Conservative Practices Of Information Resources By Libraries For Enhanced Collection Usefulness In University Libraries In Enugu State
Abstract
The broad ideal of this study is to examine conservative practices of information coffers by libraries for enhanced collection utility in University libraries in Enugu State. The study espoused the check descriptive exploration design and with the aid of convenience slice system, the experimenter intentionally named one hundred and fifty( 150) party for the study. tone- structure questionnaire was issued to the replier of which one hundred forty- one( 141) was recaptured and validated for the study. Data was anatomized using simple chance, presented in frequentness and tables. From the responses attained and analysed, the findings revealed that the ways and styles for conserving and conserving of information accoutrements in Rivers state University central library includes; use of photocopying machine, use of digitization installations lamination outfit, bindery, fumigation, drawing and dusting of the library accoutrements , reformation, microfilming of review, brittle or fragile paper grounded accoutrements , copying audiotapes and videotape accoutrements and electronic digitizing, bottom cleaning, shelf clearing, collection condition checks, pest examinations, environmental monitoring and a plan for disaster preparedness and response plan. The study thus recommended that a good policy on short- term to long- term preservation and conservation should be formulated. Also, professionally trained defacers should be signed , and training and retraining of staff should be encouraged. Moreso, there should be an periodic budget allocation for preservation and conservation. likewise, a well- equipped bindery section with trained staff should be established. Also, there should be regular exposure on the preservation and conservation of library accoutrements .
Chapter One
Preface
Background of the Study
The foremost and most abecedarian responsibility of academic library is the conservation of knowledge. An academic library according to Akpata( 1979) and Edoka( 1992), refers to a library that caters or the requirements of those enqaged in academic hobbies in advanced institutions like the universities, sodalities of education, of technologies and polytechnics. It has to do with a library that takes care of the people engaged in academic and exploration work in the institutions of advanced literacy. This group comprises the scholars, academic and executive staff in those institutions. Since a library of similar nature serves numerous people, it becomes a focal point.
Academic library acquires colorful types of mortal communication records, organizes and stores them for after use. Librarians in it were thus employed to save those records by locking them and confining operation. They watched less whether people asked for and mads use of them or not. Indeed the many accoutrements made use of were used only in the library and under the strictest surveillance of the librarians. Librarians noway allowed of free access to, or lending of their accoutrements to their druggies. They were only interested in collecting, storing and conserving accoutrements for the unborn generation. In substance, the security of library accoutrements was upper most in the minds of their foremost librarians. Hence, Wilson( 1982) writes of the tasks of the foremost librarians as to devote his time and rest to adding the library in his charge, If he neglects adding the collection let him at least take care not to reduce it by losing the books committed to his care or letting them corrupt in any way. He must suspect and guard of those adversaries of books. He’s to repair tapes destroyed by age, remind compendiums to treat books serviceably, keep them in a fixed and safe place. The preface of printing and the massive hunt for education following the Renaissance led to the change in the professional stations of librarians towards their collections. According to Nzotta( 1 982), the pendulum swung to the other extreme and the emphasis shifted to dispersion rather than preservation.
Librarians began to allow druggies open access to their book heaps and encouraged their use. stoner education also surfaced. The proliferation of experimenters in the universities and design work in seminaries greatly increased the use of libraries and therefore posed pitfalls to traditional library accoutrements . Traditional library accoutrements then refers to all the print accoutrements like books, calligraphies, charts, delineations, photos, journals, journals and magazines. By this delineations computer and all audio-visual accoutrements are barred while all the paper- grounded accoutrements remain the focus. Paper accoutrements from the largest stock of academic libraries. Hence Akussah( 1991) observes that the information world stand the imminent threat of losing so much of its precious pen heritage following the deterioration of paper records. Over-use came a major trouble to books for the lesser the use, the more vulnerable the volumes. Increased availability also increased trouble from stealers and other tardy compendiums . Open access to academic library collection led to the increased demand for the use of these traditional library accoutrements which is paper accoutrements . The hunt for ever cheaper paper to meet the increased e demand led in the after part of 19th century to the manufacture of paper from ground wood pulp. The sizing agents used for the dulling leave sommcids in the paper. When these acid papers, according Shahani and Wilson( 1987) are exposed to light and heat, they begin to quicken their I’ deterioration and embitterment. The essential poor quality of ultramodern paper is one of the topmost problems of all traditional accoutrements in an academic library. In addition, poor environmental and storehouse conditions contribute significantly to the deterioration and destruction of paper- grounded records in any academic library. In the face of all these pitfalls, numerous people have come alive of the survivability of these traditional library accoutrements for unborn use.
For case, William( 1 982) observes Everything. in the library collections is deteriorating moment, was deteriorating history, and will continue to deteriorate hereafter… Library suckers having noticed this trouble, and the utility of preservation have advised the world. Different conduct needful to braking deterioration process and icing preservation have also been linked. farther sweats are being made nationally and internationally to find out further results. According to Akussah( 1991) at the International Conference on the preservation of Library Accoutrements held in Vimna, Austria in April, 1986, it was recommended that member associations should prompt public policy- making bodies to establish guiding principles for the expression and perpetration of public programmes for the preservation of library accoutrements . The below is an suggestion of combined sweats being made to root out deterioration. Research associations like the International Federation of Library Association( IFLA) have at so established their own programmes on preservation and conservation( PAC) of libraries. African university libraries have had good knowledge about conservation. This occurs through the publications, training installations and forums of some exploration institutes, councils and associations like IFLR. Yet no similar development has been made in the area of practical preservation and conservation. This is affirmed by lgbinoba( 1993) who also asserts that to his knowledge, no African university library has appointed a conservation librarian. Academic libraries in Africa including Nigeria pay further attention to the accession of library coffers than to preservation. This has made our academic libraries the homes of embrittled, variegated and mould overran books, magazines, journals, review and other print accoutrements ( Oliobi, 1987). Hence, Wilson( 1981) observed Libraries moment are hospitals for sick books in which with veritably many exceptions not nearly enough is being done to treat the cases books aren’t lasting as they ought and should. Academic libraries acquire, process into retrievable form and make available the information contents to the academic community and the public for their tutoring and exploration work.
Academic libraries in Nigeria in fulfilling the below functions are facing pressures due to overuse and other abuses from the druggies. With the colossal quantum being spent on our academic libraries one just expects that acceptable planning be put in place to save the records in them from deterioration and destruction. The decline in the growth of precious and over- to- date collections in our academic libraries due to popular constraints, and the goods of global inflationary trends call for serious preservation measures in our academic libraries.
Statement of the Problem
Academic libraries face an uncertain future as a result of their dwindling traditional coffers due to deterioration caused by colorful environmental factors and poor quality papers. Ogunilade( 1996) observes that of all the manifold problems facing university libraries in Nigeria moment, none is as malign, patient and agonizing as the preservation and form of library coffers. thus, unless positive station towards preservation is displayed, academic libraries may no longer be suitable to negotiate their traditional places of supporting tutoring, literacy and exploration in their institutions. Oliobi( 1987) supports this as he states that utmost information accoutrements in Nigerian academic libraries are in paper format and are supposed to have been declared exposed following their poor state. Akinfolarin( 1992) and Aleabeleye( 1996) editorialized that the grossly reduced backing of academical institutions tends to worsen matters as their libraries find it delicate to go new literacy coffers or indeed to replace those damaged through deterioration. The only option left wing is to try to regain the living bones by employing colorful preservation measures to enable the libraries to still perform their places in their academic terrain. thus, the task before this study is to examine conservative practices of information coffers by libraries for enhanced collection utility in University libraries in Enugu state.
Ideal of the Study
The broad ideal of this study is to examine conservative practices of information coffers by libraries for enhanced collection utility in University libraries in Enugu State. Specifically, the study seeks
To ascertain whether there are requirements for preservation and conservation of information accoutrements .
To determine the ways and styles for conserving and conserving of information coffers.
To probe if acceptable preservation of library coffers enhances collection utility of those material by university community.
To examine the labor force need for conserving and conserving information accoutrements .
Exploration Question
Are there needs for preservation and conservation of information accoutrements ?
What are the ways and styles for conserving and conserving of information coffers?
Does acceptable preservation of library coffers enhance collection utility of those material by university community?
What are the labor force need for conserving and conserving information accoutrements ?
Significance of the Study
The result of the study will be significant to academic libraries in Enugu State as it’s important to pivotal support services in the accomplishment of the academic charge of their institutions. It’ll also be of consummate interest to all the stakeholders in advanced education to insure that the traditional coffers of these libraries are saved for as long as possible to make them feasible for academic purposes. The study will also acclimatize library operation in the institutions about the true conservation and preservation practices to inculcate in other to ameliorate them so that their libraries will be saved from destruction and still continue to render services to their druggies. Theoretically, the study will add to the body of knowledge and serve as reference material for scholars and pupil who wishes to conduct farther studies in affiliated field.
Compass of the study
The compass of this study borders on conservative practices of information coffers by libraries for enhanced collection utility in University libraries in Enugu State. The study further discusses the labor force need for conserving and conserving library accoutrements . The study is thus demarcated to librarians, library druggies and library and information pupil of University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu State.
Limitation Of Study
There are many factors that posed as limitation of the study. Those are Financial constrain and Time Constrain.
fiscal constraint – inadequate fund tends to stymie the effectiveness of the experimenter in sourcing for the applicable accoutrements , literature or information and in the process of data collection( internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint – The experimenter will contemporaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This accordingly will cut down on the time devoted for the exploration work.
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