The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad has tasked stakeholders in the judiciary on the need to reposition the nation’s Judicial libraries to enhance information gathering and dissemination.

The CJN made the plea in a keynote address delivered at the opening ceremony of the biennial national workshop for Judiciary librarians held at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.

Muhammad noted that with the emergence of information and communication technology and the attendant changes in various Courts, participants at the workshop themed; “Digitalization of Court Libraries in the 21st Century,” must be equipped with necessary skills in line with global best practices.

He said, “Today, we are in the midst of a tremendous shift in the way people consume literature and other content therefore, library must continue to play a central role of providing open and free access to information and dissemination of ideas.

“As we are all aware, the Judicial librarians are entrusted with many responsibilities among which is being the custodian of law books which are preserved in paper and non-paper format.”

In his welcome address, the NJI Administrator, Justice Salisu Garba Abdulahi stressed the importance of librarians in the administration of justice and noted that, in accommodating the role of Court librarians, the participants must be up and doing, pay regular attention to books, court records, and judgments which are archived in the Court Libraries.

“In order not to be left behind, you must continuously seek knowledge pertaining to technological innovations for library science and also imbibe ICT knowledge and skills,” the NJI boss said.