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SLO 2, ARTIFACT 2:
Comparative Study of Library Development and Practice in Nigeria and Ghana (Summary) This project introduced me to the research of Nigerian and Ghanaian library scholars. It was an important milestone in my development as an information professional and researcher because it gave me the chance to apply a rigorous comparative librarianship research method and to do an in-depth examination of library practices in non-Western countries. The comparative analysis required me to assemble large amounts of quantitative and qualitative research data from non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government databases, and scholarly journals, as well as country background information from newspapers, books, and websites. Through the challenge of organizing this data, I learned how to “compartmentalize” the activities associated with a comparative research project. For example, I began the project by researching both countries at the same time. I soon realized, however, that researching and analyzing each country’s library system separately, then together, would be a more effective strategy. Reviewing qualitative data from surveys gave me insight into how Nigerians and Ghanaians view library service in their countries. Many people do not go to the libraries because they do not have time or because the libraries do not have resources that respond to their needs. Librarians, for their part, talk about the limited amount of government funding for libraries, a lack of staff training, and the fact that some university students are coming to campus having never used a library before. These concerns, which sound all too familiar to U.S. librarians, highlighted for me the similarity of challenges facing librarians in North American and African countries. At the same time, I realize that the economic circumstances in Nigeria and Ghana make these challenges much more difficult to address there. Yet another learning experience was realizing how culture impacts library service. Learning about the religious and linguistic landscapes of Nigeria and Ghana gave me a new perspective on access barriers. I had never considered, for example, how religious norms can impact when or whether a woman can visit the library. Prior to doing this research, I also had not understood the breadth of the linguistic diversity in both countries. Linguists estimate that over 500 languages are spoken in Nigeria alone. This level of linguistic diversity makes providing adequate service to all people extraordinarily difficult; however, librarians are working to address this challenge. In Ghana, for example, at least one organization has responded to the situation by making books available in local languages. One of my long-term goals is to assist people with library-building efforts abroad. Doing this research helped me understand some of what that work might entail. It has also made me think about how many of the cultural access barriers I read about might be affecting marginalized and underserved populations in the United States. I will consult this research study when thinking about how to improve library service to marginalized and underserved communities both in the United States and abroad. |