Globalization and African libraries: the challenges of self- discovery in digital world

Abstract

"This paper examines the extent to which globalization as a development framework has been affected or otherwise library development in Africa. Using Nigeria as a reference point, an assessment of the extent to which globalization has affected Library in the country was carried out in addition to an empirical survey of challenges affecting the development of libraries in the country. Findings show that government frequent policy summersault about library development, funding inadequacy which has affected capacity to sustain subscription to information resources and weak national information infrastructures are among all other factors responsible for the underdeveloped nature of most libraries in the country and by inference the continent. It was accordingly concluded that most libraries in Africa seem unaffected by globalization and its driving information technologies. It was further concluded that African Libraries journey to the 21st century is still a long and tortuous one that is full of bumps and hiccups. How soon the identified challenges are addressed will be an index of the libraries’ journey to self-discovery to becoming borderless libraries. "