In line with President Buhari’s cardinal agenda of ‘ease of doing business’, the National Library of Nigeria (NLN) has launched an app that will enable publishers who apply for the International Standard Book Number and International Standard Serial Number to get the number within 48 hours.

Even as they have commenced this year’s national readership promotion campaign to promote reading culture.

The Chief Librarian/CEO of National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Lenrie Aina, who disclosed these during a press conference in Lagos, stated that the application was developed by staff of the National Library of Nigeria to make it easier for book publishers, authors and other interested persons or organisations to apply for, and obtain international standard numbers (ISSN & ISBN) for their publications within 24 hours, regardless of time and location, without necessarily visiting any of their offices.

According to Aina, the Act establishing the National library stipulates that all publications emanating from Nigeria should comply with international standard through the issuance of ISBN for books and ISSN for journals, newspapers and magazines.

“Before, if you apply for ISSN or ISBN, it involves a process; you come either to the headquarters in Abuja or to any of our branches.

We have 27 branches in Nigeria and it takes a minimum of 10 to 30 days before you can get the number. But with this application, all you have to do is go to our website, stay in your offices and you will get the ISSN/ISBN within 48 hours.”

Aina also announced that the National Library of Nigeria has commenced this year’s national readership promotion campaign with the theme, “Reviving Moribund Culture of Reading in Nigeria for Sustainable National Development.”

The campaign which has already commenced in Anambra and Cross River will go around all the 36 states of the federation and Federal Capital Territory.

The campaign will feature reading competitions among secondary and primary schools; book parties in motor parks; advocacy visit to maternity homes to encourage nursing mothers to introduce reading to their children at early age and NLN/NYSC reading forums, a collaboration that will extend the campaign to all the local governments through the corps members.

Aina who pointed out the need for more people to cultivate the act of reading said prizes such as books, shelves, computers and reading tablets will be given out to student-participants across locations. (Vanguard)

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