The article considers some of the issues relating to the development of information services in Africa. The issues, which form the basls of a recent paper by Anthony Olden, include the assessment of the relevance of the notion of a paperless library to Africa, the expected role of library and information services in narrowing the gap between the information rich and poor, and the possible inappropriateness of information technology and/or advice from developed countries. The view is expressed that (I) information delivery to the poor, to be effective, must be based on a coordinated approach to programming by both libraries and public service departments, and (ii) while the concept of a paperless society is irrelevant to Africa, there is nevertheless some scope in some African countries for the exploitation of basic information technologies for such activities as the internal husbanding and sharing of decision-making data.
The objective of this article is to provide a rejoinder to a recent opinion paper by Anthony Olden titled "Sub-Saharan Africa and the paperless society" (Olden, 1987). Generally, the paper provides interesting reading.
Admittedly, Olden touched on some of the key issues in the development of library and information policies and programs in Africa-the assessment of the relevance of the notion of a paperless library to Africa, the expected role of library and information services in narrowing the gap between the information rich and poor in Africa, the possible inappropriateness of development advice from Western sources, and the problems of aid and socioeconomic dependency. It is, however, my considered view that his discussion failed to adequately clarify some of the issues involved. Olden highlights the irrelevance of the notion of a paperless library or society to the solution of African developmental problems.
He also notes the dangers