INTRODUCTION

In Sierra Leone the terms ‘official publications’, official documents’, and ‘public documents’ are synonymous with govt publications. Authorities publications, simply put, are documents produced by government and regional and quasi-federal government bodies outlining and integrating sights and polices. They symbolize the historical and current development authorities of federal government and supply data on a extensive variety of subjects to contain Political Science, Economics, Finance, Stats, Labor, Market, Historical past, Intercontinental Relations, Agriculture, Geology and Meteorology. Katz (1997) classed these publications into: (one) information of govt administration (two).analysis files for professionals like a considerable amount of statistics and information of worth to science and enterprise (3).well-liked sources of details. Their physical form getting both a book, pamphlet, journal, report monograph or digital, specifically CD-ROM (p.387).

Bibliographic management in numerous areas of the globe is seemingly unsatisfactory due mostly to deficiency of recognition of the importance of bibliographic resources in study in authorities publications. The United States of America, for example, was for a prolonged time a pioneer in this subject. As significantly back as 1895 the Printing Act of January 12 of that 12 months (28 statute, 601-624) not only set up centralized printing and distribution of federal paperwork but also instructed the Superintendent of Documents to provide acceptable tools for bibliographic control of the documents printed. Excellent Britain is an exceptional exception for as considerably back again as 1807 collections of parliamentary papers had been printed. International locations such as Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Germany and Japan began separating govt doc bibliographies mainly in the nineteen twenties and 1930s (Palic,1975). Even so a excellent want for the use of federal government publications was felt adhering to World War 11 (1939-1945), when there was an increased interest in the authoritative information contained in these kinds of publications as posited by child’s (1942) in his introductory notes that ‘more and far more the relevance of govt documentation is being identified despite the refractory mother nature of some of these materials’

In parallel the emphasis manufactured on the usefulness of govt publications in Sierra Leone is linked with the advancement of printing which can be traced as far again as the founding of the Colony of Sierra Leone in 1787. Even though the industry did not survive the French attack of 1794 the basis stone of what afterwards became known as the Government Printing Department was laid in 1925 when it was billed with the generation of modest notices for official use. Currently the Division prints all authorities publications and materials stationery and office products of authorities departments. It also undertakes a reasonable sum of business printing as income producing steps.

Government publications typically have the advantage of currently being among the ideal in their topic fields often not simply accessible to other individuals (Smith, 1993). In lieu of the extent and complexity of government actions there is a require for the common dissemination of information about these actions and for common integration of govt coverage. No question why authorities publications have particular value to educational library collections and their authority is permanent. In academic libraries in Sierra Leone these publications are set apart into a specific collection manned by a curator as at Fourah Bay School Library. Some are stored in vertical data files other folks are placed in pamphlet packing containers, while those like maps and surveys are presented specialised storage. These publications are obtained mainly by buy, deposit, donation, exchange and photocopying. The Government Printing Office is accountable for their publication

DIVISIONS OF Govt AND THEIR PUBLICATIONS

The enlargement of govt in Sierra Leone’s put up-war reconstruction era at regional, nationwide and global stages has resulted in escalating her affect on the lifestyle of the citizenry. At the same time with this growth is the proliferation of official and semi formal companies, commissions and bureaus which continue to publish operates these kinds of as directories, regulations, studies, payments, Acts and complex literature which a lot of a scientists, educators, general public service functionaries, welfare recipients and the unemployed can not do with no reference to such publications. Because librarians provide as interface between customers and govt they have for extended acknowledged the troubles which this kind of a myriad of selection can pose and have been producing incredible strides to tackle the concern. The essence below is to provide systematic controls to steer clear of the disappearance, into oblivion, of crucial official publications.

In Sierra Leone federal government publications slide in a few basic courses: Executive, Legislative ands Judicial. The Govt publications contain individuals issued by the Workplaces of the President and the Vice President, and different unbiased places of work and establishments this sort of as National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Nationwide Revenue Authority (NRA), Anti Corruption Commission (ACC), National Fee for Privatization (NCP) and the Place of work of the Ombudsman. Also provided are authorities ministries such as the Ministries of defense Training, Youth and Sports activities Foreign Affairs and Worldwide Co-procedure Tourism and Cultural Affairs Neighborhood Government and Neighborhood Development Agriculture, Forestry and Foods Safety Trade and Sector Inside Affairs labor and Industrial Relations and Advancement and Financial Preparing.

The Ministry of Trade and Industry, for case in point, is accountable for each inside and global trade and the advertising of exports. It has powers more than customs and excise, tariffs, insurance coverage, patents, trademarks, requirements, weights and actions. The Ministry of Overseas Affairs and International Cooperation is liable for Sierra Leone’s partnership with overseas and Commonwealth countries even though the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Foods Stability is responsible for administrating government plan on agriculture, horticulture and foodstuff safety. This Ministry delivers sensible advice to farmers, professional producers of horticultural crops and analysis.The Ministry of Inner Affairs discounts with the maintenance of legislation and order, the Law enforcement and Hearth Forces, administration of the prisons and the remedy of offenders. Other miscellaneous issues dealt with by this ministry consist of explosives, firearms, hazardous medicines, prisons, outlets, community basic safety, leisure, cremation, bylaws and excellent rule and formal enterprise. The aforementioned features and similar kinds carried out by other ministries need the generation and maintenance of publications. There is also documentation of push briefings offered by the diverse heads of ministries and newsletters, which are channels for respective ministries there-by generating them much more public-relations conscious.

Legislative publications consist of the information and debates of Parliament and the reports of hearings of the varied Parliamentary Committees. Integrated here also are multiple policy statements in reply to parliamentary questions. The Hansard is one more wealthy resource for community matters as it gives formal info and sights about parliamentary debates.

Publications from the Judiciary department of government consist largely of reviews of authorities decisions by the Justice of the peace, Appeals and Supreme Courts. Discovered in this arm of federal government are regulation publications, ‘annual registers’, state trials and rulings, the constitution, global treaties, protocols, peace accords, Functions, expenses and digests of neighborhood newspapers. These publications provide the judiciary with pertinent data on multifarious lawful issues. Such info is necessary to be factual and politically impartial.

The Town and District Councils, currently being quasi-authorities institutions, give files categorized as government publications. These incorporate developing codes, academic development, health and sanitation, regulations on waste disposal, use of firearms and hearth devices. Also there are government departments which offer statistical info on a extensive selection of economic, industrial and social demographic info. Of central value are Stats Sierra Leone (formerly Central Data Place of work-CSO), liable for national population census and house surveys the Workplace of Births and Fatalities which registers and generates once-a-year statistics of births and deaths in the place the Place of work of the Registrar Standard responsible for statutory registration of marriages, patents and emblems the Chamber of Commerce which specializes on company info. These workplaces carry with each other crucial financial and social stats provided by government departments. Other crucial govt departments are the Meteorological Place of work, which continues to give pertinent climate details, and the Nationwide Archives, which serves as repository of all non-present authorities publications inclusive of national newspapers. The afore-described govt publications fluctuate in dimension and duration. Written by professionals in the matter, federal government publications are not only authoritative but also timely released and offer with topics of current desire. Their purpose, according to Katz (1969), is to give data and solution questions and not to provoke dialogue or organizational cataloging and administration. They are helpful major reference sources.

Tutorial LIBRARIES IN SIERRA LEONE

Tutorial libraries in Sierra Leone are people in the constituent models that form the country’s two universities, namely the College of Sierra Leone and the University of Njala. These libraries depict the bibliographic basis of the nation’s investigation curiosity. They participate actively in the distribution and trade of e-book and non-e-book supplies to sister institutions all in excess of the region. Collectively these establishments provide students, college, students and researchers that are engaged in perform in the sciences and humanities as effectively as the general community. These libraries have mixed assets of in excess of 500,000 volumes, most of which are of special scope and good quality. Integrated in these massive collections are govt publications this sort of as treaties, Functions, statistical tables and compilations, conventions and data of diplomatic relations, reports of authorities departments, committees, bureau and commissions, census schedules, proclamations and rules. The upkeep, preservation and advancement of these publications are tasks shared by educational librarians as their libraries carry on to provide as countrywide assets.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE Improvement OF Government PUBLICATIONS IN Educational LIBRARIES

Diverse causes have been innovative for the inclusion of federal government publications in academic libraries in Sierra Leone. The reasons of the country’s universities are educating, services, study and interpretation and dissemination of analysis. Modern society sights federal government as a reliable and neutral source of authoritative details that should be obtainable to its citizens via its quite a few publications. Considering that academic institutions offer with learners who in switch will be potential citizens these ought to be knowledgeable accordingly. Government’s stance must be acknowledged when there is public dialogue on health, worldwide relations, schooling, agriculture, social protection and trade, to cite a couple of examples. Therefore the want for the advancement of federal government publications in academic libraries as this kind of materials could converse for the authorities in different actions. Additional educational libraries have the objectives of preservation, conservation and support. And federal government publications type part of society’s cultural heritage which require conservation and preservation not only for study purposes but also for posterity as tangible primary resources of info which academics can constantly refer to. Small ponder why as a measure of bibliographic management of these publications librarians proceed to provide catalog’s, checklists, guides, indexes, accessions lists and picked basic bibliographies that contains considerable data on authorities publications.

1991-2001 was a interval of doom in Sierra Leone as it marked the civil war. Fought as a consequence of poor governance, nepotism and enormous corruption it led to the un-wanton destruction of lives and properties. Important federal government buildings0 wrecked to reckless abandon incorporated the National Treasury, Sierra Leone Law enforcement premises, law courts and the workplaces of the Freetown City Council all of which housed essential files consistently consulted by scientists, federal government functionaries and the community. Not withstanding the region is slowly recovering with the re-institution of nearby federal government, multi-get together democracy, improved human, ladies and child rights, the provision of a conducive environment to investment decision, and a new technique of education and learning (six-3-three-4), to cite but a number of developments, the successful operation of which needs continuous use of federal government publications.

The wide applications in academic establishments contain several locations of existence with the teaching of historical and geographic concepts scientific scientific studies are carried out for enhanced health and foods stability global relations and inter-spiritual comprehending are fostered. Also modern day neighborhood lifestyle and the philosophy of democracy, peace and conflict resolution, great governance, human legal rights and other ideologies are taught in get that clever conclusions could be drawn. These developed instructional programs provide enrichment and info to college students in these kinds of fields as economics, authorities, well being and sanitation, agriculture, worldwide relations, human legal rights and diplomacy. In support of these varied disciplines academic libraries provide massive collections to consist of nearby components some of which are in the form of authorities publications whereby pupils, school and researches could share their activities and interests and create satisfactory private adjustment with regard different federal government functionaries in modern society. By so doing students are provided the prospect to increase in social usefulness and produce their intellectual pursuits and capabilities in order to become dependable associates of modern society. This in flip could aid advertise nationalism. In lieu of these factors educational libraries attempt to give liberal collections to include guides, serial publications, audio-visuals and government publications.

https://project-topics.com.ng/ are amid the most useful components in tutorial libraries in Sierra Leone. Aside from the community library, the nationwide archives and parliament library which serve as repositories for such publications academic libraries proceed to develop these publications in their large selection. Nonetheless this kind of moves are not bereft of difficulties. These range from inadequate formats through lack of trade bibliographies to unsatisfactory approaches of distribution. The basic issue to all these libraries is the quantity of publications obtained, significantly of which is nothing but uncooked data and stats used to support arguments or gathered more for the sake of gathering relatively than for any certain factors. Given that these libraries have restricted space to residence their several collections the continued acquisition of govt publications poses issues to employees.

Academic libraries purchase authorities publications mostly by donations despite the fact that a few are obtained by acquire, exchange and photocopy. When these resources are gained they are predicted to be processed and organized for use in the library. Sadly there has been no set pattern in classifying and organizing these components in these libraries. Their firm is possibly by authorities ministry/department, matter or structure which is often perplexing to consumers. At Fourah Bay School library, for instance, these publications are positioned individually from the general selection which frequently constrains users in obtaining to leave their reading through spot to check with these components with minimal sitting down accommodation. Libraries at Njala University College, Institute of General public Administration and Management (IPAM) and the School of Medication and Allied Overall health Sciences (COMHAS), which are reasonably tiny in size combine the publications in their general collection therefore posing retrieval difficulties to customers.

Keeping track of govt publications is an additional issue as there are no trade bibliographies printed out to support trace them. Rarely are these publications mentioned in the nationwide bibliography, Sierra Leone Publications, well prepared by the general public/countrywide library. In addition to the Govt Printing Office dependable for the creation of federal government publications does not have any thorough lists of its publications. Most occasions these publications are either returned quickly to the respective ministries/departments owning them upon completion or sent to the Govt Bookshop for sale or sold by the Authorities Printing Section on completion, thus producing it challenging to find retrospective publications. Worse nevertheless both the Federal government Printing Office and the Government Bookshop are not interested in publicizing these publications and as this sort of numerous buyers which includes tutorial librarians are not informed of the availability of pertinent govt publications for acquisition therefore leading to lapses in the improvement of these components in tutorial libraries. In parallel a single would assume educational libraries to compile thorough lists of these kinds of publications but this has not been the case thanks to the minimal quantity of workers manning this assortment and the quantum of function they have to perform especially for the duration of peak periods when libraries are greatly employed which is time consuming.

There are also issues of assortment growth. Educational libraries are underneath-funded and consequently librarians prioritize their assortment improvement needs. Purchasing authorities publications has not been a priority for academic librarians as they always appear ahead to the Federal government Printing Section for donations which are often not forthcoming. That’s why many appropriate federal government publications are not found in tutorial library collections. What is more this constrained collection is grossly misused and abused by customers (specifically undergraduate college student end users) in their academic pursuits. As a result most of these publications have dingy covers other folks have a couple of pages both composed on or pilfered although some are intentionally mis-shelved to deprive colleagues of utilizing them.

Conclusion

The incorporation of government publications in the mainstream of educational library companies should be regarded a priority by college authorities and tutorial librarians in providing entry to government-developed details in Sierra Leone. Representing a important and integral component of the countrywide sources federal government publications are significant resources of data in practically every subject of endeavor and are crucial to knowledgeable general public-decision creating. Educational librarians need to therefore evaluation their selection advancement strategies and processing and business strategies of these resources if they are to be persistently utilised by their several clientele. Especial believed must be given to elevated funding, useful resource sharing, compilation of lists and adequate staffing, sitting down accommodation and storage room if they are to keep specifications in serving their numerous clientele.