So far and yet so near?

Developments in computer and communication technologies over the past ten years aptly support the use of the term global village to describe the present worldwide provision and distribution of information. These technologies are increasingly being employed in Africa, but their presence is not widespread and evenly distributed. Librarians in Africa are establishing the basic tools and organizational structures to enable them to work together; however, a fundamental issue of attaching sufficient importance to the provision of information in the institutional and national priorities remains to be solved.