Problems Facing Industrial Research Libraries in Nigeria

In this article we will explain the problems facing industrial research libraries in Nigeria. An industrial research always targets the presentation of a new idea, whether it is an innovation or it is providing a new way of developing an existing product based on a unique method.

Even though it is a mere input in all economic activity, it is the most important determinant of development in the industrial and economic sectors.

Observing from an economic angle, obtaining the technical know-how and also possessing the ability or capacity to present a unique idea are usually the most important step in an entire industrial process.

Having the capacity to invent and present a unique idea are the most important feats that determines survival in a competitive market.

The need for Industrial research libraries stems from the need for industrial research. An industrial research library is a type of library which contains an in- depth collection of materials on subjects related to studies in industrial analysis, innovations and growth.

The library generally holds primary sources, informative and educative materials related to a nicely planned and executed research or critical investigation aimed at the acquisition of new knowledge and skills for developing new products, processes or services and for bringing about a significant improvement on existing products, processes and services.

A research library is not the same as a conventional or lending library due to the differences in the range of subjects and collections between the two. While a lending library contains books of all types, a research library only holds books, materials and publications relevant and related to a particular field.

Conducting a very useful and detailed industrial research involves a lot of commitment, time and resources. When an industrial research is fully completed, it can provide valuation analysts with specific knowledge needed to determine an appropriate conclusion of value as well as equipping scientists and manufacturers with new knowledge and ideas for developing new products and rendering more quality services.

Also, a carefully and correctly conducted research and it’s availability and accessibility in research libraries equips managers of industries with enough accurate data on a frequent basis from which their teams can make strategic decisions informed by accurate industrial research.

The importance of a library which houses a collection of such industrial research papers and materials cannot be over-emphasized as it usually serves as a guideline to industry executives. They usually rely on such information in order to be able to come up with strategic plans, marketing, production ideas and sales force development. The absence of such a guideline usually portends a direct impact on the productivity, sales and the economy in general.

Industrial research is critically important to the growth and prosperity of Nigeria’s economy. In fact, research provides many other great deal of benefits, some of which are listed as follows:

Serving as a guidepost for strategic decisions at Nigerian companies and industries by providing a comprehensive data set with which stakeholders and executives can work with.

Providing a benchmark against which a company’s economic performance can be compared and measured.
Helping a company understand the general public’s feelings, opinions and acceptance of their products and services.
Equipping industrial scientists and manufacturers with new knowledge and ideas for developing new products and rendering more quality services that matches the specifications of the consumers.

Research projects informs the response of decision makers to a range of important issues, such as planning for major transport and infrastructure projects, responses to climate change, taxation policy and many other areas
After concisely discussing the importance of industrial research and industrial research libraries here in Nigeria, it is worthy to note that there are a whole lot of puzzling circumstances hampering the activities of the industrial research libraries in Nigeria.

Problems Facing Industrial Research Libraries in Nigeria

Some of the problems are discussed below:

1. LACK OF MOTIVATION:

Lack of motivation is one of the Problems Facing Industrial Research Libraries in Nigeria. Most industrial researchers in Nigeria are not motivated and therefore lack the will to adequately carry out a complete, concise and useful research projects.

This leaves the industrial research libraries ill equipped with only a few materials for scholars and industrialists to work with.

This lack of motivation stems from lack of government support, lack of funds, lack of adequate materials and failure of the government and concerned private enterprise to implement previous recommendations.

2. LAZINESS:

Laziness is one of the most important problems facing industrial research libraries in Nigeria. Most of the industrial researchers here in Nigeria usually don’t take the time and pain to conduct a complete and concise research, they prefer to cut corners or find cheap means of solving their research problems since a lot of monetary gains aren’t involved.

This is because most of the researchers lack the passion, they only conduct research either to gain promotion or popularity. This particular problem poses as serious threat against the conduct of a purposeful research in Nigeria.

Every conclusion drawn by such researchers can never be reliable. This issue also leaves the research libraries equipped with mostly junk materials and editorials.

3. LACK OF RESEARCH CENTERS AND FACILITIES:

Another problem facing industrial research libraries in Nigeria is the scarcity of industrial research centers and facilities. This has led to poor output in industrial research projects as the researchers are not exposed to top quality research facilities obtainable in modern research centers. This problem has had a direct impact on the quantity and quality of research works available in the industrial research libraries.

4. ILLITERACY:

Illiteracy is one of the outstanding problems facing industrial research libraries in Nigeria The proliferation of Nigeria’s manufacturing sector by small scale industries which are owned and controlled by illiterate owners have led to the huge disregard for industrial research and industrial research centers.

Industrial research work are also been frustrated by the illiterate entrepreneurs who cannot adequately fill a research questionnaire. Recommendations of some industrial research projects especially on small scale businesses have been rendered useless by non implementation.

5. INSECURITY AND POLITICAL CRISIS:

The sorry state of security in Nigeria poses a serious threat to industrial research libraries as public buildings housing research editorials and publications are always targeted by thieves and rogues during periods of upheavals, communal or political crisis.

This ill developments have led to the loss of useful and valuable research materials held in research libraries.

6. LACK OF FUNDS:

lack of fund a very important problems facing industrial research libraries in Nigeria. Here in Nigeria, government agencies, financial institutions and private firms hardly sponsor industrial research programmes, neither do they make funds available for the maintainance of already existing industrial research libraries.

Therefore, researchers always suffer from lack of funds. Conducting a complete and valuable research requires a sizable amount of monetary resources and when the funds are lacking, there is likely to be a fall in the quality of output. It also discourages industrial research of all forms.

All this problems has the ability to narrow down the quantity and quality of publications available to the industrial research libraries.

7. LACK OF ACCURATE INFORMATION:

An industrial research work isn’t complete without accurate data. Obtaining data is not always an easy task during an industrial research as some information are rather kept secret.

Not every information is made public or written in the questionnaire, some members of the population are sometimes reluctant to cooperate.

Sometimes, they are biased with sentiments or ego and the feeling to promote the status of their organization or themselves. This directly affects the quality and accuracy of research publications held in the research libraries. There are few websites you can find handy research information. A typical example is NairaProject and Wikipedia.

8. POOR IMPLEMENTATION PLAN:

In Nigeria, there is hardly a plan by the government and relevant private firms towards the implementation of industrial research findings and reports. Many of the research reports remain on the shelves unused and later gets wasted.

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