ORAL INFORMATION DOCUMENTATION IN THE 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION AND SERVICES

Authors

Ugonna Vivian Ailakhu, National Open University of NigeriaFollow

Date of this Version

7-7-2023

Document Type

Article

Abstract

History is a body of knowledge derived from the past lives of a society or an individual. The documentation of oral information in the 21^st century without doubt is essential. Oral information is transferred from one individual to another verbally and as such there is need to document these information based on their importance. There are different types of oral information passed within a society and this information contains various values such as religious, social, historical, indigenous knowledge and culture of a community as well as genealogy of a community or family.

Oral information are received, developed, and shared to future generations through a wide variety of oral tradition known to the society or community. Nonetheless, in the 21^st century, concerns are raised because people’s culture and identity are being abandoned and forgotten then comes the need for information professionals and librarians to identify, collect, preserve and actualize the oral information, particularly the information contained in the oral tradition.

The paper views information services’ provision as a wheel which provides access to oral information that supports a long or short-term preservation of oral tradition information via documentation. Through the review of scholarly literature and studies, this paper aimed at showcasing 21^st century documentation as a symbol of preserving oral tradition to sustain continuity.