Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba: A Breadth of Fresh Air!
Herbert Macaulay Library, Yaba, Lagos:
A Breadth of Fresh Air!
The management of information has long
been regarded as the domain of librarians as experts in information searching,
selecting, acquiring, organising, preserving, repackaging, disseminating and
serving information, however, advances in technology provide libraries in the
21st century with fresh
responsibilities to be learning and knowledge centres where people and ideas
interact in both the real and virtual environment to expand learning and
facilitate the creation and implementation of new knowledge.
Just as the business world is changing
in the new knowledge economy amid the digital age, libraries of all types are
also undergoing drastic changes. While it is true that advances in technology
have thrown up awesome information services such as Google and the gradual
shift to libraries without walls, modern day brick and mortar libraries in cosmopolitan
smart driven cities have been positioned to offer a range of services that
include e-books, cosy reading rooms, courtyards, lounges, internet services,
meeting places and enterprise hubs amongst others. In this new culture of
shared knowledge, libraries have turned into a generator of value.
Herbert Macaulay Library situated
within Yaba area of Lagos State provides a breadth of fresh air having being
transformed from a mere storehouse of books (most times outdated and stacked on
dusty shelves) into a community place made up of a diverse interlocking series
of spaces for study, casual reading, interaction, collaboration, IT support
services, café environment, lounge, outdoor terrace and garden.
This has been made possible by the
management of Guaranty Trust Bank’s (GTB) in response to the state government’s
requests for adoption of libraries. The relevance of this public private
partnership cannot be overemphasized. The government in its wisdom understands
the need for places within communities where knowledge can be offered without
obligation, where people can meet by arrangement or informally bump into
neighbours or visitors from out of town. The insight of the government met with
the desire of the bank to bring back the books.
Lagos as a megacity has become a magnet
for local and international companies looking to do business because of its
sizeable market. Also, it has the pull effect of attracting talents and very
educated persons looking for decent living in a smart city environment. Cities
collect skills and provide a physical platform for them to be recombined into
new and productive forms. Cities are not just containers of smart people; they
have the enabling infrastructure where connections take place, networks are
built and innovative combinations are consummated.
As a matter of fact, cities are
assuming greater importance in today’s knowledge driven, innovation economy
where place based ecosystem are critical to economic growth. According to a
report by McKinsey Global Institute (2011), companies now seek to ask which
cities and where will offer the most promising prospects for each of their
businesses and how they can best position themselves to capture these market
opportunities through their activities and relationships.
Lagos has been described as one of
Africa’s economic and demographic powerhouses, attracting the best talents to
its locale. The choice of Yaba for the library redevelopment may not be
far-fetched. In an article published by Africa Strictly Business, Reuters was
quoted as having described Yaba as a part of Nigeria’s sprawling commercial
capital; a cacophony of car horns and shouting street vendors, mingling with
exhaust fumes and the occasional stench of sewage. Nevertheless, in between the
run-down buildings in this seemingly inauspicious part of Lagos, a city of
about 21 million people, technology start-ups are taking root and creating a
buzz that is drawing international venture capitalists and more established
digital firms into the cluster. It is hoped that the location of University of
Lagos and Yaba College of Technology in proximity would enhance the
capacity of the community to innovate.
The premise of this article is to
highlight the support that intervention, such as by the GTB, brings to a
community. Just few metres away from the Hebert Macaulay Library lies the Lagos
Mainland Library in dilapidated building. Frankly speaking, it is an eye sore! This
library when adopted by GTB or another corporate organisation can complement
the services provided by Herbert Macaulay Library by carving a niche around its
facility for instance, providing children library services. This would become a
draw for parents looking for shared services in close quarters.
Let this article be a clarion call
therefore to corporate bodies interested in developing the minds of Lagos
residents to support the government by adopting this library. The Herbert
Macaulay library redevelopment partnership is a clear case of government not
being able to do it all alone. Government needs partners! It cannot be said
enough that Lagos Mainland Library needs a puff of fresh air. Give it a life!
This
article has been written by Ndudi Osakwe, an economic geographer and
consultant, INFOPLUS Business Research Services, Lagos.
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