A Mastermind in Cataloguing and an Amazon of Librarianship: Celebrating Dr Toun Oyelude at 60

 I have had the privilege of learning from the best in the field of librarianship in Nigeria, and one of the most esteemed professionals in this field hails from the prestigious University of Ibadan, the birthplace and home of librarianship in Nigeria.

The Amazon I am privileged to meet is Dr Toun Oyelude. She was my lecturer in 2011 during my final year at the Department of Library, Archival, and Information Studies at the University of Ibadan. Dr Oyelude co-taught the course "415 Cataloguing and Classification" alongside Professor Morayo Atinmo. Dr Oyelude is a renowned cataloguer, and even among her contemporaries, she is regarded as the best in the field.

She guided us through the practical sessions of the course, exposing us to the AACR2R and RDA standards. It was a profound experience, as Dr Oyelude is a no-nonsense personality who takes her work very seriously. She is an expert in her field, and her dedication to excellence left a lasting impact on me.

As fate would have it, during my Student Work Experience Scheme (SWES) in late 2012 at the WORDOC Library in the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, I had the opportunity to work closely with Dr Oyelude. The then-librarian in charge of WORDOC Library, Mrs. Ajegbomogun, assigned me to the cataloguing section at the Kenneth Dike Library (KDL), where Dr Oyelude was the Head and Chief Cataloguer. I gained first-hand knowledge of how to use the 3x5 catalogue cards and how to write both descriptive and subject catalogues. Dr Oyelude’s teachings enabled me to catalogue over 60% of the gray literature and materials in the WORDOC Library.

Dr Oyelude has risen to become a shining light, a trailblazer, and a mentor in the field of librarianship. She is an accomplished professional and a well-travelled scholar with global recognition. Over the years, I have come to admire her greatly. She is my go-to person for professional advice and guidance. Just mentioning her name during interviews in the field opens doors, as it signals that you have been mentored by one of the best in the profession.

As we celebrate nearly two decades since I first met her, Dr Oyelude continues to be a great blessing. She opens doors, trains the younger generation, and guides them toward greater achievements. She is currently the University Librarian at the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, a testament to her hard work and the reward of her faithful service.

We both attended the IASSIST African Regional Chapter Conference in Ghana in 2025, and she remains a constant source of inspiration to me and to generations of librarians in Nigeria and beyond. As Dr Toun Oyelude, a proud daughter of Ibadan, celebrates her 60th birthday, I pray that God continues to replenish her sources of joy, happiness, and strength. Happy 60th Birthday to an Amazon!