Organisation, management and dissemination of newspaper information in the digital age: The NIIA example

Abstract

The newspaper library of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs is one of the best in the Sub-Saharan Africa and also in the world. It has newspapers and news clippings that date back to early 1960s. This study examined the organization and management of these resources as well as their usefulness to the patrons of the library. The paper provided an overview of newspapers as primary sources of information; their importance and usefulness across the globe, and the reasons why researchers consult them more often. X-raying the Newspaper library of NIIA popularly called Press Library, its origin and essence of establishment are discussed. The different formats of newspaper resources stocked in the library viz: hard copies / bound volumes, microfilm editions, newspaper clippings and digitized newspaper clippings including their specialized management are also discussed. The paper discusses the latest digitization efforts made in the Press Library while discussing the futuristic view of this project. The paper highlights a number of challenges faced by the Press library in the managementof these valuable resources hence the adoption of  digitisation as a better means of preservation and faster dissemination of information remotely and globally.

Key Words: Newspapers, Clippings, Press, Cuttings, Digitization, Information, Dissemination, Preservation, Organisation, Management.