Current issues in accessing documents published in developing countries

Abstract

Accessing documents published in developing countries is always difficult because of the lack of bibliographic tools and control framework, low awareness of legal deposit legislation, and sub‐standard nature of the publications. The publications are mainly fugitive, suffer high mortality, and are finished poorly, with no cataloguing‐in‐publication data. The interlending and document delivery situation in Nigeria is discussed. Electronic access situation to e‐journals and e‐books is described. The paper identifies the role of publishers in facilitating access and views librarians and information professionals as the critical catalysts in the whole process of access provision. It highlights factors that hinder easy procurement of documents published in developing countries. It recommends, among other things, the comprehensive documentation of each institution’s publications, progressive integration of individual bibliographic effort into a co‐ordinated national endeavour, and the evolution of a functional linkage as the practical issues that must be addressed in order to enhance access.

Citation

Omekwu, C. (2003), "Current issues in accessing documents published in developing countries", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 130-137. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641610310477206