Abstract
Codification and preservation of traditional knowledge is of great importance, more so by professionals from the library and information science. Acquisition and management of traditional knowledge in academic libraries is one of the evolving areas of research and this is why this paper examined the impact of institutional support for professional competence of librarians to improve the codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in Lagos State, Nigeria. It provides a perspective from which institutional support can be viewed as an important element for codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in the libraries. In addition, the paper identified institutional support as funding, motivation, staff training/development, facilitative policy; including the inadequacies. The paper discussed the concept of professional competence and the competences required of professional librarian for codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in the library. This include: educational qualification, understanding the source of traditional knowledge, ability to locate traditional resources, possession of knowledge of traditional knowledge codification and preservation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills. In conclusion, the paper reiterated that there is need to include other librarians apart from the library management staff in the formulation of institutional policy for improvements in codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in Lagos State. Moreover, the library management should make adequate provision for regular training and retraining of librarians to improve the codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in Lagos State.
Highlights
Library and information science as a discipline has evolved lately to raise questions on what the community of practice has done to facilitate the codification of traditional knowledge
Since there is a need for a holistic co-ordination and collaboration of all stakeholders and resources in the traditional knowledge system, appropriate traditional knowledge funding streams are vital for curriculum development, public understanding, practice and accreditation, research and development, innovation as well as its codification and preservation (Jegajoth & Sudha, 2015)
The tendency among library and information professionals has been to emphasize on recorded knowledge at the expense of unrecorded IK (Ngulube, 2002) but this may be as a result of insufficient institutional support in the libraries such as funding, motivation, facilitative policy and staff development for proper codification of traditional knowledge to be preserved in the library and information centers
Summary
Library and information science as a discipline has evolved lately to raise questions on what the community of practice has done to facilitate the codification of traditional knowledge. The tendency among library and information professionals has been to emphasize on recorded knowledge (conventional knowledge) at the expense of unrecorded IK (Ngulube, 2002) but this may be as a result of insufficient institutional support in the libraries such as funding, motivation, facilitative policy and staff development for proper codification of traditional knowledge to be preserved in the library and information centers. Asogwa (2013) asserted that before the European conquest of Africa, Africans had built a pool of knowledge and technology with which they sustained agriculture, human and animal health, timber seasoning, and fermentation of beverages, mulling of dyes, mining and architectural engineering These are knowledge systems that are orally passed from one generation to the and provides solutions to most problems faced by people as they interacted with their environment as well as living in harmony with nature. Another description of traditional knowledge as narrated by Wiseoneking (2015) is on the issue of python in Igbo land especially in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra state where python is treated with utmost respect and dignity
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