By Dele Sobowale

“Contemplating a library, one feels as though in the presence of vast capital silently yielding incalculable interest”. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1749-1832.

(VANGUARD BOOK OF QUOTATIONS p 129).

AUN LEADS WITH AFRICA’S FIRST DIGITAL LIBRARY

Yola, Adamawa, Nigeria, August 13, 2013: As the American University of Nigeria prepares to unveil its new smart library this fall, Library Director Amed Demirhan is proudly describing how the University is leading the movement toward digital libraries around the world.

AN recently a Presidential Citation from the American Library Association for its International Innovative Library Projects. As Director of Africa’s only global library, Demirhan was interviewed in a recent issue of one of the UK’s most important newspapers, The Guardian: Higher Education Network, (see link: http:www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/blog/2013/aug/07/university-libraries-10-global-portraits.

“Since the Library was established in 2005, AUN has greatly expanded its services for the University community and pushed forward its goal of developing an e-learning strategy,” say Demirhan.

“In 2012, we decided to change the library’s traditional focus to the e-library. This year we are focusing on becoming a ‘mobile’ library. This includes the use of more mobile applications and better use of space, including the arrangement and shape of the library’s furniture. For example, all the following pieces of equipment have been replaced by a smartphones: scanner, desktop computer, laptop, photocopy machine, and telephone. This is providing a new level of efficiency and effectiveness. It saves money, is more environmentally friendly, consumes less electricity, and takes up less space.

“This focus on the latest technology has dramatically increased the library’s e-collections, both in subscribed and open access resources, which has increased user access 24/7, regardless of location.

“In 2013, the library has subscribed to more than 210,000 ebooks. This is more than most university libraries e-book collections in America.”

According to Demirhan, the AUN library has been actively collecting open access sources and promoting usage of these resources. “Open access is the best investment for expansion of global education and development. Our library also uses open collections to help other Nigerian universities and independent researchers. In 2012, the library trained 147 faculty and administrative staff from the Federal College of Education in Yola and 20 faculty members from Modibbo Adama University of technology, Yola,” he added.

Obviously AUN has established the new standard for Nigerian university libraries. Henceforth any university building anything else will at best be considered inferior and at worst totally inadequate.