Collaborative Librarianship

Volume 2 Issue 2 Article 5

2010

Consortia Building among in Africa, and the Nigerian Experience

Ngozi Blessing Ossai Delta State University, Abraka, , [email protected]

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Recommended Citation Ossai, Ngozi Blessing (2010) "Consortia Building among Libraries in Africa, and the Nigerian Experience," Collaborative Librarianship: Vol. 2 : Iss. 2 , Article 5. Available at: https://digitalcommons.du.edu/collaborativelibrarianship/vol2/iss2/5

This Scholarly Article is brought to you for free and open access by Digital Commons @ DU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Collaborative Librarianship by an authorized editor of Digital Commons @ DU. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Ossai: Consortia Building among Libraries in Africa

Consortia Building among Libraries in Africa, and the Nigerian Experience

Ngozi Blessing Ossai, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria ([email protected])

Abstract

This study focuses on consortia building among libraries in Africa, with special attention giv- en to Nigeria. It covers the various forms of consortia: formal and informal as well as cooperative interchanges, including partnerships for resource sharing. Affirming the aim of consortia building as strengthening libraries and library services, the study considers the problems and prospects that are associated with consortia building in Africa and proposes a way forward. It concludes with an affirmation of the need to embrace consortia building among libraries in Africa and an emphasis on the key role ICT (Information and Communica- tion Technologies) plays in consortia development.

Keywords: Consortia, Libraries, Africa, Nigeria, South Africa.

Context strategies to obtain and use shared digi- tal resources and services. Thankfully, It commonly is understood that around not only do new technologies promote the globe, given current ICT (Informa- digitization, they also expand the possi- tion and Communication Technologies) bilities for innovative cooperation. In an developments, there is occurring a para- effort to increase awareness and promote digm shift that sees among other things development of consortia, this paper fo- libraries moving from owning specific cuses on the successes and challenges of physical information items in a local col- consortia development in Africa, with lection to providing access to many in- particular attention given to some of the formation sources regardless of their challenges facing collaborative initiatives format and location. This shift from in Nigeria as perhaps typical of other re- ownership to access appears to be a force gions on the continent. Admittedly, these that also promotes consortia building. challenges are daunting, but identifying While local collections are still impor- and understanding them will hopefully tant for heavily used paper format ma- support efforts in promoting and expand- terials, access to distributed information ing library consortia in this part of the resources continues to grow in impor- world. tance.1 Today, libraries are challenged more than ever to offer traditional servic- Consortia Building: What Is It? es while at the same time providing a range of new and often costly resources A consortium, by one version of Web- and services to their users. This chal- ster’s Dictionary definition, is "an agree- lenge is met best through collaboration ment, combination or group (as of com- with other libraries.2 panies) formed to undertake an enter- prise beyond the resources of any one Globally, the development of new tech- member." A consortium also "usually nologies with a concomitant exponential involves collaboration among direct com- increase in the amount of information petitors."4 Arising from observations available has made the building and ex- within the Chinese context, but with ap- pansion of library consortia an impera- plications globally, Allison tive. Since information now can be rea- Zhang notes that while consortium dily digitized and delivered electronical- building often expresses itself in re- ly, this rapidly is becoming the preferred source sharing, it could also include a means of information retrieval.3 Given planned process of getting libraries to this trend, in order for libraries to meet share human resources, bibliographic da- expectations they must develop new ta and various other services found in

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each of the operating libraries that are part the field of information technology of the sharing group.5 leading to the emergence of networked information services, many consortia of To be sure, library consortia vary widely different types have come into existence in their type, goals, structure, membership all around the world. It is against this and funding. 6 The organizational background that quite recently libra- framework and structure of the con- ries in Africa facing similar financial sortium may be a formal or informal challenges have also moved to co- agreement between libraries based on operate more extensively in sharing some common principle or principles. It their resources for the benefit of their may also take the form of a cooperative users,11 although the pace of develop- arrangement among several libraries ment has been relatively slow.12 In that could involve the loaning of books, Africa, the notion of cooperation, de- interlibrary exchange of staff, or an elec- scribed as a “universal language spoken tronic network interconnecting different in different dialects,”13 emerged as li- libraries for shared access to resources.7 braries explored each other’s common Most commonly, a library consortium strengths and limitations and as they encompasses similar types of libraries: realized that, together, things can be academic, special (such as medical or cor- done better and greater resources could porate), or public. A consortium may also be made available. Many library lead- be geographically based and include sev- ers saw the utilization of electronic eral types of libraries. However, what networks as the means to expand remains unclear in some of the profes- access for research and study purposes, sional literature is a precise distinction and to meet more general information between a library consortium and a li- needs.14 brary association, other than the connota- tion that a consortium may be a more The Mission of Consortia closely knit group and created for some specific purpose. Generally, the mission of a consortium is to fully utilize and develop the informa- Genesis of Consortia Building tion resources of their libraries for the purpose of promoting education, re- The first steps towards consortia building search and lifelong learning. Given this involved interlibrary loan arrangements mission, the vision is to create a virtual between libraries.8 As a result of what library by linking together participating commonly is termed the “information organizations via electronic networks. explosion,” it became virtually impossi- An overview of some of the principal li- ble, certainly within the African context, brary consortia in Africa (described in the for any library to acquire all the useful following section) reveal that their objec- publications related to even a single area tives based on this mission and vision in- of interest to a library user.9 Even libra- clude the following: ries with sizable budgets were having difficulties in cop- 1. Establishing a formal relation- ing with this increase. By way of exam- ship between the members of ple, in recent times, according to a study the consortium in order to foster of a new renaissance in library consortia cooperation and communication. development in New Zealand,10 libraries 2. Supporting the information needs have encountered serious reductions in of clients through regional coop- funding at the same time of rapidly in- eration, while encouraging each creasing costs of information resources. member to build good, basic col- Today, in a climate of global economic lections sufficient to meet the decline libraries are faced with the chal- needs of its clients. lenge of providing better services with 3. Promoting resource sharing and shrinking budgets. enhancing access to information, formulating appropriate collec- Given the rapid pace of development in tion development and acquisi-

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tions policies among members, tion, an amount matched by funds from and exploring opportunities for the Desmond Tutu Educational Trust. Be- cost savings. ing the first library consortium formed in 4. Facilitating access to information South Africa, it now consists of five institu- through shared computer sys- tions in the Western Cape. Its mission tems and networks. was modified somewhat in 2004 but 5. Utilizing appropriate and current remains essentially, “to promote infor- technology and keeping abreast of mation literacy and economic develop- new technological developments. ment of the region by providing infor- 6. Improving information literacy mation to users in the form they want, among clients and sharing when and where they need it, and at an training resources and expertise affordable price.”18 where appropriate. Free State Libraries and Information Con- Library Consortia in Africa sortium (FRELICO)

The most vigorous and successful de- Centered in the Free State province of velopment of library consortia has oc- South Africa, FRELICO, established in curred in South Africa and neighboring 1996, is now comprised of three university states. While there were some coopera- libraries, two technical institution libra- tive library initiatives prior to 1990, it ries, and one public/legal depository was during the period from 1992 to 1999 library. It serves more than 25,000 that saw the most significant advances, students, faculty and researchers affi- although some consortia may have been liated with member institutions. 19 more “conceptual” and less operational. A study completed in 2002 shows that Gauteng and Environs Library Consor- by the turn of the century, however, tium (GAELIC) there were only a few functioning con- sortia in Africa,15 this despite serious GAELIC was founded in 1996 as part of efforts among African universities in the efforts of the Foundation of Tertiary particular to foster library cooperation Institutions of Northern Metroplois (FO- through the Association of African Uni- TIM) to support a cooperative venture versities (AAU) and with support of the among regional libraries in Gauteng International Development Research Cen- province. In recent years it has grown ter.16 The following provides an overview into the largest consor- of some of the more significant library tium in Southern Africa covering three consortia in Africa. provinces in South Africa as well as the universities of and . South African Bibliographic and Informa- The University of Library also tion Network (SABINET) participates in some GAELIC initia- tives, though no longer a full member SABINET was established in 1983 as a of the consortium. This cooperative is non-profit organization to provide a bib- meant to meet the future educational liographic utility for South Africa. Re- and training needs on regional, na- sponsible for cataloging books, journals tional and international levels.20 and materials in Southern African li- braries, by the late 1990s this online in- Eastern Seaboard Association Libraries formation network contained approx- (esAL) imately 2.5 million bibliographic records with more than 7 million Initiated in 1997 and based in Kwa- holdings.17 Zulu-Natal province, esAL is a part- nership initially comprised of six, then CAPE Libraries Cooperatives (CALICO) eight, academic libraries. Following some institutional changes, four member libra- CALICO was established in 1992 through ries emerged that serve a large number of monetary support from the Ford Founda- campuses, students, faculty and staff.21

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South East Academic Library System Other Initiatives (SEALS) In addition to consortium development This consortium, as a subset of Eastern in the southern regions of Africa, other Cape Higher Education Association, ex- cooperative ventures should be men- isted first as a project that began in 1996, tioned, though not in the full sense but then emerged as a formal consortium deemed “consortia.” The Cataloging in 1998. Centered in the Eastern Cape Network (CATNIP) in Pietermaritzburg, Province in South Africa, it consists of South Africa, is designed ostensibly for four academic libraries whose scope sharing cataloging records, and the ex- of cooperation initially was limited to change of materials on a regional scale.25 periodicals and CDROM products but On another front, the International Fed- whose mission later expanded considera- eration of Library Associations and Insti- bly, namely, “to foster improvement in tutions (IFLA) has initiated projects in access to information resources, to sup- and that, since 1993, have port and embrace high standards of electronically linked the main univer- teaching, research and scholarship in sity libraries. As well, a grant from member institutions by promoting re- UNESCO has enabled the National Li- source sharing of human, material and brary, the National , and the information resources between academic Ministry of Education in Namibia to set libraries within the region.”22 up a network to provide mutual direct access to their computer databases and South African and In- to the internet. The University of Nami- formation Consortium (SANLiC) bia Library through the Communication and Library Project (COMLIB) funded by SANLiC was formed in 1999 with a vi- the Belgian Government, has since 2000 sion, “to enhance access to information offered internet access through a network and the sharing of resources to benefit the of University-based computers.26 clients of consortia in South Africa through national cooperation.”23 SANLiC The Case of Nigeria continues to thrive in its mission to broker national site licenses to electronic re- While there have been notable successes sources, to support member participation in establishing consortia in Africa, there in the National Catalogue, and to advance still remain significant challenges. An inter-lending agreements. Its members overview and analysis of the situation in now include the Cape Higher Education Nigeria, perhaps typical of other regions Consortium, Foundation of Tertiary Insti- of Africa, reveal more precisely the na- tutions of the Northern Metropolis (FO- ture of these challenges. Simply put, TIM), Eastern Seaboard Association of despite the advances in collaboration Tertiary Institutions (esATI--of which es- through the Association of African Uni- AL is a member), South East Academic versities (AAU) and other groups, in- Libraries System (SEALS) and South Afri- adequate access to the internet contin- can National Research Information Con- ues to remain the significant problem in sortium (SANRIC).24 While not consor- Nigeria, and this presents significant tium members in the full sense, The Na- challenges to library administrators. As tional Library of South Africa and the Li- F. E. Etim reports, libraries throughout brary and Information Association of the country, Africa’s most populous, South Africa are “general members.” have tried to obtain access to the latest Having a full-time manager, conducting information, to improve the dissemina- regular meetings of the membership, and tion of information, and to provide high providing an online news service helps to quality library services, but these efforts position this organization as a leading li- have failed because of a lack of appro- brary consortium in Africa. priate technology.27 Based on research presented at the University of Uyo in 2006, only 13 of 24 federal university

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Country Internet Use per 100 Population United States of America 75.1 Sweden 57.3 Korea 55.2 South Africa 6.8 1.9 Senegal 1.1 Ghana 0.8 Benin Republic 0.8 Cote d’Voire 0.5 0.4 Nigeria 0.3 Angola 0.3 Table 1: Internet Use, 2000: Comparison by Country28 libraries in Nigeria have adequate in- between the ICT haves and have- formation technologies that enable nots globally.”29 them to connect to the internet or other- wise have a functional computer network. For comparison purposes, table 1 shows several countries and their internet use. Internet connectivity has become a "make or break" issue for consortium building Across Africa the quality and extent of not only in Nigerian but across the con- internet access is poor, and in Nigeria the tinent. The extensive study by E. J. Wil- rate is an abysmal .3% of the population. son and K. Wong of the Center for In- ternational Development and Conflict By the late 1990s, despite (and perhaps Management, University of Maryland, because of) this low level of internet found the following. access so crucial to consortium develop- ment, there have been more that a dozen “Africans are moving ahead on their initiatives over the past ten years to own terms, participating in the glob- create interlibrary and inter-institutional al information revolution and cap- networks through the National Research turing some of its benefits…. Pre- and Education Networks (NRENs). Par- cisely because the revolution is as ticipating organizations include: Nigeria much a policy and institutional revo- Universities Management Information lution as a technological revolution, system (NUMIS); Nigerian Universities Africa remains at a distinct disad- Network (NUNET); Nigerian Education vantage precisely because like all and Research Network (NEARNET a col- poor regions its institutions are no- laboration of NUNET, poly Net and toriously weak. The legacy of pover- Teach Net); eIFL (Electronic Information ty, colonialism and political misrule, for Libraries); National Virtual (Digital) weak institutions, half-hearted lea- Library Project (NVLP); Nigerian Virtual dership and conservative policies Library Consortium (VLC) [sic] do not auger well for rapid change. There will continue to be Of these, the Electronic Information advances, and some countries in for Libraries deserves special mention Africa will certainly do better than because of its success, albeit still ra- others. But across the continent the ther modest. Beginning in 2001, eIFL institutional and leadership com- strives to initiate, negotiate and sup- mitments to advancing ICT are still port wide-spread availability of elec- modest, and that lackluster perfor- tronic resources for libraries in devel- mance will only accentuate the gap

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oping countries. Seeing its main work Nigerian Universities Network (NU- as both negotiating subscriptions on a Net): a Case in Point country-wide basis and supporting and providing training for emerging national While not ostensibly a library consor- consortia in member countries, eIFL pro- tium, a closer look at the development vided interested Nigerian university li- of the Nigerian Universities Network braries with three years of free access to a (NUNet) further illustrates some of the suite of full-text databases. While univer- challenges. NUNet was an ambitions sity libraries were thrilled to have access project initiated by the National Univer- to these important resources they simply sities Commission (NUC) in 1995 to “es- did not have the infrastructure or tablish internet connectivity for the Ni- equipment to take full advantage of gerian University System (NUS).”31 Un- them, and it was only towards the end of folding in three phases, the project was the three years that some institutions designed first, to establish a national began to provide access on a regular ba- computer network using dedicated sis. As the funding program drew to a phone lines, then to migrate to dedicate close and libraries were expected to pay data lines for email services, and then their own way, eIFL encouraged libra- upgrade the system for full high-speed ries to form consortia for cooperative internet connectivity. By the time the purchasing. To help bring libraries to- project was to be completed in 1999, it gether, the organization also provided was expected to have over 65,000 com- workshops and other practical guid- puters networked.32 The reality, how- ance. ever, unfolded differently.

As an outshoot of this eIFL initiative, the One key major obstacle was the lack of Consortium of Nigerian Libraries reliable telecommunications and spo- (CONLIB) was formed, led by Dr. Doris radic electrical supply that caused uni- Bozimo, University Librarian at Ahmadu versities in remote locations (the majori- Bello University (ABU) Zaria, and Ril- ty of Nigerian universities) to be unable wanu Abdulsalami from the National to tap into the network. Other universi- Universities Commission. Various ties in more accessible regions also projects were developed and funding could not participate effectively because obtained, including a grant of $293,000 campus LANs and WANs were not well (US) from the Open Society Initiative for developed, or were absent altogether.33 West Africa to support connectivity in In a report to the international agency, selected universities in Nigeria for a two- Network Startup Resource Center, A. year period from late 2004 to late 2006.30 Ibrahim describes the problems of NU- Net as follows: Despite these encouraging develop- ments, it appears that CONLIB really …[T]he World Bank commissioned a did not thrive, and judging by the review [in 2000] and feasibility closing of its websites, the consor- study of NUNet and the re- tium may have folded. Two factors port…provided conceptual plans may have conspired against its suc- and topology. The sum of USD 16.2 cess: both the lack of government sup- million (out of the total grant of port for higher education and the rapid $100 m) was approved for the NU- development of new private universities Net component of NUSIP [Nigerian leading to a more competitive education University System Innovation environment. These have effectively put Project]. … Intranet Consultants and an end to consortium building and inter- an International Internet Consultant library loan programs that held such were appointed, and the first Plan- early promise. ning Workshop was held in March 2002. Unfortunately, disagreements arose between the World Bank and the NUC/Federal Ministry Educa- tion (which sought to change project

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components and modalities), and exist yet in the [Nigerian] university the entire project intervention was libraries … visited."36 Having a reliable cancelled… [T]he institutional user- power grid is a problem that has pla- base of NUNet has dwindled with gued Nigeria and other parts of Africa increasing deployments of VSATs for a long time, but if the government [very small aperture terminal, a at all levels cannot rectify this prob- two-way satellite ground station lem, libraries essentially shut down as with a dish antenna less than 3 me- information providers. Users quickly tire ters tall]. At the same time, the of seeking resources that simply are availability of free web-based mail not available.37 services and the lack of intranet ser- vices in the universities has hin- 2. Inadequate ICT infrastructure dered the building of true network Creating an adequate ICT infrastructure communities even within institu- continues to be a major challenge facing tions, so that most campus networks libraries in Africa, especially in Nigeria are really not more than cyber- where even a reliable electrical grid re- cafés.”34 mains a question. Most libraries in Ni- geria lack the necessary computing in- The good will and ambition evident in frastructure to provide needed services. this project have suffered, it seems, by Computers loaded with appropriate factors both internal and external. software, connected to routers, and a These mitigating factors have left li- high speed or fiber-optic data transmis- brary and academic collaboration, at sion backbone, along with skilled tech- least by late 2004, in ruins. While the nical support, are often lacking at the NUNet experience to some extent may institutional level. As the need for con- be representative of the struggles in sortia becomes stronger and as more creating viable consortia, what more electronic resources are made available to clearly are the challenges facing library individual libraries thorough consortial collaboration in Nigeria? agreements, students and faculty alike will rely more heavily on these resources Obstacles and a Way Forward and on the internet that supports them. Without a capable local ICT infrastruc- On a very basic level, all of the issues ture a library cannot fully be part of a may be reduced to questions of funding. functioning consortium. Funding for libraries has decreased in recent years across the globe, but espe- 3. Sporadic and inadequate access to the cially so in developing countries where internet the priority of national governments Having a reliable power source and a ro- might not be library development. Ac- bust local computing network does not cording to the Mortenson Center Report necessarily mean adequate internet on library development in Nigeria, irre- access. Libraries providing electronic re- gularities in budget planning make it sources also need sufficient bandwidth to difficult for a library to secure consistent reach beyond the borders of its campus funding and to realize effective develop- or community. Unfortunately, this re- ment. Specifically, funding deficiencies mains a problem in Nigeria and in other have led to challenges in several areas regions of Africa. While there have been that affect consortia building.35 some consortial efforts to improve and expand bandwidth,38 this perhaps still 1. Unreliable electrical infrastructure remains the weakest link in the fuller de- From the outset, libraries need a reliable velopment of consortia and to actualize electrical power supply in order to pro- the potential advantages of resources vide access to electronic resources. As a available through recent open access in- Mortenson Center Report states, "Relia- itiatives. ble power is a precondition for the proper functioning of modern library 4. Lack of staff training services, a precondition that does not Many library staff members have not had

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adequate training in construction, main- 3. Campaign for decentralization of tenance and development of information university budgets so that the and communication technologies. In fact, library has control over its own the greatest need for professional exper- expenditures. tise and technical know-how likely lies in 4. Insist that a percentage of out- areas such as LAN management, network side funding of university facul- design, back-up systems, assuring data ties and departments come to integrity and network security, and the library so that it is able to managing operating system software. adequately satisfy the informa- tion needs of its users.40 5. Lack of electronic access Since libraries all over the world increa- In addition to these suggestions, fi- singly have been better able to share re- nancial and material support from sources electronically, many libraries donor organizations, such as Open So- deal with budget constraints by stra- ciety Initiative for West Africa (OSI- tegically embracing “access” rather WA)41 should be exploited more widely. than “ownership” of resources. Un- As well, large publishers and database fortunately, this remains largely an aggregators in more developed countries ideal rather than a reality in Africa. sometimes have funding and resources While libraries on other continents are (both print and electronic) available to coming to depend on full-text electronic countries in Africa. Companies such as access to journals and other resources, Oxford University Press and EBSCO most libraries in African countries find should be appealed to for assistance. that African scholarly materials are still This most effectively is done collabora- largely available only in print.39 This tively. Note, however, that it is important dependence on print, again, tends to for funding proposals to be well re- limit the appeal of, or the ability to searched and skillfully written. form, library consortia in Africa, and especially so in Nigeria. Moreover, libra- Once the financial resources are in ries tend to have only rudimentary web- place, libraries need to move forward sites, if at all, and those that do exist rare- aggressively in digitizing scholarly ly integrate web 2.0 applications and oth- works and other print materials. This er services that allow effective and robust not only enhances the possibilities for electronic access to holding and full-text access and consortia building, as Ka- materials. nengo emphasizes, but also addresses preservation concerns.42 Moving for- Despite these rather large and daunting ward more aggressively on this front challenges, there are some concrete requires to receive intensive measures that libraries could consider to and comprehensive training in the de- improve the situation. As a first step, velopment of library websites and inter- cultivate a better financial climate in net portals. On a broader level, the im- which consortia development can be nur- portance of having an effective and tured. A study by A. Alemne and I. strong national union catalogue in each Antwi suggests four steps to improve country cannot be overstressed. This library funding. becomes the meeting place, so to speak, for resource sharing and consortia de- 1. Request a percentage of alloca- velopment. Of course, this presupposes tion of the university budget. the existence of and adherence to biblio- (The annually budgeted amounts graphic policies and standards for cata- need to be made available to the loging and archiving.43 library in a timely fashion.) 2. Insist that money from income The larger issues of information tech- generating activities is paid into nology and communications infra- a separate library account ra- structure on a regional and national ther than the general universi- scale and of a reliable electrical grid ty account. may be beyond the control of the li-

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brary, but knowing about the issues rian libraries need to create locally the me- helps libraries advocate for improve- chanisms needed to foster participation ment whenever the opportunities consortia building, including programs for arise.44 As well, library leaders in Africa adequate staff training, ITC infrastructure need to become knowledgeable about development, institutional information new developments in communications, policy development, and adherence to and in particular, understand the poten- bibliographic standards. Second, the local tial benefits of VSAT technology and library, as much as possible, should insist other broadband satellite connectivity. on adequate funding, maintenance of hardware and software upgrades, and Conclusion staff training in ICT services. Third, the Nigerian Library Association should soli- While there are many problems thwart- dify its key role in promoting consortium ing the efforts of libraries in forming or building across the country, and seek gov- joining a consortium, libraries through- ernment support of these initiatives. out Africa should be encouraged in Fourth, collectively, Nigerian libraries, every way to participate in these part- following the model of OCLC’s WorldCat, nerships. Perhaps some of the recent need to standardize and adopt one prima- successes in developing library partner- ry classification system. Fifth, locally and ships in South Africa, such as SANLiC, collectively, Nigerian libraries need to might be seen as models of consortia pressure other agencies and utility com- building. The benefits of library consor- panies to provide a broader and more reli- tia are significant,45 and with the devel- able electrical grid. Sixth, library workers opment of new and robust information need to support all efforts of The Libra- and communication technologies, as A. rians’ Registration Council of Nigeria to Ojedokun and E. Lumande of the Uni- expand and enhance library education in versity of Botswana suggest, “the pos- the country, and to help create a profes- sibilities of innovative interlibrary co- sion that embraces technological opportu- operation projects emerge: libraries nity. combining their efforts through various cooperative electronic networks are Clearly, the challenges in consortia build- trying to get access to electronic infor- ing in Africa are daunting, especially mation sources more economically.”46 when many of them come from outside the profession and which have national or In addition to ICT development and in- international origins. Building on the suc- novation, other factors driving the crea- cesses of the past, however, and taking full tion and expansion of consortia in Africa advantages of the potentials of developing include: globalization of economic and new information and communications educational opportunity and responsibil- technologies, and by embracing the shift ity; the exponential growth of informa- in library policy from ownership to access, tion; the rapid elevation of expectations perhaps a greater harvest of benefits from among researchers and information consortia partnerships can be obtained in seekers for access to a wide range of ma- Nigeria and in other regions of Africa. terials; dwindling budgets of libraries that necessitate ever greater resource References sharing and wider economies of scale.

While this article has taken the broad view 1 A. A. Ojedoku and E. Lumande, “Coop- of the situation in Africa generally, its spe- erative Electronic Networks of Academic cific focus has been on Nigeria as a case Libraries in Southern Africa,” Information study of some of the particular challenges Development 21/1 (2005). in consortia building. From the Nigerian experience, certain imperatives can be 2 D. Donner and J. Annear, “The Renais- identified that need to be met in order for sance of Library Consortia: Implications consortia to realize more fully the promise for New Zealand Libraries,” A Report they hold. First, administrators of Nige- Commissioned by the National Library of

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New Zealand. Wellington, NZ: National Institute of Development Studies Library Library of New Zealand, 2000. University of .” Paper pre- sented to the American Library Associa- 3 A. A. Ojedoku and E. Lumande, “Coop- tion conference, June 13-19, 2002. erative Electronic Networks of Academic http://ala.org/ala/iro/iroactivities/partn Libraries in Southern Africa,” Information erships.htm Development 21/1 (2005). 13E. M. Miamibo, “Partnership in Libraries: 4 H. E. Aldrich, et al. “Information Ex- Cornerstones of Access: the Case of Insti- change and Governance in U.S. and Japa- tute of Development Studies Library Uni- nese R and D Consortia: Institutional and versity of Zimbabwe.” Paper presented to Organizational Influences,” IEEE Transac- the American Library Association confe- tion on Engineering Management 45/3 rence, June 13-19, 2002. (1998): 263. http://ala.org/ala/iro/iroactivities/partn erships.htm 5 Allison B. Zang, “Building and Sharing Digital Collections in a Library Consor- 14 A. A. Ojedoku and E. Lumande, “Coop- tium,” Chinese Librarianship: an Internation- erative Electronic Networks of Academic al Electronic Journal 22 (2006). Libraries in Southern Africa,” Information Development 21/1 (2005). 6 A. Woodsworth. Library Cooperation and Networks. New York: Neal-Schuman Pub- 15 A. A. Alemna and I. K. Antwi, “A Re- lishers, 1991. view of Consortia Building Among Uni- versity Libraries in Africa,” Library Man- 7 A. A. Alemna and I. K. Antwi, “A Re- agement 23/4-5 (2002): 234-238. view of Consortia Building Among Uni- versity Libraries in Africa,” Library Man- 16 F. E. Etim, “Resource Sharing in the Dig- agement 23/4-5 (2002): 234-238. ital Age: Prospects and Problems in Afri- can Universities,” Library Philosophy and 8 For an excellent history of consortia de- Practice 9/1 (2006). velopment, internationally and among http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/etim.pdf academic libraries, see: Nfila, Baathuli Reason and Kwasi Darko-Ampem, “De- 17 E. M. Miamibo, “Partnership in Libra- velopments in Academic Library Consor- ries: Cornerstones of Access: the Case of tia from the 1960s through to 2000: a Re- Institute of Development Studies Library view of the Literature,” Library Manage- .” Paper pre- ment 23/4-5 ( 2002): 203-212. sented to the American Library Associa- tion conference, June 13-19, 2002. 9 K. N. Nwalo, Reference Sources and Servic- http://ala.org/ala/iro/iroactivities/partn es, Ibadan: Center for External Studies, erships.htm 2000. 18 Gwenda Thomas and Ina Fourie, “Aca- 10 D. Donner and J. Annear, “The Renais- demic Library Consortia in South Africa: sance of Library Consortia: Implications Where We Come From and Where Are We for New Zealand Libraries,” A Report Heading,” eprint of Rhodes University: Commissioned by the National Library of eprints.ru.ac.za/428/1/Thomas_Academi New Zealand. Wellington, NZ: National c_Library.pdf. See also, Library of New Zealand, 2000. http://www.chec.ac.za/calico.

11 K. N. Nwalo, Reference Sources and Ser- 19 E. M. Miamibo, “Partnership in Libra- vices, Ibadan: Center for External Studies, ries: Cornerstones of Access: the Case of 2000. Institute of Development Studies Library University of Zimbabwe.” Paper pre- 12 E. M. Miamibo, “Partnership in Libra- sented to the American Library Associa- ries: Cornerstones of Access: the Case of tion conference, June 13-19, 2002.

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http://ala.org/ala/iro/iroactivities/partn August 2007. erships.htm; See also Gwenda Thomas http://archives.ifla.org/IV/ifla73/paper and Ina Fourie, “Academic Library Con- s/145-Marais-en.pdf sortia in South Africa: Where We Come From and Where Are We Heading,” eprint 26 A. A. Alemna and I. K. Antwi, “A Re- of Rhodes University: view of Consortia Building Among Uni- http://eprints.ru.ac.za/428/1/Thomas_Academi versity Libraries in Africa,” Library Man- c_Library.pdf agement 23/4-5 (2002): 234-238. See also: www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profil 20 H. M. Edwards, “South Africa’s GAE- es/namibia/naminter.htm LIC: the Gaauteng and Environs Library Consortium,” Information Technology and 27 F. E. Etim, “Resource Sharing in the Dig- Libraries, 18/3 (1998): 123-128; and Gwen- ital Age: Prospects and Problems in Afri- da Thomas and Ina Fourie, “Academic can Universities,” Library Philosophy and Library Consortia in South Africa: Where Practice 9/1 (2006). We Come From and Where Are We Head- http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/etim.pdf ing,” eprint of Rhodes University: eprints.ru.ac.za/428/1/Thomas_Academi 28 F. E. Etim, “Resource Sharing in the Dig- c_Library.pdf, p. 6; and ital Age: Prospects and Problems in Afri- http://www.gaelic.ac.za can Universities,” Library Philosophy and Practice 9/1 (2006). 21 Gwenda Thomas and Ina Fourie, “Aca- http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/etim.pdf demic Library Consortia in South Africa: Where We Come From and Where Are We 29 Wilson, Ernest J., III and Kelvin Wong, Heading,” eprint of Rhodes University: “African Information Revolution: a Bal- eprints.ru.ac.za/428/1/Thomas_Academi ance Sheet.” Telecommunications Policy c_Library.pdf, p. 4. 27/1&2, (February-March, 2003): 16.

22 A. A. Ojedoku and E. Lumande, “Coop- 30 See NLA website: http://www.nla- erative Electronic Networks of Academic ng.org/nigeriaelfl.html ; see also, Report Libraries in Southern Africa,” Information by the Mortenson Center for Internation- Development 21/1 (2005); and Gwenda al Library Programs, 2005. Thomas and Ina Fourie, “Academic Li- http://www.library.illinois.edu/mortens brary Consortia in South Africa: Where on/activities/reports/ We Come From and Where Are We Head- ing,” eprint of Rhodes University: 31 Ajibola Maxwell Oyinloye, “Electronic eprints.ru.ac.za/428/1/Thomas_Academi Networking of Libraries and the Devel- c_Library.pdf, pp. 7-9; and opment of an Information Society in http://www.seals.ac.za Africa,” Information Development 15/4 (December 1999): 219; and 23 See : http://idv.sagepub.com/cgi/content/a http://www.cosalc.ac.za/home.html bstract/15/2/217

24 See : http://www.reference- 32 Ajibola Maxwell Oyinloye, “Electronic glob- Networking of Libraries and the Devel- al.com/doi/abs/10.1515/9783598441028.1 opment of an Information Society in .60 Africa,” Information Development 15/4 (December 1999): 217. 25 Hester Marais, “Co-operative Cata- loging in South Africa with Special Ref- 33 Aminu Ibrahim, “Description of NU- erence to the Gauteng and Environs Li- Net Topology and Connectivity—Initial brary Consortium (GAELIC).” Confe- and Current Status.” See: rence Proceedings, World Library and http://www.nsrc.org/AFRICA/NG/N Information Congress, 73rd IFLA General UNET-Nigeria.pdf. Conference and Congress, Durban, SA,

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34 Aminu Ibrahim, “Description of NU- Net Topology and Connectivity—Initial 44 E. M. Miamibo, “Partnership in Libra- and Current Status.” See: ries: Cornerstones of Access: the Case of http://www.nsrc.org/AFRICA/NG/N Institute of Development Studies Library UNET-Nigeria.pdf, p. 2. University of Zimbabwe.” Paper pre- 35 Report by the Mortenson Center for sented to the American Library Associa- International Library Programs, 2005. See: tion conference, June 13-19, 2002. http://www.library.illinois.edu/mortens http://ala.org/ala/iro/iroactivities/partn on/activities/reports/ erships.htm

36 Report by the Mortenson Center for 45 John. Secor, “Consortia: What Do They International Library Programs, 2005. Really Hold for the Future?” See: See: http://www.library.ln.edu.hk/symposiu http://www.library.illinois.edu/mortens m/docs/papers/secor.pdf on/activities/reports/ 46 A. A. Ojedoku and E. Lumande, “Coop- 37 Report by the Mortenson Center for erative Electronic Networks of Academic International Library Programs, 2005. Libraries in Southern Africa,” Information See: Development 21/1 (2005): 66. http://www.library.illinois.edu/mortens on/activities/reports/

38 See : http://www.nla- hg.org/nigeriaelfl.html

39 For a discussion of the current [2009] state of scholarly output from Africa, see Christine Wamunyima Kanyengo, “Managing Digital Information Sources in Africa: Preserving the Integrity of Scholarship,” The International Informa- tion & Library Review 41/1 (March, 2009): 3-4.

40 A. A. Alemna and I. K. Antwi, “A Re- view of Consortia Building Among Uni- versity Libraries in Africa,” Library Man- agement 23/4-5 (2002): 234-238.

41 See : www.nla-ng.org (Caution : This site triggers security warnings).

42 Christine Wamunyima Kanyengo, “Managing Digital Information Sources in Africa: Preserving the Integrity of Scholarship,” The International Informa- tion & Library Review 41/1 (March, 2009): 1-3.

43 Christine Wamunyima Kanyengo, “Managing Digital Information Sources in Africa: Preserving the Integrity of Scholarship,” The International Informa- tion & Library Review 41/1 (March, 2009): 6.

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