National Archives of Malawi
PROBLEMS IN THE APPLICATIONS OF THE SYSTEM IN MALAWI
The application of the ISBN system in Malawi is one of the welcome developments in the publishing and book trade industries. Most publishers who joined the system sometime back acknowledge that the system has enhanced their reputation. Similarly, most publishers as well as booksellers appreciate that their books are becoming known worldwide. Consequently, they receive more book orders from abroad than before. But despite this flavour, the Agency is experiencing a number of operational problems some of which include the following:
FUNDING
The Agency has operated without a budget for a long time. Due to inadequate budgetary allocations to the Department coupled with other competing priorities, the functions of administering the ISBN system have never been accorded any special budget allocations. Although proposed estimates are included every year in the Departmental budget estimates, there is no one time when the Government approved a proposed budget for the operation of ISBN activities. Consequently, the National Agency is unable to carry out publicity programmes for the ISBN system and make follow-ups (through visits) with publishers who were allocated prefixes and Title Identifiers.
As a result, some publishers do not give us any feedback on the use and application of the system despite written reminders to them. Up to now it is not known whether some of the ISBN registered publishers are still operating in Malawi or not. It is also not known whether such publishers have used up all the title identifiers or not. It is also not known whether they are still keeping a record of the ISBNs they have so far assigned. The need to follow-up with the publishers, and sensitization workshop for book publishers, sellers, librarians, printers, etc, can therefore not be over-emphasized.
LACK OF TRAINED PERSONNEL
Another problem in the Agency is lack of appropriate trained personnel with adequate working knowledge of the use and application of the ISBN system.
The only officer who got trained in the application of the system was late Mr Dick D. Najira – former Senior Librarian for the Department, and the first ISBN Co-ordinator for Malawi. Unfortunately, late Mr Najira passed away in 1996 shortly after he had returned from the training in South Africa. His demise came before he could impart the relevant knowledge and skills to his successors. His immediate successor Mr O.W. Ambali had to take over as a National ISBN Co-ordinator without any formal training until he handed over the responsibility to Mr. S.S. Gondwe in the year 2000. Mr. Gondwe too has very little knowledge of the ISBN system, which he has gained on the job through reading of manuals and guidebooks. Knowing that this is a new and challenging responsibility for the Department, the need for trained staff can therefore not be over-emphasized for the proper administration of the National ISBN Agency in Malawi.
LACK OF COMPUTERS
Lack of computers in the National Agency makes the work processes of assigning ISBNs very slow and tedious because all the work is being done manually. In some cases, the ISBNs have been wrongly calculated, bearing wrong check digits, and assigned to publishers. At the same time when the mistake is discovered the book is already on the market, hence causing a lot of inconveniences to those who are placing their orders by quoting the ISBNs. Because of the same problem, the Agency has not been able to produce its own Users Manuals for distribution to publishers in Malawi.
INADEQUATE STAFFING
Staffing is another setback to the operation of ISBN activities in Malawi. Since the inception of the system in the country, the responsibility of ISBN operations in Malawi have been shouldered singled-handedly by the Librarian. As a result, the implementation of ISBN programmes in the country by the Agency has not been an easy task.