In further studies, Fagbola (2013) described traditional medicine as an ancient and culturally based health care practice different from orthodox medicine and it is often orally transmitted by communities from generation to generation. She codified the indigenous Africa needs into print and electronic formats for both audio and video to make it widely accessible through the global information infrastructure. According to Kasa (2013), the library system is affected by constant changing technologies, new subject areas and pressure to provide the knowledge base requirements in all learning, teaching, research and leisure purposes. The library system is therefore plays significant role in information and knowledge acquisition, management and transfer system among indigenous traditional herbal medical practitioners. Over the years, there has been information dissemination of indigenous knowledge of traditional medicine in Nigeria newspapers, books and magazines. This is in addition to other media such as radio, television and internet.
The library is saddled with the responsibilities of storing, managing and transferring of information contained in these media for easy retrieval of users who are the traditional herbal medical practitioners. The medical science libraries serve as information resources, services, classes and tutorials to the medical practitioners. They provide the following services to their clients; digital library services, books and videos. Medical libraries can help their clients to search for the latest and greatest literature (Ibegwan, 2013). Other services provided by the medical science libraries are: document delivery, online standard, remote access to electronic journals, alerting services such as table of contents alerts: medical, libraries feed or customized search updates under the Selective Dissemination of Information (SDI) and provide training in online searching skills or critical appraisal techniques. In view of the foregoing therefore, this study is carried out to examine the relationship between information accessibility, knowledge acquisition and management and transfer system among traditional herbal medical practitioners in South West, Nigeria.
2.10 Resurgence in the use of Traditional Knowledge and its Associated Genetic Resources.
Over the past two decades, biotechnology, pharmaceutical and human healthcare industries have increased their interest in natural products as sources of new biochemical compounds for medicines, chemical and agro- product development. This has brought about the resurgence of interest in traditional knowledge and associated genetic resources. This interest has been stimulated by the importance of traditional knowledge as a lead in advancing the frontiers of science and technology. Sackey and Kasilo (2016) explained that, in spite of the important role traditional knowledge plays in sustainable development, it continues to be largely disregarded in development planning. It currently plays only a marginal role in biodiversity management and its contribution to the society in general is neglected.
Furthermore, traditional knowledge is being lost under the impact of modernisation and the ongoing globalisation processes, yet, it may contribute to improved development strategies in several ways. These include helping identify cost- effective and sustainable mechanisms for poverty alleviation that are locally manageable and locally meaningful; a better understanding of the complexities of sustainable development in its ecological and social diversity, and helping to identify innovative pathways to sustainable human development that enhance local communities and their environment.
2.11 The Gaps that the Study Will Fill
Some studies have actually been carried out on information management on traditional herbal medical practices. However some gaps have been identified, i.e the past studies have not delved into certain aspects such as the utilization of a library on information accessibility, acquisition, management and transfer system on traditional herbal medical practices. This particular study is going to include this aspect furthermore most past studies did not stress the necessity of using the internet services on acquisition accessibility transfer system and management of traditional herbal medical practices. This is also an aspect that this particular study will work considerably upon. Most importantly most past researches on traditional herbal medical practices did not use several independent variables such as this research work has done. For instance, there are four independent variables being studied simultaneously in this research, most other past works used only one or two independent variables.
Hence, from this study, the role of the library the importance of the internet, as well as the inter-relationship among the independent variables on hand and between the independent variable on the other are particular gaps that will be filled by this study.
