NLA Hosts her 18TH AGM at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu…

The Nigerian Library Association NLA (Enugu State Chapter) held her AGM – Annual General Meeting at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu from Wednesday 21st – Friday 23rd November, 2018.
The 18th Annual Conference of the Association which was tagged “The Library as a Change Agent in the Society” had its opening ceremony hold at the PG Hall of the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu. It was a congregation of Library Scientists and Information Experts from across various institutions in the state.
According to the Chapter Chairman of the association, the choice of Godfrey Okoye University as the host school for the 18th edition of the Conference was motivated by their experiences in the School at their earlier visit to the university during a Conference organized by the IT section of the NLA (National).
In her interview with GOU-ICT the Chairman confessed: “… when we came here for the first time, the atmosphere was so lovely, terrain and very suitable for an academic summit of any magnitude. It is indeed a rare opportunity to have such atmosphere as this (GOUNI) for an academic convention of this nature. We couldn’t ask for more… NLA remains ever thankful to the Vice Chancellor of Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu; Rev. Fr. Prof Anieke who made our being here possible”

In his welcome Address, the Vice chancellor of GOUNI, Rev. Fr. Prof. Christian Anieke, who spoke through the University Librarian, Mrs. Mary Allen Chijioke, thanked immensely the Nigerian Library Association (NLA) for her choice of GOUNI for the hosting of the year’s Conference. The VC reiterated that it is customary in the University that the Library is the image of any University. For what it’s worth, he maintained, there is no University without a Quality and functional Library. However, while making reference to the GOUNI Modern e-Library the Vice Chancellor welcomed he participants to Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu; and enjoined them to feel free to take excursion to the University Library Facilities while the Conference lasts.
The Lead Paper of the conference titled “The Library as an Agent of Change, Innovation, Engagement and Communication” was presented by Dr. Ijeoma Ibegbulam, Principal Librarian, Medical Library, College of Medicine, Ituku-Ozalla. She x-rayed the place of Information Experts in helping to build a peaceful and coexistent community.
Key points from the Paper:
• Recording information enables man to figure out the difference between where he is coming from and where he at present; and thereby helps him determine where he hopes to be in the future.
• The Library must be able to foster change in the communities and Librarians must also figure out new and innovative ways to secure, save and dispense information to the community accordingly.
• Librarians in the present day must go beyond theoretical postulations to drawing down the original benefits of the libraries (Information Facilitation) to the common people outsided the Academic Institutions.

• There is something for every Librarian to do in enabling information availability in order to effect change in the communities.