Accessing Indigenous Knowledge Resources in Libraries and the Problems Encountered by Librarians Managing IK in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

In this era of knowledge economy, a time where it is difficult to ignore any type of knowledge system, it is incumbent on librarians and libraries to reduce the gap between the use of indigenous knowledge owned by local people and the western scientific knowledge. The library for users is a democracy, and there is no reason it should enhance apartheid among knowledge systems and/or resources. LIS professionals all over the world have demonstrated commendable initiatives managing IK though not without attendant challenges. This paper reports the study of how libraries in Oyo State, Nigeria provide access to IK resources and the problems encountered managing them. The descriptive survey was employed. Data was collected using self-designed questionnaire for the project; and analysed using SPSS. It was found that IK resources were not adequately represented in libraries in Oyo State. The study discovered that special, academic and public libraries have differing means by which they provide access to IK resources. While special and academic libraries catalogue and organize their resources, have a separate section created for them within the library public libraries do not. Also, while public libraries network with institutions to share IK resources, special and academic libraries do not. It was moreover found that none of the libraries provide access to IK using public access database nor own a digital library for borderless access to IK resources. Librarians however encounter challenges managing IK. It is however recommended that libraries should up the game in providing access to IK resources.