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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Librarian of Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, Prof. Lucky Abdulsalami, has expressed fear that libraries may go into extinction unless librarians learn to adapt and seek out creative answers to societal change for effective library and information services marketing.
He stated this while delivering the 23rd Inaugural Lecture of the university titled, “Marketing of Library and Information Services: The Role of the Library.”
Abdulsalami, the first Professor to deliver an inaugural lecture from the Department of Library and Information Science of the University, observed that though libraries remained the best source of wisdom and knowledge, the introduction of new technology and its application in libraries had opened up new avenues for marketing the library and its services.
He, therefore, advocated excellent library services, and appropriate staffing and facilities in the context of marketing librarians and the services they provided.
“With increased alternatives for information, librarians must learn to gain a competitive edge and promote the added value in the services they provide. For effective information handling and management, effective marketing should be used to promote access to library and information services as a panacea towards sustainable libraries in the digital age.”
Professor Abdulsalami noted that libraries and library professionals were attempting to seize possibilities to beat out competitors – commercial vendors and technology specialists – in the age of competitive competition, adding that
most libraries across the world have begun to sell library and information services and have created a record for each event for accreditation.
“As a result, libraries are developing marketing and promotion strategies to provide suitable services that will satisfy the needs of current trends while respecting, identifying and changing demands of more difficult users,” he stated .
Earlier in his speech, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, vice chancellor, said the occasion was significant in the career of an academic staff member and held to acknowledge appointment or promotion of full professors, pointing out inaugural lecture provide a platform for sharing discoveries, ideas and insights with the public and the larger academic community as well as engaging the town and gown.
He recounted recent developments in the university and said the school had expanded its collaborative research with local and international partners to enhance knowledge production for national and global development.
