Nigerian Medical Libraries Face Challenges With High Hopes for the Future

A Review of: Popoola, B., Uzoagba, N., & Rabiu, N. (2020). “What’s happening over there?”: study of the current state services, challenges, and prospects in Nigerian medical libraries. Journal Medical Library Association, 108(3), 398–407. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2020.607 Abstract Objective – This examined field librarianship as it is currently practiced Nigeria. Design Mixed methods: electronic survey in-person interview. Setting The was advertised via an email list a WhatsApp discussion group, both based interviews were requested directly by authors. Subjects Librarians working libraries Nigeria for survey; library heads interviews. Methods created Google Forms shared Association’s Group Medial Association Question categories included personal demographics, patronage/social media use, services users, librarians’ training challenges. Most questions closed-ended. Survey data analyzed SPSS response frequencies percentages. conducted person. Questions covered topics such (for Nigeria). Interview transcriptions underwent thematic content analysis. Main Results majority 58 respondents (73%) reported seven or more years experience. There no consensus on classifications schemes used throughout Nigeria, with 43% using US National Medicine classification 32% Congress. Social use also varied, but (approximately 45%) social less than monthly to promote their programming. Monographs main collection material roughly 35% respondents. Journals followed at approximately 24% while only 10% resources material. (53%) noted that did not offer specialized services. Others (31%) “selective dissemination information, awareness reference services” (p. 402) services; 7% literature searching. (70-75%) rated skill levels evidence medicine systematic reviews beginner/intermediate. Half had held any programs seminars users six months prior. Interviews revealed they all high hopes future many These lack cooperation between libraries, interlibrary loan budget deficiencies, insufficient access internet. mirrored responses, 50% which information “significant barrier improved along low usage (57%). Conclusion face multiple Budgetary constraints, cooperation, internet accessibility limit availability collections. authors suggest associations focus education opportunities librarians.