Mastering Reference Management Software and Digital Information Sources for Enhanced Research Productivity

 Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari

I facilitated a training workshop on Mastering Reference Management Software and Digital Information Sources for Enhanced Research Productivity organized by the Faculty of Education, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria on April 30, 2024. Download the presentation here. 

Emotional Intelligence, Healthy Living and dealing with Behavioural Challenges in Children

 Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari

I spoke at the Teens/Children Teachers’ Training Programme on the topic: Emotional Intelligence, Healthy Living and dealing with Behavioural Challenges in Children, orgnaised by the Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel), Provincial Headquarters, Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, July 20, 2024. Access the presentation here.

Open Science Infrastructures for Library and Information Professionals

Idowu Adegbilero-Iwari

I presented the paper titled Open Science Infrastructures for Library and Information Professionals at the Mandatory Workshop on Data, Linked Data and Visualization organized by the Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN), July 22- 26, 2024 at the E-Library of the Federal College of Education, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. Download the presentation here.

A Pitch for SPP's Generation Fund by a 2023 Fellow

Nigerian Morolake Omoya makes History as the first Black University of California Los Angeles Student to earn 3 Degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering

 According to a report by Matthew Chin for the UCLA Newsroom, Morolake Omoya, in March 2023, successfully defended her doctoral dissertation, becoming the first Black student to receive bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in civil and environmental engineering from the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. Supervised by Professor Henry V Burton, her Ph.D. Dissertation on Bayesian Methods for Modeling Post-Earthquake Damage and Recovery of Infrastructure was based on the 2014 Napa earthquake. Omoya’s approach uses more data — including detailed building and site information, as well as sociodemographic data — than previous models. And it incorporates a type of statistical analysis called Bayesian inferencing for more robust and real-time modeling. Ultimately, the goal was to develop a better blueprint to help communities in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake and throughout their long-term recovery.

Congratulating her, Associate Adjunct Professor Audrey P. O'Neal, noted that Rolake, as she is fondly called, is "a brilliant scholar, leader, role model, and advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion", who is "guided by faith and her supportive family in Nigeria to be the change she wants to see."

Rolake herself opined that she has through her history-making 3 degrees earning years at UCLA's Samueli School of Engineering learnt vital life lessons "that we rise by lifting others and others are lifted because we rise".

Congratulations to this trailblazing Nigerian lady, Dr. Morolake Omoya, PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Read more at UCLA Newsroom

How to Edit Sent Messages on WhatsApp

Did you make a mistake (spelling, context or what have you) in a sent WhatsApp message? Relax, don't delete. Just press and EDIT. Edit? Yes!

A new feature that lets users edit messages that have already been sent has been unveiled by WhatsApp according to Meta's CEO, Mark Zuckerberg.

“For this, within 15 minutes of sending the message, you have to tap and hold that message for a while and then select the option of ‘Edit’ from the menu.” Receivers of the messages would be aware of the correction without seeing the ‘edit’ history.

So, follow these four steps to edit sent messages on WhatsApp:

1. Open your WhatsApp chat

2. Long-press on a sent message

3. Click on ‘Edit’ located at the top of your right hand, from the menu for up to fifteen minutes after.

4. Edited messages will display ‘edited’ alongside them.

Embracing Change: Rethinking Library Rules and Regulations for Enhanced Resource Utilization

 Azeez Adeoye

Library rules and regulations could be one of the impediments to the use of its resources. Students are concerned about the limitations they experience due to stringent library rules and regulations. In the 21st century, libraries have competitors in ICT tools. It's high time library professionals revisited the archaic rules that prevent users from maximizing the potential benefits offered by libraries.

One such rule is the prohibition of eating and drinking in the library.

Reading is a mental exercise that drains and dehydrates library users during the process of studying. Therefore, users need to stay hydrated to sustain concentration while reading. But in a situation where library users travel the extra mile to drink water, this obstructs the flow of information and truncates comprehension.

Though Western libraries provide water dispensers within the library and sometimes coffee corners and microwaves, among other gadgets to ease light consumption, concentration, mental stability, and constant use of library resources. This is the trend in 21st-century library services, and African libraries need to decolonize themselves and embrace change.

By offering more flexibility in our library rules and regulations, such as allowing food and drink within designated areas, offering extended hours, and implementing more relaxed noise policies, we can create a more comfortable and welcoming environment for our patrons. 

This, in turn, will make our library more attractive compared to our competitors, such as ICT tools. We believe that by meeting the changing needs of our users, we can entice and endear them to use our resources, which will help us to maintain our relevance in the 21st century.