By Samuel Udoma

Seasoned author and PDP Senatorial Candidate for Akwa Ibom South, Rt Hon.(Barr.) Ekong Sampson has made a case for ways to make effective legal deposits for the nation's library and publishing industry. Dr. Sampson said time has come for Nigeria to look closely at the legal framework surrounding the library and publishing to stir up a productive utilization of the sector.

Barr. Ekong Sampson, a lawyer, poet, publisher and author of many successful books made the canvassing today when he spoke at the One Day Sensitization Workshop organized by the Nigerian Library Association with theme 'ISBN/ISSN and Legal Deposit Compliance for Publishers, Librarians and Critical Stakeholders' held at the Nelson Mandela Hall, Watbridge Hotels&Suites, Uyo.

The erudite former State Lawmaker said there was a need to explore trajectories of laws that will help broaden access to information and resources, noting that a lot of information is hidden or stored away in Nigeria. Dr. Sampson opined the need for necessary safeguards to make the library environment for interesting.

The former State Environment and Petroleum Resources Commissioner again reechoed his regular calls for the deepening of the reading culture in Nigeria, saying 'the more we read, the safer we are as a people'. He described the colloquium as timely, assuring that when elected into the Senate, he will pursue legislations that will give Nigerians the kind of intellectual atmosphere so widely clamoured for.
Speaking earlier in the day, the Chairman of the session and Proprietor of Topfaith Schools, Dr. Emmanuel Abraham remarked that the workshop was timely and called for greater efforts to get ISSN and ISBN numbers for indigenous works and other cultural publications. He equally called for the establishment of the library and publishing culture in schools and colleges.

Also speaking, the President, National Library Association, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi harped on the need to formalize relevant legal frameworks to guide the operations of the nation's library and publishing subsector, saying that will grow the industry maximally in line with global best practices.

The workshop which featured eminent professors, writers, publishers and stakeholders in the library and publishing industry, also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the National Library Association and Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria for the promotion of reading culture in Nigeria.

Among the dignitaries who graced the event included the President, Network of Book Clubs and Reading Promoters in Nigeria, Richard Mammah, Librarian, Federal University, Otuoke, Prof. Felicia Etim, Librarian, Federal University of Science and Technology, Ikot Abasi, Prof. Philip Akor and Prof. Patrick Akpan who delivered keynote lecture.