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INTRODUCTION
In Sierra Leone the phrases ‘official publications’, official paperwork’, and ‘public paperwork’ are synonymous with authorities publications. Authorities publications, merely put, are paperwork created by authorities and native and quasi-government our bodies explaining and integrating views and polices. They characterize the historic and present growth authorities of presidency and supply knowledge on all kinds of topics to incorporate Political Science, Economics, Finance, Statistics, Labor, Business, Historical past, Worldwide Relations, Agriculture, Geology and Meteorology. Katz (1997) classed these publications into: (1) data of presidency administration (2).analysis paperwork for specialists together with a substantial variety of statistics and knowledge of worth to science and enterprise (3).widespread sources of data. Their bodily kind being both a guide, pamphlet, journal, report monograph or digital, particularly CD-ROM (p.387).
Bibliographic management in lots of components of the world is seemingly unsatisfactory due largely to lack of information of the significance of bibliographic instruments in analysis in authorities publications. The USA of America, for instance, was for a very long time a pioneer on this area. Way back to 1895 the Printing Act of January 12 of that 12 months (28 statute, 601-624) not solely established centralized printing and distribution of federal paperwork but in addition instructed the Superintendent of Paperwork to offer acceptable instruments for bibliographic management of the paperwork printed. Nice Britain is an excellent exception for way back to 1807 collections of parliamentary papers have been printed. Nations similar to Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Germany and Japan started separating authorities doc bibliographies primarily within the Twenties and Thirties (Palic,1975). Nevertheless an excellent want for the usage of authorities publications was felt following World Struggle 11 (1939-1945), when there was an elevated curiosity within the authoritative data contained in such publications as posited by kid’s (1942) in his introductory notes that ‘increasingly more the significance of presidency documentation is being acknowledged regardless of the refractory nature of a few of these supplies’
In parallel the emphasis made on the usefulness of presidency publications in Sierra Leone is related to the event of printing which may be traced way back to the founding of the Colony of Sierra Leone in 1787. Though the business did not survive the French assault of 1794 the muse stone of what later grew to become often called the Authorities Printing Division was laid in 1925 when it was charged with the manufacturing of small notices for official use. Presently the Division prints all authorities publications and provides stationery and workplace tools of presidency departments. It additionally undertakes a good quantity of economic printing as earnings producing measures.
Authorities publications often have the benefit of being among the many greatest of their topic fields typically not simply out there to others (Smith, 1993). In lieu of the extent and complexity of presidency actions there’s a want for the widespread dissemination of details about these actions and for widespread integration of presidency coverage. No surprise why authorities publications have particular worth to educational library collections and their authority is everlasting. In educational libraries in Sierra Leone these publications are put apart right into a particular assortment manned by a curator as at Fourah Bay School Library. Some are stored in vertical information; others are positioned in pamphlet bins, whereas these like maps and surveys are given specialised storage. These publications are acquired primarily by buy, deposit, donation, alternate and photocopying. The Authorities Printing Division is answerable for their publication
DIVISIONS OF GOVERNMENT AND THEIR PUBLICATIONS
The growth of presidency in Sierra Leone’s post-war reconstruction period at native, nationwide and worldwide ranges has resulted in growing her affect on the lifetime of the citizenry. Concurrently with this growth is the proliferation of official and semi official businesses, commissions and bureaus which proceed to publish works similar to directories, rules, stories, payments, Acts and technical literature which many a researchers, educators, public service functionaries, welfare recipients and the unemployed cannot do irrespective of such publications. Since librarians function interface between customers and authorities they’ve for lengthy acknowledged the issues which such a plethora of assortment can pose and have been making large strides to deal with the difficulty. The essence right here is to offer systematic controls to keep away from the disappearance, into oblivion, of important official publications.
In Sierra Leone authorities publications fall inside three common lessons: Government, Legislative ands Judicial. The Government publications embody these issued by the Workplaces of the President and the Vice President, and varied unbiased places of work and institutions similar to Nationwide Fee for Social Motion (NaCSA), Nationwide Income Authority (NRA), Anti Corruption Fee (ACC), Nationwide Fee for Privatization (NCP) and the Workplace of the Ombudsman. Additionally included are authorities ministries such because the Ministries of protection; Training, Youth and Sports activities; International Affairs and Worldwide Co-operation; Tourism and Cultural Affairs; Native Authorities and Neighborhood Improvement; Agriculture, Forestry and Meals Safety; Commerce and Business; Inner Affairs; labor and Industrial Relations; and Improvement and Financial Planning.
The Ministry of Commerce and Business, for instance, is answerable for each inner and worldwide commerce and the promotion of exports. It has powers over customs and excise, tariffs, insurance coverage, patents, emblems, requirements, weights and measures. The Ministry of International Affairs and Worldwide Cooperation is answerable for Sierra Leone’s relationship with overseas and Commonwealth nations whereas the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Meals Safety is answerable for administrating authorities coverage on agriculture, horticulture and meals safety. This Ministry gives sensible steering to farmers, business producers of horticultural crops and analysis.The Ministry of Inner Affairs offers with the upkeep of legislation and order, the Police and Fireplace Forces, administration of the prisons and the remedy of offenders. Different miscellaneous issues handled by this ministry embody explosives, firearms, harmful medicine, prisons, outlets, public security, leisure, cremation, bylaws and good rule and formal enterprise. The aforementioned capabilities and related ones carried out by different ministries require the creation and upkeep of publications. There may be additionally documentation of press briefings given by the various heads of ministries and newsletters, that are channels for respective ministries there-by making them extra public-relations acutely aware.
Legislative publications embody the data and debates of Parliament and the stories of hearings of the various Parliamentary Committees. Included right here are also a number of coverage statements in reply to parliamentary questions. The Hansard is one other wealthy supply for public issues because it supplies official data and views about parliamentary debates.
Publications from the Judiciary department of presidency consist largely of stories of presidency selections by the Justice of the Peace, Appeals and Supreme Courts. Discovered on this arm of presidency are legislation books, ‘annual registers’, state trials and rulings, the structure, worldwide treaties, protocols, peace accords, Acts, payments and digests of native newspapers. These publications present the judiciary with pertinent data on multifarious authorized issues. Such data is required to be factual and politically neutral.
The Metropolis and District Councils, being quasi-government establishments, present paperwork categorized as authorities publications. These embody constructing codes, instructional growth, well being and sanitation, rules on waste disposal, use of firearms and fireplace machines. Additionally there are authorities departments which give statistical data on an unlimited vary of financial, industrial and social demographic knowledge. Of central significance are Statistics Sierra Leone (previously Central Statistics Workplace-CSO), answerable for nationwide inhabitants census and residential surveys; the Workplace of Births and Deaths which registers and produces annual statistics of births and deaths within the nation; the Workplace of the Registrar Normal answerable for statutory registration of marriages, patents and emblems; the Chamber of Commerce which specializes on enterprise data. These places of work convey collectively vital financial and social statistics provided by authorities departments. Different vital authorities departments are the Meteorological Workplace, which continues to provide pertinent climate data, and the Nationwide Archives, which serves as repository of all non-current authorities publications inclusive of nationwide newspapers. The afore-mentioned authorities publications range in measurement and size. Written by consultants within the topic, authorities publications are usually not solely authoritative but in addition well timed printed and take care of matters of present curiosity. Their function, in response to Katz (1969), is to offer data and reply questions and to not provoke dialogue or organizational cataloging and administration. They’re helpful main reference sources.
ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN SIERRA LEONE
Educational libraries in Sierra Leone are these within the constituent models that kind the nation’s two universities, particularly the College of Sierra Leone and the College of Njala. These libraries characterize the bibliographic basis of the nation’s analysis curiosity. They take part actively within the distribution and alternate of guide and non-book supplies to sister establishments everywhere in the nation. Collectively these establishments serve college students, college, students and researchers which are engaged in work within the sciences and humanities in addition to most people. These libraries have mixed sources of over 500,000 volumes, most of that are of distinctive scope and high quality. Included in these huge collections are authorities publications similar to treaties, Acts, statistical tables and compilations, conventions and data of diplomatic relations, stories of presidency departments, committees, bureau and commissions, census schedules, proclamations and legal guidelines. The upkeep, preservation and growth of those publications are obligations shared by educational librarians as their libraries proceed to function nationwide sources.
JUSTIFICATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES
Assorted causes have been superior for the inclusion of presidency publications in educational libraries in Sierra Leone. The needs of the nation’s universities are educating, service, analysis and interpretation and dissemination of analysis. Society views authorities as a dependable and neutral supply of authoritative data that needs to be accessible to its residents by means of its quite a few publications. Since educational establishments take care of college students who in flip shall be future residents these needs to be knowledgeable accordingly. Authorities’s stance needs to be identified when there may be public dialogue on well being, worldwide relations, training, agriculture, social safety and commerce, to quote just a few examples. Thus the necessity for the event of presidency publications in educational libraries as such supplies might communicate for the federal government in different actions. Additional educational libraries have the goals of preservation, conservation and repair. And authorities publications kind a part of society’s cultural heritage which want conservation and preservation not just for analysis functions but in addition for posterity as tangible main sources of data which lecturers can consistently check with. Little surprise why as a measure of bibliographic management of those publications librarians proceed to offer catalog’s, checklists, guides, indexes, accessions lists and chosen common bibliographies containing substantial data on authorities publications.
1991-2001 was a interval of doom in Sierra Leone because it marked the civil conflict. Fought on account of dangerous governance, nepotism and big corruption it led to the un-wanton destruction of lives and properties. Important authorities buildings0 destroyed to reckless abandon included the Nationwide Treasury, Sierra Leone Police premises, legislation courts and the places of work of the Freetown Metropolis Council all of which housed vital paperwork consistently consulted by researchers, authorities functionaries and the general public. Not withstanding the nation is progressively recovering with the re-establishment of native authorities, multi-party democracy, improved human, girls and youngster rights, the supply of a conducive environment to funding, and a brand new system of training (6-3-3-4), to quote however just a few developments, the efficient operation of which requires fixed use of presidency publications.
The broad applications in educational establishments embody many areas of life with the educating of historic and geographic ideas; scientific research are undertaken for improved well being and meals safety; worldwide relations and inter-religious understanding are fostered. Additionally trendy group life and the philosophy of democracy, peace and battle decision, good governance, human rights and different ideologies are taught so that clever selections might be drawn. These designed instructional applications convey enrichment and data to college students in such fields as economics, authorities, well being and sanitation, agriculture, worldwide relations, human rights and diplomacy. In help of those different disciplines educational libraries present enormous collections to incorporate native supplies a few of that are within the type of authorities publications whereby college students, college and researches might share their experiences and pursuits and develop passable private adjustment with regard different authorities functionaries in society. By so doing college students are supplied the chance to develop in social usefulness and develop their mental pursuits and capabilities to be able to grow to be accountable members of society. This in flip might assist promote nationalism. In lieu of those elements educational libraries try to offer liberal collections to incorporate books, serial publications, audio-visuals and authorities publications.
PROBLEMS
Authorities publications are among the many most helpful supplies in educational libraries in Sierra Leone. Other than the general public library, the nationwide archives and parliament library which function repositories for such publications educational libraries proceed to develop these publications of their enormous assortment. Nevertheless such strikes are usually not bereft of issues. These vary from poor codecs by means of lack of commerce bibliographies to unsatisfactory strategies of distribution. The fundamental drawback to all these libraries is the amount of publications acquired, a lot of which is nothing however uncooked knowledge and statistics used to help arguments or gathered extra for the sake of gathering quite than for any particular causes. Since these libraries have restricted house to deal with their quite a few collections the continued acquisition of presidency publications poses issues to employees.
Educational libraries purchase authorities publications primarily by donations though just a few are acquired by buy, alternate and photocopy. As soon as these supplies are acquired they’re anticipated to be processed and arranged to be used within the library. Sadly there was no mounted sample in classifying and organizing these supplies in these libraries. Their group is both by authorities ministry/division, topic or format which is commonly complicated to customers. At Fourah Bay School library, for instance, these publications are positioned individually from the overall assortment which regularly constrains customers in having to depart their studying space to seek the advice of these supplies with restricted sitting lodging. Libraries at Njala College School, Institute of Public Administration and Administration (IPAM) and the School of Medication and Allied Well being Sciences (COMHAS), that are comparatively small in measurement combine the publications of their common assortment thereby posing retrieval issues to customers.
Conserving observe of presidency publications is one other drawback as there are not any commerce bibliographies printed out to assist hint them. Hardly are these publications talked about within the nationwide bibliography, Sierra Leone Publications, ready by the general public/nationwide library. Moreover the Authorities Printing Division answerable for the manufacturing of presidency publications doesn’t have any complete lists of its publications. Most occasions these publications are both returned instantly to the respective ministries/departments proudly owning them upon completion or despatched to the Authorities Bookshop on the market or offered by the Authorities Printing Division upon completion, thus making it tough to find retrospective publications. Worse nonetheless each the Authorities Printing Division and the Authorities Bookshop are usually not occupied with publicizing these publications and as such many shoppers together with educational librarians are usually not conscious of the supply of related authorities publications for acquisition thus inflicting lapses within the growth of those supplies in educational libraries. In parallel one would anticipate educational libraries to compile complete lists of such publications however this has not been the case because of the restricted variety of employees manning this assortment and the quantum of labor they need to carry out particularly throughout peak intervals when libraries are closely used which is time consuming.
There are additionally issues of assortment growth. Educational libraries are under-funded and subsequently librarians prioritize their assortment growth wants. Buying authorities publications has not been a precedence for educational librarians as they all the time look ahead to the Authorities Printing Division for donations that are regularly not forthcoming. Therefore many related authorities publications are usually not present in educational library collections. What’s extra this restricted assortment is grossly misused and abused by customers (particularly undergraduate scholar customers) of their educational pursuits. Thus most of those publications have dingy covers; others have a few pages both written on or pilfered whereas some are deliberately mis-shelved to deprive colleagues of utilizing them.
CONCLUSION
The incorporation of presidency publications within the mainstream of educational library companies needs to be thought-about a precedence by college authorities and educational librarians in offering entry to government-produced data in Sierra Leone. Representing a major and integral a part of the nationwide sources authorities publications are main sources of data in virtually each area of endeavor and are essential to knowledgeable public-decision making. Educational librarians ought to subsequently evaluation their assortment growth methods and processing and group strategies of those supplies if they’re to be persistently utilized by their quite a few clientele. Especial thought needs to be given to elevated funding, useful resource sharing, compilation of lists and ample staffing, sitting lodging and space for storing if they’re to take care of requirements in serving their quite a few clientele.
AUTHOR NOTE
John Abdul Kargbo is Senior Lecturer on the Institute of Library, Info & Communication Research at Fourah Bay School, College of Sierra Leone. Mail may be despatched to him on
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Source by John Abdul Kargbo
