Information needs and feasibility for a national focal point for the exchange of inland fisheries and aquaculture information in nigeria

by

Dr M.O. Ibeun
National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research
P.M.B. 6006, New Bussa, Niger State, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION

The National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR) has been participating in the FAO, Fisheries Information, Data and Statistics Unit programme to distribute the ASFA database to low income, food-deficit countries in Africa since 2002. The database is provided on CD-ROM as the NISC product ABAFR and is widely used by both NIFFR staff and external users. Having access to core databases in the aquatic sciences has helped overcome some of the problems described below in the overview of the information explosion in the broad agricultural sciences. However, the problem of access to the original documents indexed in the bibliographic databases is an even greater problem for most fisheries institutions in Africa. For this reason NIFFR Library is actively involved in the initiative which was started at the end of 2001 by FAO in collaboration with the South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity (SAIAB) to improve access to information by means of a network of fisheries libraries in Africa.

The fact that no single Library can have the wherewithal to cope with the production of information calls for collaboration in sharing resources, particularly in the developing countries. Therefore, this report aims at reviewing the current situation and examining the possibility for Information Networking in Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences in Nigeria.

The following specific terms of reference for this review were provided by FAO:

a) Provide updated data on Nigeria for the Directory of Fisheries and Aquaculture Information Resources in Africa. Assess the utilization of the ASFA and ABAFR databases at Nigerian fisheries institutions, universities etc and their access to fisheries and aquaculture literature;

b) Provide details of the information needs, in particular in relation to training in the inland fisheries and aquaculture sector in Nigeria;

c) Provide an overview of existing options available for document supply, including access to online journals and other internet resources;

d) Assess the need and the requirements for a national network focal point and propose mechanisms for the coordination of information resources sharing activities in Nigeria, and at regional level with the FAO/SAIAB network of libraries.

METHODOLOGY

A review of the literature helped determine the sources of fisheries and aquaculture information in Nigeria and the problems associated with its accessibility. Site visits were made to two of the identified fisheries libraries to discuss the need for networking at national level. Discussions were also held with the scientists at NIFFR and other institutions to ascertain user needs for information.

THE INFORMATION EXPLOSION

The production of scientific literature started its exponential growth as far back as the beginning of the 20^th century. The many thousands of documents published every year on subjects related to agriculture in general became a problem for scientists to be able to keep track. This gave rise to international concern and to address this in 1969 two agricultural documentation programmes came into existence. These were the U.S. National Agricultural Library (NAL), which produced a monthly bibliography of Agriculture and the second was the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau (CAB) which produced agricultural abstracts. CAB database products had the advantage of including informative abstracts. The two systems showed a high degree of overlap of coverage, leading to a waste of resources, and at the same time they were missing a lot of pertinent information (Broadbent 1984). A positive step to reduce this problem was taken when Philippe Aries (1975) gave a speech on Global Information Services at the 4^th World Congress of Agricultural Librarians and Documentalists in Mexico. This discussion led to the birth of the International Information System for Agricultural Sciences and Technology (AGRIS) in 1975, to cover not only agriculture, but also food, nutrition, forestry and fisheries.

These agricultural databases are well known in Africa and the philosophy of AGRIS production ensures that all input centres receive the complete database free of charge. However, the coverage of the fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic sciences literature has never been as comprehensive as is needed by scientists working in the fisheries sector. The Fisheries Department of FAO, even before AGRIS was proposed, was leading a consortium of prominent fishery research institutions and working with the private company that produced Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) (Woolston 2004). Unfortunately, until very recent years, ASFA was not well known in Africa, there were no African input centres and the cost of the database made it prohibitive for African fisheries institutions. For this reason, the FAO programme to make the ASFA database available to African fisheries institutions is having an enormous impact on research and the identification of relevant information.

DEMAND FOR FISHERIES INFORMATION IN NIGERIA

Nigeria is a very large country in terms of population and land area, which is about 900 000 km² (Nwagbose 1992). The population estimate is about 120 million. There are two major fisheries research institutes: the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa, focussing on inland fisheries and the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos, with a mandate for marine and brackish water fisheries. These two institutes have over two hundred research scientists. Also attached to these institutes are three colleges of fisheries with over one hundred teaching staff. In his study Ibeun (2002) showed that there are over four hundred fisheries professionals spread over the thirty-six States of the country including Abuja. Figure 1 and Appendix I show the spread of institutions needing fisheries information. These institutions offer courses ranging from undergraduate to postgraduate in fisheries and fisheries related disciplines.

There is no doubt that there is a high demand for fisheries information in Nigeria. Appendix I shows the institutions, the courses offered and their geographic locations. Appendix II shows the distances travelled by scientists to use the NIFFR Library. Some of them travel between 1000 and 2400 km to and fro to obtain information. All of those users in appendix II would prefer travelling shorter distances to obtain information and a good information network would help to solve this problem. The scientists should be able to use the nearest library to them and obtain information from any of the fisheries libraries in Nigeria.

Figure 1. Channel for freshwater fisheries information dissemination in Nigeria

INFORMATION NEEDS OF NIGERIAN FISHERIES SCIENTISTS

Sources of information used by Nigerian fisheries scientists

In a previous review twenty-four information sources were listed for evaluation by Ibeun and Atinmo (2001). Results showed that journals ranked highest within the Ph.D. and M.Sc. group and handbooks and conference proceedings for the B.Sc. and HND holders respectively. Personal contact with colleagues ranked second in the B.Sc. and HND group. Other sources exhibiting high ranking for the Ph.D. holders are reprints, review articles, technical reports and proceedings. For a complete overview of the variability of use see Table 1. In an evaluation of the information needs of 51 students using the NIFFR Library, results showed similarity with the B.Sc. and HND holders.

Table 1. Information sources used by Nigerian fisheries scientists according to education levels, ranked in order of importance

Important journal titles used by Nigerian fisheries scientists

Having identified that journals are the most consulted source of information, effort was made at identifying the core journal titles (Ibeun 1995). One hundred and eight journal titles were identified through structural analysis. Four distinct zones of scattering were identified (Table 2). The first and second zones with 18 titles which formed 16.7% contributed 64.3%. Zones 1, 2 and 3 comprising 26 titles which formed 24% of the total journals contributed 83%. Thus the 25 titles which were regarded as the most frequently consulted (Table 3), were evaluated against the holdings of the NIFFR Library to ascertain their availability. NIFFR Library was chosen because it is regarded as the best in Nigeria. Results showed that the library subscribed to all of the journals. However, the holdings are not current. Evaluation of the stock against these core journals shows a gap in the collection between 1983 and 1993. The renewal of subscriptions in 1993 was possible as a result of the World Bank assisted project which was meant to enhance agricultural research in the country. The project came to an end in 1997 and since then, subscriptions stopped. This situation is still the same in 2003. The implication is that Nigerian fisheries and aquaculture scientists are not exposed to current issues in fisheries internationally and therefore not part of the global information village. To solve this problem Ibeun (2001) suggested that fisheries libraries in Nigeria should embrace the concept of cooperative acquisition where fisheries libraries would come together and formally organize a sound cooperative arrangement which would enhance resource sharing, which is a form of network advocated by the FAO/SAIAB project.

Table 2. Number of journal titles in each zone and their % contribution

Table 3. Ranking of most frequently consulted journals by Nigerian fisheries scientists

Significance of reprints as a source of information

The position of reprints in Table 1, most especially within the Ph.D. and M.Sc. groups is of interest. An evaluation of the Nigerian fisheries libraries showed that none of the Libraries apart from NIFFR has a purposeful reprint collection. This probably means that scientists have developed their own reprint collections. The result shown in Table 1 gave credence to the FAO/SAIAB project, which indicated that copies of articles received could form the basis of a sound reprint collection for participating libraries. This finding explains why NIFFR Library is taking maximum advantage of the FAO/SAIAB Project to enrich and enlarge an existing collection of reprints.

Personal contact with colleagues as a source of information

Also of high ranking is Personal contact with colleagues in the different groups (Table 1). The supply of the ABAFR CD through the FAO/SAIAB project has helped the staff of NIFFR, which has been trained in its use, to link up with other scientists in different parts of the world, by using the e-mail addresses of authors shown in the bibliographic records. Apart from the exchange of reprints, discussions have been established on subjects of common interest thereby developing the practice known as the “invisible college”.

Abstracts as a source of information (ASFA/ABAFR)

The significance of abstracting services as a means of disseminating information cannot be over emphasized. They provide direct access to bibliographic details and cited references. Informative abstracts help scientists to determine the actual content of a specific article and its relevance to work at hand. Therefore the Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts produced by FAO, which could be regarded as the “bible” of fisheries scientists, was evaluated (Ibeun 1995). About 73% of respondents said that they use the abstracts. Most fisheries institutions in Nigeria cannot subscribe to these databases despite their importance, because of the cost. However, NIFFR library was receiving copies of the printed abstracts from 1971 to 1994 with some gaps. NIFFR scientists have been exposed to using ASFA and therefore they had no problem using the ABAFR database supplied by the FAO FIDI. It must be emphasized that the availability of these databases is the only way Nigerian fisheries and aquaculture scientists can know of what is happening even within Nigeria and other parts of the world in terms of fisheries information. This again gives credence to the FAO programme which distributes the ABAFR CD-ROM. This has enabled participating libraries to bring current literature to the awareness of their scientists.

Extent to which Nigerian fisheries scientists require information from other disciplines

For an acquisitions policy to be economical, it must be based on empirical evidence. Therefore Ibeun (1995) investigated the extent to which fisheries scientists use information from other disciplines. Results showed that 88% of the respondents used information from other disciplines. Appendix III shows the different disciplines which were identified as having a bearing on fisheries science. This result also explains why the requests from the FAO/SAIAB participating libraries cut across many disciplines, reflected by the different journals from which articles were requested. The implication of this is that in fisheries information provision, there is a need for a network, bearing in mind that no library can provide information in all the disciplines which are useful to fisheries scientists.

INFORMATION NEEDS OF FISHERIES POLICY-MAKERS

In an attempt to know the specific information needs of policy makers, as distinct from scientists, Ibeun, (1995) opined that information which reduces the volume of reading, and which is readily available meets 100% affirmation in a ‘Yes’ or ´No’ question. Also of significance is that only 59% of information made available to them suits their needs. Timely information and information written in simple lucid language scored 47% and 41% respectively. This response showed that policy-makers need repackaging of information. This probably explains why FAO publications were the most regularly used of the fisheries institutions evaluated (Table 4).

Table 4. Frequency of usage of institutional publications by Nigerian fisheries policy-makers

FACTORS HINDERING ACCESS TO FISHERIES INFORMATION

In an attempt to identify problems militating against access to fisheries information, Ibeun and Atinmo (2001) showed that the greatest problem was lack of accessibility (92.7%) followed by availability of fisheries information (80.8%) poor library services (78.8%) and lack of relevant journals (62.6%). Respondents were requested to suggest solution to the above problems. About 86% saw the provision of good fisheries Library services as the best solution.

When fisheries policy makers were asked of their peculiar constraints to information, about 88% of the respondents said, most of the information is foreign and relevant ones are never available. About 70.6% are not aware of the existence of the relevant information for decision making. This gives credence to the effort of FAO at providing direction to fisheries related literature in the region. The provision of ASFA/ABAFR will create the required awareness. Also, the policy-makers felt that the provision of good library services will solve these problems. The effort of FAO/SAIAB Project is in the direction of effective library services.

OPTIONS FOR DOCUMENT DELIVERY

Specialized libraries

There are seven specialized fisheries and aquaculture libraries in Nigeria, namely:

1. National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, New Bussa;
2. Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Lagos;
3. African Regional Aquaculture Centre, Port Harcourt;
4. Federal Department of Fisheries, Abuja/Lagos;
5. Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, New Bussa;
6. Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Baga, Maiduguri;
7. Federal College of Oceanography and Marine Technology, Lagos.

The total collection of these libraries is about 50 000 of outdated books and journals. Latest journals in the most equipped library dates back to 1997. Any foreign journal title after this date must have been acquired through gift or exchange. The faculty or departmental libraries in the universities identified in appendix II are not better. Some of the libraries have computers through which CD collections on fisheries and aquaculture literature can be accessed. Networking will enhance joint utilization of these limited resources.

The collections of fisheries libraries in Nigeria are outdated. They also lack adequate modern information tools such as Internet and electronic mail services. The poor collection manifest in the work of the scientists is reported in a study by Ibeun and Madu (in press). A citation analysis showed that in publications between 1995 and 1999, 83% of the documents cited were between 10 to 30 years old, 14.4% were between 40 to 50 years old. Only 3.4% were between one to five years old. The poor collections of these libraries have led to poor document delivery. That explained why some of these libraries rely on FAO and other international organizations for assistance, even before the formation of the FAO/SAIAB project.

University departmental libraries

There are over thirty departments of fisheries and aquaculture in Nigerian universities. Visits to some of these departments showed few departmental libraries with collections but without a librarian. These departments would benefit tremendously from a networking system. The fact that there are no librarians will constitute a lot of difficulties in networking with these departmental libraries. Also the main university library may not be the best station for the nodules because of its general nature. However, the possibility of using the faculty libraries as nodules may be explored. If this is feasible, it will allow an even regional participation in a networking system, in a large country like Nigeria. These departmental libraries are not the best for document delivery since they do not have much.

Fisheries Society of Nigeria Library

The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) came into being in 1976. It is a non-governmental organization forming a forum for professional discussion. It is a unifying body of entrepreneurs and scientists that encourages the government to formulate favourable policies for fisheries development in the country. It has a small collection of books and some archival records. Networking with such non-governmental organization will be an advantage in popularizing the networking among the fisheries scientists particularly among its members. Also, it is not the best for document delivery because it has no good collection.

Nigerian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Collection as document support

In the mid 1980s, NIFFR Library observed that a high percentage of information requested by library users was for Nigerian based articles. The library then had a very small Nigerian collection. To solve this problem, the library embarked on a special collection on Nigerian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. The principle of the collection is that the library will acquire all known publications on Nigerian fisheries and aquatic sciences, whether current or retrospective. Publications which the Library is aware of but cannot acquire do not qualify for inclusion. This is to ensure back-up delivery of articles in response to requests for references in the abstracts or NIFFR Newsletter, which serve as means of dissemination. The information product based on this collection is the Nigerian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Abstracts, which is now in its 9^th volume. Camera-ready copies of volumes 10 and 11 are awaiting publication. The special collection has over 2 120 documents. This is the most heavily used collection in the library. The FAO/SAIAB Project has strengthened the development of the database in the sense that Nigerian based documents published outside Nigeria have been acquired through the project. The major difficulty in maintaining the collection is in fact to become aware of what has been produced within the country. In many cases, we learn of the existence of Nigerian publications in ASFA and other foreign alerting services. Lack of funding to regularly publish the Nigerian Abstracts is a major problem. This special collection has made it possible for the library to meet document requests as photocopies.

Access to online journals and Internet services

Most of the Nigerian libraries are remotely located and therefore have no access to modern information and communications technologies. NIOMR Library participates in the ODINAFRICA Project, which provides electronic document delivery. NIOMR, being in Lagos, means that it has access to Internet. However, the access is limited by cost and NIOMR cannot assist other libraries which are disadvantaged by location. Access to online journals and Internet facilities is still a major problem in Nigerian fisheries libraries.

PROPOSAL FOR NATIONAL FOCAL POINT DEVELOPMENT

Since the early 1980s, when the National Technical Information Services (NTIS) started to promote cooperation in terms of information resources sharing in Africa, several conferences, seminars and workshops have been held. These were followed by training courses but unfortunately there has not been much to show for this effort. Any cooperative activities which took off died almost before they started. The big question is: why the failure? In the network report for 2002 (Lawrie, Clarke, and Collins) identified communication, poor library collections and language as problems confronting networks. Rosenberg (1993), Odini (1991) and Jalloh (1999) also identified finance, ill-trained and unmotivated staff as major factors. The establishment of a sound regional fisheries information network is the only solution to the provision of fisheries information in Africa. The role of the participating components in such network has been highlighted by Nelson and Farrington (1994). The advantages resulting from the FAO/SAIAB Project have confirmed the need to sustain an information sharing system. However, to take advantage of a regional network, a country as large as Nigeria will require an inter-library cooperation at national level, which may require the development of focal points with nodules covering the following functions.

Functions of a national focal point

• To coordinate the activities of the participating libraries.

• To acquire and maintain a national database of Nigerian fisheries literature. (Hopefully, this will enhance the functionality of a national network.)

• To produce an information bulletin containing a list of reprints on a quarterly basis for distribution to other fisheries and aquatic sciences libraries. This will facilitate awareness of what is available in other libraries, from which requests can be made.

• To ensure the production of a Directory of periodical holdings of participating libraries for distribution and as a means of creating awareness.

• To deposit a copy of fisheries publications emanating from our organizations with FAO and SAIAB.

• Respond to publication requests from other libraries and scientists.

Functions of national nodules

• Contribute to the development of a national database on Nigerian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences by sending their institutional publication to the national focal point.

• Participate in the production of directories of journal and reprint holdings in Nigerian fisheries libraries.

• Endeavour to deposit a copy of their institutional publications with FAO and SAIAB for effective coverage in international alerting services.

• Respond to publication requests from other libraries and scientists.

Sustainability of the FAO/SAIAB Initiative

Actualizing a sound national focal point development in Nigeria will require the sustenance of the relationship between the FAO/SAIAB project to serve as the engine- room for co-operation, from where the national focal point and the different nodules can draw resources such as literature, ASFA/ABAFR on CD-ROMs etc. These will help to create awareness of current literature.

Funding the network

At a brainstorming meeting of librarians and some scientists at NIFFR, an attempt was made at discussing the mode of executing a national network. It was agreed that the underlying factor is funding because funds will be required for photocopies, purchase of documents, creating awareness of what is available etc. It was suggested that relevant government organizations such as the Federal Department of Fisheries, research institutes, etc., should see the network as an outreach activity which they should be prepared to fund. The discussion came up with two options.

First option

The first option is for immediate action where the project can go on within the existing fisheries and aquaculture libraries. This will mean that any requests not found in a library, should be channelled to a sister library within the country before requesting from libraries outside the country. It is hoped that by so doing, the collaboration will be formalized and gradually grow. This option may be cost-effective, and forestall delay in starting the project. All it will require is empowering the libraries in terms of funding. This may require the librarians to meet in order to fashion a workable system.

Second option

There should be a discussion with all stakeholders, particularly the librarians and scientists. This will help to fashion out appropriate methodology for the execution of a sound networking. Under this arrangement, opinions of the different parties (librarians, scientists and chief executives) will be synthesized. Requests must be coordinated or channelled through the librarians of the institution. In some cases scientists can make direct request from sister libraries. However, it was observed that this broad-based discussion could cause delay in execution.

FISHERIES PUBLICATIONS IN NIGERIA

There are two types of publication carrying articles on fisheries, aquaculture and aquatic sciences in Nigeria.

Main fisheries publications

• Fisheries Society of Nigeria - Annual Conference Proceedings.

• Journal of Aquatic Science, publication of Nigerian Association for Aquatic Sciences.

• National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, Annual Report.

• National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, NIFFR Newsletter.

• National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, NIFFR Technical Report Series.

• National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, NIFFR Occasional Paper Series.

• National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research, Nigerian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Abstracts.

• Nigerian-German Kainji Lake Fisheries Promotion Project. Technical Report Series.

• Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Annual Report.

• Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research and African Regional Aquaculture Centre, NIOMR Technical Paper.

• Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research. Occasional Paper.

• Tropical Freshwater Biology, Idodo Umeh Publisher Ltd.

• Nigerian Journal of Fisheries, Fisheries Society of Nigeria. [Note: The maiden issue is just coming out in December 2003]

• Journal of Arid Zone Fisheries, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology [Note: The first issue came out in 2001 and no more issues since then and continuation is doubtful]

• Journal of Fisheries Technology, Federal College of Freshwater Fisheries Technology. [Note: Median issue produced 1999, Volume 2 in 2002 - very irregular and continuation is doubtful]

Other journals publishing articles on Nigerian fisheries

Many of the general science and multidisciplinary journals regularly publish articles on fisheries and aquatic sciences. Following are some important examples:

• Global Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (Nigeria).

• Journal of Applied Sciences and Environmental Management, ISSN 1119-8362.

• Journal of Sustainable Tropical Agricultural Research, Treasure Publishers, Nigeria, ISSN 1596-079X.

• Journal of Tropical Biosciences, Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, ISSN 0759-3089.

• Bioscience Research Communications, Klobex Academic Publishers, Ilorin Nigeria, ISSN 0795-8072.

• Nigerian Journal of Biotechnology, Biotechnology Society of Nigeria, ISSN 0189-1731.

CONCLUSION

The poor state of fisheries libraries in Nigeria gives credence to the concept of a network so that the libraries can learn to share the little they have. The concept of a National Fisheries Information Network was discussed with some scientists and librarians. The consensus was that it would enhance resource sharing and create an awareness of what is available in other libraries within the country. However, the discussion observed that effective networking as enumerated above would require special funding. It was generally agreed that libraries within the country should be encouraged to contact sister libraries for articles before sending requests to overseas libraries. The two options given above are aimed at an efficient network and should be seen as complementary. While the first option is for immediate action, the second signifies a long term plan which will involve all the stakeholders in Nigerian Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.

REFERENCES

Aries, P. 1975. Evolution of information services in the world: general trends and the present situation. IAALD Quart. Bull., 20(3-4): 105-110.

Broadbent, K.P. 1984. International cooperation in information: the agricultural sector as an example. In: Management of information centers in China: results of a course held in Kunnming, Yunna Province. 6-18 December 1982, pp.189-195. Ottawa (Canada), IDRC.

Ibeun, M.O. 1995. Meeting the information needs of scientists and policy makers in the fisheries industry. Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Department of Library, Archival and Information Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. 197 p.

Ibeun, M.O. 2001. Applied bibliometrics and cooperative acquisition as tools for selecting journals and sharing in Nigerian fisheries libraries. Afr. J. Libr. Arch. Inf. Sci., 11(1): 39-47.

Ibeun, M.O. 2002. Demographic analysis of human resources in Nigerian Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. J. Aqua. Sci., 17(1): 63-65.

Ibeun, M.O. & Atinmo, M.I. 1999. Relevance of educational qualification to information seeking behaviour: strategies and sources used by Nigerian fisheries scientists. IAALD Quart. Bull., 44(3-4): 184-190.

Ibeun, M.O. & Madu, I.D. 2003. Application of citation analysis to library management with reference to Nigerian fisheries and aquatic sciences literature. J. Libr. Inf. Sci. Afr., 2 (in press)

Jalloh, B. 1999. Library networking and consortia initiatives in Africa. Afr. J. Libr. Arch. Inf. Sci., 9(1): 1-15.

Lawrie, S.M., Clarke, V. & Collins, J. (2002). Fisheries and aquaculture information Network in Africa: an evaluation of information resource sharing mechanisms, grey literature presentation and the supply of documentation between institutes. Report on the collaborative pilot project between FAO/SAIAB. 51p. 2002. (FAO, unpublished)

Nelson, J. & Farrington, J. 1994. Information exchange networking for agricultural development: a review of concepts and practices. Wageningen (Netherlands), CTA. 94 pp.

Nwagbose, N.K. 1992. On the land area of Nigeria. Niger. J. Techn. Educ., 9(1-2): 80-96.

Odini, C. 1991. Problems and prospects of resource sharing in developing countries. Afr. J. Libr. Arch. Inf. Sci., 1(2): 93-98.

Rosenberg, D. 1993. Resource sharing: is it the answer for Africa? Afr. J. Libr. Arch. Inf. Sci., 3(2): 107-112.

Woolston, J.E. 2004. Intergovernmental cooperation for mission-oriented information systems: a memoir. Paper presented at the 2nd Conference on the History and Heritage of Scientific and Technical Information Systems, 16-17 November 2002. Philadelphia (PA), USA, Chemical Heritage Foundation (in press)

APPENDIX I

FISHERIES INSTITUTIONS IN NIGERIA UNIVERSITIES

RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS

COLLEGES OF AGRICULTURE

APPENDIX II

EXTERNAL NIFFR LIBRARY USERS FOR THE YEAR
SEPTEMBER 2002 - SEPTEMBER 2003

APPENDIX III

RANK OF DISCIPLINES FROM WHICH FISHERIES SCIENTISTS NEED INFORMATION