academic libraries in iraq

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Inl. Libr. Rev. (1985) 17, 283-291 Academic Libraries in Iraq SUHAIL MANZOOR* INTRODUCTION Iraq has experienced impressive development in all sectors during the last two decades. Education has been a focal point and tremendous growth has taken place in this area too. Academic institutions are in the process of rapid change and expansion, and demand for library services is being recognized with increased research and development programs in the field of education. This study aims to establish the developments which have taken place in the academic libraries and their potential for fulfilling the needs of the academic community of the country, It reflects personal observations and provides a systematic view of the library movement. Ways and means for the improvement of library services have been suggested, and efforts have been made to highlight the importance of libraries in the learning and teaching programs of an educational system. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM In Iraq, free and compulsory education is guaranteed for all. It is usual for universities to select, purchase and distribute books to the students free of charge (Kutub Majjania) for their personal use. This practice, while it may have much to commend it, must surely tend to discourage students from selecting books for themselves, whether for purchase or for library consultation. Borrowing from libraries is not heavy, largely due to the unfamiliarity of students with individually oriented learning through books, and perhaps also to the nature of university teaching. According to Asheim "The system of education in most of the developing countries places emphasis upon unquestioning acceptance of professional authority and that means that books have very little part to play in the process. The lecture notes and the single textbook suffice to see the student through most of his academic career, and everything about the system tends to discourage rather than encourage the habit of reading. The texts are * SANCST Library, P. Box 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia. 0020 7837/85/030283+09503.00/0 © 1985 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited

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Inl. Libr. Rev. (1985) 17, 283-291

Academic Libraries in Iraq S U H A I L M A N Z O O R *

I N T R O D U C T I O N

Iraq has experienced impressive development in all sectors during the last two decades. Education has been a focal point and tremendous growth has taken place in this area too. Academic institutions are in the process of rapid change and expansion, and demand for library services is being recognized with increased research and development programs in the field of education.

This study aims to establish the developments which have taken place in the academic libraries and their potential for fulfilling the needs of the academic community of the country, It reflects personal observations and provides a systematic view of the library movement. Ways and means for the improvement of library services have been suggested, and efforts have been made to highlight the importance of libraries in the learning and teaching programs of an educational system.

E D U C A T I O N A L S Y S T E M

In Iraq, free and compulsory education is guaranteed for all. It is usual for universities to select, purchase and distribute books to the students free of charge (Kutub Majjania) for their personal use. This practice, while it may have much to commend it, must surely tend to discourage students from selecting books for themselves, whether for purchase or for library consultation. Borrowing from libraries is not heavy, largely due to the unfamiliarity of students with individually oriented learning through books, and perhaps also to the nature of university teaching. According to Asheim

"The system of education in most of the developing countries places emphasis upon unquestioning acceptance of professional authority and that means that books have very little part to play in the process. The lecture notes and the single textbook suffice to see the student through most of his academic career, and everything about the system tends to discourage rather than encourage the habit of reading. The texts are

* SANCST Library, P. Box 6086, Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia.

0020 7837/85/030283+09503.00/0 © 1985 Academic Press Inc. (London) Limited

284 S. MANZOOR

dull and uninviting. Outside reading is seldom assigned. Unassigned reading, if it leads to independent idea or ideas in conflict with class lectures, will jeopardize the student's chance to move ahead, since advancement is based absolutely on examination along with ladder from elementary school to advanced study in the university, and the examinations are designed to test the student's rote memory of the lectures rather than his knowledge of the subject."

Faculty members, particularly those who have been educated and trained abroad and have, therefore, used highly organized and modern libraries, have shown little desirability for modern library services in their own country. The teachers feel that their job consists of delivering lectures and providing class notes. It is considered deplorable for a teacher to try to make a lecture a substitute for the books. Teachers should encourage the students to use the sources available in the library and to try and make them understand that libraries occupy an important position in the learning and teaching programs of any educational system. There is a growing need to encourage the develop- ment of a library-oriented educational system.

Given the above comments, reconsideration must be made with regard to the teaching and learning methods applied within university education. Unless the basic functions and objectives are clearly defined, an appropriate library system cannot be designed or expected.

LIBRARY EDUCATION

Expertise in the field of library and information science needs a methodical and systematic professional education and administration, planning, selection, procurement, preservation, storing, dissemination and interpretation of the means of human communication. It is a technical profession requiring special skills and tact through intel- lectual study and training.

Iraq currently has a shortage of trained professionals due to the limited number of library schools. A1-Mustansariya University and Baghdad University offer degree and diploma courses, but the number of students currently graduating is too small to cope with the urgent need of the various libraries. Only a few university libraries offer short term courses to the non-professionals employed in various libraries.

It is hoped that other universities will establish library schools with adequate provision in the form of faculty members, books, journals, equipment and physical facilities. The situation is ripe to have a fully- fledged library and information science school at Basrah University, since foreign-trained and well experienced library personnel are available there.

The courses need to be modernized. The instruction tools should be

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN IRAQ 285

updated, particularly those translated from English or some other languages. Due care is to be taken to develop the English-language proficiency among the professionals to that they can handle the growing collection in science, engineering, medicine and agriculture.

It is further suggested that specialized courses in and outside the country should be offered for different levels of library personnel for training in and consideration of the latest developments in the area of library and information science.

LIBRARY SYSTEMS

There seems to be no focus of national planning for libraries. There is a lack of government recognition of the role that libraries can play in the advancement of knowledge. The responsibility for libraries and inform- ation services is divided among several bodies between which there is no co-ordinating machinery.

Most of the universities seem to have some college libraries as well as a well developed central library. Centralization versus decentralization of various libraries is an issue though not apparently very acute. College libraries have their own management attached to the Dean of the faculty and have little co-operation with other libraries in their operations or services. They have their own acquisition and technical processing. They are run by non-professionals except for a few professionals responsible for technical processing of the material. In some cases acquisitions and technical processing of the material are done in the central library and the processed material is transferred to the college libraries.

Most of the libraries are housed in buildings which are inadequate or not designed for libraries. Lack of professionals is the main impediment. Library standards, regulations and by-laws ate currently inadequate. It is hoped that the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research will establish a National Commission, comprising library, academic and planning experts, for standardizing library and information services in the country. The Commission should act as a high level advisory and policy-making body reporting directly to the Minister.

The central library should act as a focal point for all library activities within the university. College and departmental libraries should be joined in a cohesive system with common procedures, practices and services.

LIBRARY STAFF AND THEIR STATUS

The librarian's role and importance has not been fully appreciated and he is being treated merely as a man responsible for issue and return of

286 s. MANZOOR

books. Librarians are low paid and their positions are classified with clerks and typists. This is not due to any disrespect to the profession but is solely an example of ignorance on the part of the administrators of the duties and jobs librarians are called upon to perform. In many cases there exists no hierarchy and it is not surprising to find professional personnel working under non-professionals. Professionals have found no charm in the profession. An atmosphere of frustration exists, since there appears to be no promising future or status.

Talented people are not being attracted to librarianship, which is a profession demanding high academic and professional competence. The requisite qualifications involve a longer period of study and experience, while the same amount of time spent in other disciplines usually results in better prospects.

It is hoped that the various library positions will be listed, and that the duties and responsibilities of each position, together with requisite qualifications and pay scales, will be laid down. There should be sufficient scope, as in other disciplines, for staffmembers to travel abroad for further education. There should also be in-service training and the exchange of professional hands in and outside the country, particularly between the Arab countries where efforts should be made to share professional ideas. The services of foreign librarians with good status and high salaries may be obtained, as they can contribute much by their experience and expertise with regard to the improvement of the library services. They should not be engaged for the jobs which a non- professional is supposed to perform. The services of foreign librarians at Basrah University have undoubtedly borne promising results. Its merits should be considered by other universities as well, as long as there is shortage of professional staff in this field.

LIBRARY SERVICES

A library's most important form of publicity is the services that it provides to users. A library may lack financial and other resources, but even so it is possible to create a welcoming atmosphere to give users helpful encouragment and confidence that their needs are at least understood and will be met to whatever extent is possible.

A lack of interest in library development on the part of management is one of the factors retarding the growth of libraries. Nobody denies the desirability of having an adequate library service, but practically there is little support.

Although libraries set out to provide a service, they are not obviously service-oriented; for example, books and other items must often wait to

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be collected by those who request them. Most libraries are traditional and the services they offer are time consuming; for example, the acquisition methods are slow and unsatisfactory. The services rendered include reading rooms and lending facilities. The lending procedures require the recording of information in far too many places before a document can be issued. Access is limited in most cases, except for postgraduate students and faculty members, and the reference services are poorly developed.

Automation has been slow to develop, computer based retrieval and similar services are not prominent. Catalogs are nearly-all on cards; however, attempts have been made to computerize the list of periodical holdings.

It is suggested that services concerned with reprography, document procurement, inter-library loan, translation, abstracting, indexing, current awareness etc., are to be introduced more actively. On-line services for acquisition, cataloging and circulation should be given due consideration to safeguard the user's time. Regular improvements should be made to the services in view of the user's demand.

LIBRARY O R I E N T A T I O N

The acquisition of books is useless unless the users are encouraged or shown how to use the library. It has been observed that users have to waste considerable time locating the desired document since many of them are not aware of the library systems or services. A trial and error method is usually applied by the students in finding the desired documents.

It has been accepted beyond doubt that library skill is not acquired naturally as a by-product of the student's main course of study. Some form of systematic introduction is desired to realize the potential of the library.

It is hoped in the future to provide an introductory talk by the tutor- librarian to the new students explaining the library policy, floor plan, stock, organization, services and use. Guided tours to various sections would be useful to provide a real picture of the library.

Non-conventional methods of instruction like films, videotapes, closed-circuit television and slides etc. should be included as an additional method for orientation. Television centers should relay library-oriented films to generate library awareness among the masses in general and the students in particular. This will promote the appreci- ation by the students of the functions and purposes of the library in changing the social, economic and educational concepts.

288 s. MANZOOR

LIBRARY COUNCIL

The library council enables librarians to have direct access to a small but influential group of readers. The council consists of the Deans or Directors from colleges or centers with the President or his representa- tive as Chairman and with the Director or Chief Librarian of libraries as a member.

The council meets infrequently to discuss policy matters, and its members are less aware of the various library problems. The Director of libraries does not have the status of the Dean and sometimes it is difficult for him to convince other members of his professional demands. The council is not effective enough in making decisions for the betterment of the libraries.

It is suggested that the members of the council should have close co- operation with the Director of libraries to realize the actual needs of the library and its personnel. A definite policy should be framed by the council for all the libraries. The Director or Chief Librarian must be given clear control with regard to the implementation of all library matters. There is a need for the members to have informal meetings on and offwith the heads of the Various departments to discuss the problems and policies of their libraries. The suggestions made by the students and faculty members should be given due consideration.

LIBRARY CO-OPERATION

Librarianship involves team work and the lack of adequate co- ordination results in disorganized library services. The full value of different libraries is not being achieved due to their independent and unco-ordinated approach.

The system of libraries is in the early stage of development. The universities must develop a unified system in which the same policies and practices should be followed in each of the libraries. An opportunity should be sought for a common action by the librarians to adopt common systems.

Centralized acquisition and technical processing of books and periodicals in the central library will provide an effective, uniform and time-saving service. Joint efforts to compile a united catalog of books and periodicals by some university libraries have shown fruitful results. There is a growing need for a national catalog for books, theses and periodicals and efforts are being made in this direction. It will provide an easy access to the users in order to find the location of various publications available in different libraries throughout the country,

ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN IRAQ 289

which in turn may be acquired through inter-library loan, if not available in a given library.

There is a lack of desired co-operation between the librarians and faculty members. As is the case in many developing countries, librarians are not on par with the faculty members in terms of status and salary, although many of them possess academic and professional qualifications equal to that of teachers. This glaring disparity in status has been proved a barrier for due co-operation. The contributions and services of the librarians are not given due recognition, in contrast to the teachers. Their role and efforts should be given due weight by the university management to create a cordial atmosphere between the faculty members and the librarians.

It is suggested that close co-operation with professional and non- professional institutions at national and international level be com- menced. Co-ordination with the Scientific Documentation Center and the Gulf States Information Documentation Center (both in Baghdad) will boost the library movement within the country. There is a role for UNESCO and ALECSO to encourage the growth of information systems and services adequate to the needs of the country. It is hoped that close co-ordination between university libraries in the Arab countries, especially the Gulf states, will develop. Joint programs to organize professional visits, book exhibitions, lectures and conferences at various places will provide chances to exchange professional ideas for the advancement of libraries in a more comprehensive manner.

LIBRARY ASSOCIATION

The library community of the country is represented by the Iraqi Library Association, founded in 1968 with its headquarters in Baghdad. The membership is open to professional librarians and graduates of library schools. The functions of the association are to organize book exhibitions, lectures and library training programs.

The sphere of activity is too general to envelop the entire library community. There is a growing need to establish an a~ademic and special library association to develop better co-ordination and under- standing among the librarians.

It is suggested that the associations should have regular meetings in various libraries to evaluate and tackle the problems of the libraries and its personnel. Close co-operation with professional bodies at the international level is also desired. There is sufficient need for the associations to hold annua l conferences in various universities to exchange professional ideas and to gear up the library movement in the country.

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LIBRARY PUBLICATIONS

The development in a given discipline is reflected through the amount of published literature. Library and information science in Iraq is a very recent development and the professional output is small.

There appears hardly a research journal on library and information science. Casual articles appear in some national and international journals. Publications in the form of new accession lists, bibliographies, annual reports, library guides, union lists of books, theses and peri- odicals are issued by some libraries.

Bibliographical control of publications is inadequate; in some cases not only are the users unaware, but even the issuing agencies themselves are often ignorant of what they produce.

It is hoped that the libraries, library schools and Iraqi Library Association will /york out a plan to publish research journals. Professionals should be encouraged to contribute their ideas and suggestions for the improvement of the library movement in the country. The staffmembers should be given due incentives for their contributions similar to those in teaching. It will create a cordial atmosphere between librarians for better services. Adequate bibliographical control and proper distribution of the recorded knowledge will guarantee the better use and existence of the published literature.

C O N C L U S I O N

A proper consideration to the above facts will bring a definite improvement in the academic libraries of Iraq. The country would be able to provide first-rate library services not only to the institutions and users in the country but to other Arab countries which are not, at present, able to develop good systems for themselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Asheim, L. (1966). Librarianship in the Developing Countries, pp. 50-5I. Urbana, Ill.: University of Illinois Press.

A1-Kindilchie, A. F. (1973). Academic libraries in Iraq. Int. Libr. Rev. 5(4), 463470. A1-Kindilchie, A. F. (1977). Libraries in Iraq and Egypt. Int. Libr. Rev. 9, 113 123. Manzoor, S. (1979). Instructions in the use of academic library. IASL IC Bull. 24(1),

23-26. Manzoor, S. (1980). Trends of library users; a study in Iraqi scene. Indian Libr. 35(1),

9-17. Qazanchi, F. Y. M. (1971). Academic libraries in Iraq. UNESCO Bull. Libr. 25(2),

91-93.

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Sharif, A. (1979). Factors which effect the development of librarianship and library education in the Arab countries. Int. Libr. Rev. 11(2), 245-257.

Sharif, A. (1981). The development of professional library education in the Arab countries. Int. Libr. Rev. 13(1), 87-101.

Simon, F. ( 1977). Development of documentation and academic library services: Iraq. Paris, UNESCO, TR-PP/1975-76/4-221-4.