Adoption and Domestication of Metadata Aggregation for Effective Information Retrieval Services in African Indigenous Libraries

Abstract

Most library users in African environments experience unusual difficulties accessing their desired information, especially those related to their rich cultural and natural heritage. Ideally, users of the library should be able to discover, through one search, what information is freely available from a variety of library collections rather than having to search for each collection separately. Unfortunately, even now, our libraries’ present information retrieval systems appear to be very slow, tedious, and sometimes not user-friendly; they may not be able to meet such users’ expectations. There already exists a significant agreement in the research community that the use of metadata is an adequate solution to promote more efficient and accurate retrieval services in libraries, making integration and information exchange amongst heterogeneous information sources possible. Therefore, this paper employs a desk research approach to explore the relevance of adopting metadata aggregation practices as a panacea for effective information retrieval among indigenous library users concerning the African continent. The paper reviewed the literature on metadata, the benefits of metadata to libraries, and Indigenous Knowledge and Libraries. The paper also explains the need for metadata applications in African libraries. It further reviews the significance of metadata in libraries and the need for domestication of metadata aggregation. The paper further identifies potentials through which metadata aggregation in libraries can contribute to effective information retrieval services. The paper concludes that improved access to and preservation of priceless knowledge from various African cultures will result from adopting and domesticating metadata aggregation for efficient information retrieval services in African indigenous libraries. Therefore, compliance with this recommendation is crucial for effective library operations and is the best innovation to facilitate access to indigenous knowledge deposited in libraries