Promoting Access and Protecting Indigenous Knowledge in Nigeria: The Role of Public Libraries

Indigenous/traditional knowledge is a local-based knowledge that is unique to a given culture in a given community. It is a systematic body of knowledge acquired by local people through accumulation of experiences without any proper documentation. It is a knowledge passed through word of mouth from one generation to the other. The purpose of this study was to assess the various ways in which libraries could assist in collecting and promoting access to indigenous knowledge for the library users. The study also poked the ways of protecting indigenous knowledge through the enforcement of intellectual property law. Digitisation and ICT facilities as tools for preservation and easy access were also mentioned. Challenges faced by the libraries in collecting information on indigenous knowledge were stated. Also policy issues that Nigerian Government needs to address about Indigenous Knowledge were listed. The study recommended ways by which accessibility of indigenous knowledge in the libraries could be improved.