Only certified librarians would be allowed to handle contracts and consultancies in the library and information sector when the Librarian Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) starts the registration of libraries in corporate organizations.

Registrar of LRCN, Dr. Victoria Okojie made the statement at the 3rd induction ceremony of registered librarians in Nigeria in Abuja on yesterday.

Okojie said the council is also drafting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) to ensure that only certified librarians are involved in their accreditation exercises.

She cautioned that non-librarians who attempt to practice librarianship in Nigeria would be prosecuted within the mandate of the council to ensure quality assurance in the profession.

She said the council would also publish guidelines and minimum standards for the establishment of electronic libraries.

"The guidelines will give library and information professionals a step by step approach to establishing and managing e-libraries efficiently and effectively," she said.

Minister of education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i urged the inductees to keep abreast with current trends in the profession so they can learn to package information that would serve all segments of the society.

Rufa'i said presently when Nigeria was facing security challenges; the librarians need to disseminate information of peace to not only literates but also the illiterates and poor in rural communities.

A total of 948 librarians were registered yesterday bringing the total number of registered librarians in Nigeria to 2,661.