LITT 2013: IT Section Chairman Speech

A WELCOME ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE CHAIRMAN, NLA, IT SECTION AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE 7^TH LIBRARY AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TODAY (LITT) 2013 NATIONAL WORKSHOP ON MONDAY, 7^TH OCTOBER, 2013 AT THE RIVERS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, RIVERS STATE

The Vice Chancellor,

The Principals officers,

The Chairman and Executive Members of NLA Rivers State Chapter,

Invited Guests,

Head of Libraries,

Distinguished Professional Colleagues,

members of the Press,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have a great pleasure in welcoming you all to the 7^th National Workshop of the NLA, IT Section tagged Library and Information Technology Today (LITT) 2013. The theme of this year’s workshop is “Nigerian Libraries: Evolving in New Directions”. The IT Section of Nigerian Library Association is one of the most proactive and pragmatic sections of our noble professional body. This section could not have done less in the face of the current challenges faced by our libraries nationally. We are therefore grateful to the Vice Chancellor, Professor B.B. Fakae, for accepting to host this workshop unconditionally. In addition, he provided Amphi-Theatre for this opening ceremony, the library staff,  the Information Technology Centre (ITC) staff and facilities as well as the internal security. He also sponsored five Library Staff to this workshop and several other logistics to ensure that all delegates had a pleasant stay in RSUST.

The infusion of computer and other communication technologies into library and information services has brought the information professionals around the world into the reality of the electronic age. Library Information professionals in Nigeria have however decided to take the bull by the horn and build up their knowledge-base in this all-important area of ICT penetration into library and information services provision. Hence, the commencement of National Workshop tagged Library and Information Technology Today about seven years ago and this is the 7^th in that series. NLA IT Section has come a long way in her fulfillment of capacity building for Library and Information Professionals and related staff. We also provide supportive roles to the institutions and organisations on issues that affect the involvement of ICT in our various types of libraries nationwide as well as organising conferences, workshops and seminars for stakeholders as it is being done today. For all the stakeholders that came from far and near, I welcome you to Port Harcourt, Rivers State and to one of the leading universities in Nigeria and Africa at large.

With diminutive and giant leaps, libraries and information organizations are evolving in innovative and exciting ways. Hence, the theme of this year’s workshop is “Nigerian Libraries: Evolving in New Directions”. The rapid changing technology and social trends are fueling ICT evolution in both exciting and frightening ways. Computers, spaces, library and information services are all evolving in different, and mostly positive directions. This year’s LITT 2013 theme will focus on mobile devices and electronic collections and how their use is changing the spaces and services in libraries. It focuses on the skills, competencies, and roles that are evolving to deal with all these changes in our communities and organizations. I stand to commend the vision and mission of the NLA and the relentless efforts of the Association at improving the standard of services in Nigerian libraries which we have pursued with vigor over the years especially the capacity building programme for Nigerian library and information professionals.

The Association has done so much in strengthening and supporting the effective service delivery through various trainings and seminars of this nature to expose information managers and library professionals to attain optimum level of development and growth as required in the 21^st Century.

Mr Vice Chancellor, Ladies and gentlemen, as you are aware, the programme of the association will be on for one whole week featuring intensive training and development of human capacity. At the end of the exercise, the participants are expected to have a fulfilled professional outing which will add value to their libraries as well as service delivery in their various organisations.

One of the most important requirements for a nation to develop and sustain that development is excellent and relevant educational programme for her people. This among others, is what we strive to do at IT Section of NLA through our frequent training programme through seminars and workshops, especially LITT National Workshop, as we all know that a key ingredient for a good education is the relevancy which the information specialists provide.

On behalf of IT Section of NLA, we express our gratitude to all individuals and organizations who have contributed in one way or the other to the realization of this Annual Workshop. 

• Emerald Group Publishing Limited http://www.emeraldinsight.com/ 

We also express special thanks to all the participants who have traveled from far and near to make this Workshop a success.
For the first-time-visitors to this great citadel of learning, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, we ask that you relax, feel at home and enjoy the unequal hospitality, peaceful and serene environment.

 
Thank you and enjoy the rest of the programme.

God bless you.

Ayodele Alonge, CLN

Chairman, NLA, IT Section