer Librarian at the Federal University of Agriculture, Bassambiri in Nembe, Bayelsa State, libraries in the twenty-first century are spaces for innovation, creativity and community engagement.
Professor Nwokedi stressed that libraries were now beyond books and play broader roles in the lives of individuals and the development of society through technology, transformation and entrepreneurship, upon which tomorrow’s libraries are built.
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Chairman of the occasion, Mr Basil Kenbo, who is the Technical Adviser to the Bayelsa Governor on Federal Projects, emphasised the need to embrace new technologies to reposition libraries for transformation.
The Royal Father of the Day, the Tarakiri-Owei of Tarakiri Clan and Chairman of the Bayelsa State Library Board, King Seiyefa Koroye, represented by Secretary of the Tarakiri Council of Chiefs, High Chief Selekeowei Weridongha, said libraries play a pivotal role in the evolution of modern societies.
In an address of welcome, Chairman of the Nigerian Libraries Association, Bayelsa State Chapter, Mr Inemotimi Flint-Kakiri, who noted that given the importance of libraries, in a rapidly evolving society, it was incumbent on government and stakeholders to invest in and reposition libraries as engines of transformation.
Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Ebiye Edonkumoh, said the theme for the 10th Conference offers a challenge to key actors to re-imagine the library for the future.
