Abstract: Discusses progress in medical librarianship in Africa since the 1960s. Considerable research has emerged, medical education has developed, and guidelines for medical libraries are being created. Several associations of medical librarians exist. Bibliographic control remains a serious problem. An adequate information base is needed, and international cooperation must be pursued within Africa to permit unification of education resources. Steps must be taken to enhance governmental awareness of medical library needs. It is suggested that appropriate professional organizations prepare goal statements and define standards; those organizations could also centralize research efforts that require funding from non–African sources. The thrust of the paper is to emphasize the work that can be done by Africans themselves before they seek external assistance.
The widening of the biomedical science information gap between the developed and underdeveloped nations has become a matter of significant concern to scientists in the Third World. With the arrival of electronic information transfer the gap has continued to widen. Education of Third World medical library personnel has also failed to keep pace with education in the advanced countries. Medical librarianship is at rudimentary stage. This paper summarizes the problems and proposes some steps to be taken, using Africa as base of discussion.
There were no Africans at the first international congress of medical librarians, London, 1953. At the second meeting of that group, in 1963, concern was expressed about the problems of medical library and information services in the developing countries, and a number of suggestions were brought forward. Training programs for African medical librarians were initiated in 1963–1969, under various auspices; graduates in time assumed leadership positions in a number of libraries. There were other encouraging moves during the 1960s:
Africans have begun to make significant advances. Useful research work has appeared, such as the historical bibliography by C. Tettey [1] and an account of the growth of medical education by S. O. Oyesola [2]. Efforts toward the creation of guidelines for medical libraries have begun. Several associations of medical librarians have been established. African library schools are being importuned to structure programs for the education of medical librarians. Progress in the establishment of a fully implemented medical library profession is continuing, but the question remains whether the pace of progress can match the burgeoning challenges.
One overriding challenge is the control of biomedical literature, which is growing exponentially. Sophisticated computerized control systems of the advanced nations are not to be found in Africa, although the CD–ROM for the first time makes it appear that such systems may one day be available there.
A second great challenge is to maintain an adequate information base about medical education and medical librarianship in Africa. At present it is not possible to identify programs and personnel, nor to determine what patterns exist in these areas.
A third challenge is to find means of international educational cooperation within Africa, so that medical students and persons who would be medical librarians could undertake certain studies in countries other than their own; such arrangements would permit the unification of resources in a few centers [3].
Possibly the most fundamental problem is to deal with the position accorded to medical library and information services within national plans and within institutional structures. The sad truth is that libraries are usually ignored in governmental proposals and policies that concern medical programs. And in medical schools they are generally accorded subservient positions that deny them a voice in administration and force them to live with inadequate budgets. Of course this situation is a microcosm of the governmental neglect of librarianship that is so pervasive in most African nations.
It seems that any useful approach to these challenges must begin with mutually determined goals by the relevant organizations. It is recommended that the African Medical Library Association and the African Medical Schools Association work together to draw up such goals, and a statement of standards to be met in the provision of medical library and information services. The same two bodies ought to address the definition of goals and standards for the education of medical library personnel. Standards for any aspect of library education should be based on internationally accepted criteria, such as those expressed in the IFLA library education standards [4].
African library schools ought to decide among themselves which one or two of them will specialize in training of medical library staff. It is impossible for such specialization to be carried out in every school.
Continuing education for practicing medical librarians is necessary. This challenge might best be taken up by the African Medical Library Association, with guidance solicited from the (U.S.) Medical Library Association.
A coherent research program toward development of medical bibliography needs to be created. Approaches to international funding sources, with clearly defined projects, are likely to be successful. Ultimately the implementation of an African "Index Medicus" may be desirable; or the integration of African research into the established international databases. Local bibliographic control, using accepted professional standards, lies at the base of any such efforts.
It may be noted that the recommendations offered in this paper are essentially Africa–centered. Much of what needs to be done can be accomplished by the several African organizations cited. While at some point external assistance becomes necessary, it is necessary first that African librarians, educators, and medical specialists declare their own intentions and take serious steps toward their realization.
1. C. Tettey, "Medicine in British West Africa, 1880–1945; An Annotated Bibliography" (Accra: University of Ghana Medical School, 1975).
2. Daniel N. Obaka, "The Historical Development of Medical Education in Africa and the Place of Medical Library and Information Services," International Library Review 15 (1982): 37–48.
3. Several of these suggestions are drawn from G. L. Monekosso, "Report of a Survey on African Medical Schools" (Accra: University of Ghana, 1975). Monekosso’s study was supported by a grant from the Canadian Agency for International Development.
4. "Standards for Library Schools," IFLA Journal 2–4 (1976): 209–223.
Daniel Newton Obaka is a Librarian, Ahmadu Bello University School of Medicine, Zaria, Nigeria. He has written on the history of medical libraries in Africa for International Library Review.
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