This paper reports on the results of survey conducted to determine the current trends in the collection and reporting of library statistics in academic and public libraries in the Africa region. The literature shows that the present state of statistical data collection in many African university and public libraries is still backward and there are no uniform standards being followed in collection and reporting of statistics. The survey was conducted in July 2008 and shows that libraries use

more »

... manual and some automated systems to collect and compile library statistics. The survey also showed the need for African academic and public libraries to agree on a set of standards for the collection of statistics. The paper recommends that the IFLA Africa Section together with IFLA Section on Statistics and Evaluation, UNESCO, the Association of African Universities and national and university library organizations in Africa (SCNUL) should take a leading role building capacity of African libraries on the importance, collection and reporting of library statistics.