Department of Library and Information Sciences

The Department was established in 1977 when the University itself became a full fledged university. It started with a two-year Diploma Programme – Diploma in Library Science (DLS) up to 1980, when the BA/B.Sc. Library Science (LSC) programme was introduced. Since then the programme has undergone several minor and major reviews in both contents and grading system.One of the major reviews was undertaken in 1999 through 2001. The entire BA/B.Sc. (LS), now (i.e. from 2006/07 session) BA/B.Sc. (LIS), was restructured. A number of the courses were renamed, a number of new courses introduced, credit loads readjusted in favour of Library and Information Science (LIS), with the third subsidiary academic subject dropped at the end of level 200. The course coding was changed from LSC to LIS and most of the courses from level 100 to level 400 were assigned two credits, while more optional and elective courses were provided at all levels.

In 2003 the Department made a proposal to split the BA/B.Sc. programme into two viz. Bachelor of Arts (Library and Archival Management) – BA (LAM) and Bachelor of Science (Information Science) – B.Sc. (IS). The proposal was approved by the Academic Development Committee (ADC) and the Senate in principle. The two programmes were to run concurrently with students taking same courses in level 100 and varying exclusive courses from level 200 to level 400. It was planned to commence from 2007/2008 session. However, some technical problems hindered its commencement. In 2010, the decision was revisited with some amendments. The programmed remained split into two – with BSc Library and Information Management (BSc LIM) instead of BA (LAM), and BSc information Science (BSc IS). The entire courses were reviewed. New ICT related courses are introduced, which would provide more opportunities for our students to become more acquainted with modern ICT facilities so as to compete more favorably in today’s information society.

The new curriculum is in the process of approval by the Senate. It is hoped to commence in 2011/2012 academic session. The decision to introduce these changes and reviews in this programme was informed by the need to:

  1. meet the NUC Minimum Academic Standard;
  2. regularly update our courses so as to provide our students with the constantly changing theoretical and practical perspectives in order to meet the demands of the rapidly ever changing world of library and information professions
  3. meet the growing challenges of the Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as necessary tools for information generation, processing, management, and transfer in the ever modernizing world; and
  4. Keep abreast with global trend in teaching and research in Library and Information Science institutions, so that our students are enabled to communicate and participate effectively in any global information sharing forum such as conferences, seminars, workshops, symposia, etc

The Department offers other programmes including Diploma in Library and Information Management (DLIM), Advanced Diploma in Information Management (ADIM), However, all sub-degree programmes in the University have now been warehoused under Institute for Continuing Education (ICE). With the recent decision of the University Management to stop offering all sub-degree programmes, it means they would terminate at the end of the next academic session. All sub-degree programmes have been completely faced out with effect from 2012/2013 session. At postgraduate level, the Department runs Postgraduate Diploma in Records Management (PGDIM), Masters in Information Management (MIM), Masters in Records Management (MRM), Master of Library Science (MLS), with a proposal to change to Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS), (Master of Philosophy (MPhil), Library Science and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the same area.

Programmes