CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VOLUME VI (1) Contemporary-Eurasia-VI-1-engl | Page 89

CONTEMPORARY EURASIA VI (1)
institutions can make information that was previously only available
to a select group of researchers accessible to all. Digital projects allow
users to search collections rapidly and comprehensively from
anywhere at any time 55 .
One of the primary problems confronting library profession is lack
of commitment by the available human resources, particularly, in the
areas of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and
preservation of resources on cultural heritage 56 . The knowledge
explosion brought about by the acceleration of scientific and
technological progress is adding a new dimension to education,
capacity building, amongst other essential human development
endeavours. Librarians, irrespective of their levels in the professional
hierarchy must possess the conceptual knowledge, skills and attitudes
relevant to the performance of their jobs. Training refers to the
manifestation of knowledge, skills and attitudes in a person which
enables him to apply them in his work situation. In essence, education
is to cause a permanent change in behaviour potential of the
concerned individual and it is regarded as the key with which to
unlock the stores of knowledge and for their use by the society. As a
result of its importance for professional upliftment, libraries have
often tried to inculcate some desirable professional orientations in
their personnel through training 57 .
Digitization can also be the first step for conducting advanced
research on historical materials. Ancient documents present a prime
candidate for digitization because of their historical import, combined
with centuries of exposure and degradation habits in their
arrangement. However, Oketunji (2001) observed that the library
schools are inadequate in meeting the challenges of modern
information technologies owing to lack of financial resources to
procure the necessary equipment needed for the training of students 58 .
55
Jones T., An Introduction to Digital Projects for libraries, museums and
archives, 2001, http://images.library.uiuc.edu/resources/introduction.htm
56
Ibid.
57
Ibid.
58
Oketunji I., Education of Librarians in an electronically oriented society, Paper
presented at the Cataloguing, Classification and Indexing Section of the Nigerian
Library Association, Seminar/Workshop on Software Choice Parameters for
89