LIBRARY SERVICES AND CHALLENGES OF RESOURCE ACQUISITION (A CASE STUDY OF PLATEAU STATE POLYTHECNIC BARKIN LADI)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Academic library is a library that is attached to an institution of learning, a major function of which is research and the advancement of knowledge in a wide variety of subjects. It is an important service or unit of operation set up to provide location ,resources and facilities for study, teaching and research carried out in the institution. The importance of an academic library is to serve as an auxiliary to the parent institution in carrying out its objectives. The Library is an essential resource of the academic institutions, and helps them fulfill the curriculum requirements and to promote studies and research (Rajendran and Rathinasabapathy, 2005). The library takes care of the information needed by the institutions through the provision of reading materials for the various programmes of the institution (Igbinosa and Idiodi, 2002). According to Danton (2003), the major responsibility of the academic library with respect to its book selection and book collection is to provide the materials which will now and in the future best contribute to the fulfillment of these of teaching, conservation and research. Ajibero (2001) suggested that the academic library is the “centre” of the institution. He said that what all academic libraries have in common, virtually irrespective of country or history is their basic position, roles, aims and objectives. The standard of these libraries depends highly on the library facilities it offers its people in terms of information resources. Information and research resources become more diverse, it places a challenge on academic libraries. Hazen (2000) disagreed to the changes in the nature of information, in research methods, and in the structure of higher education are affecting academic libraries. The different changes tell much about the shifting context within which academic libraries must operate. Therefore, it is absolutely important that libraries possess the resources that will enable them meet her goals. Standard buildings, well trained staff and modern information storage and retrieval system and quality materials can only be recognized when excellent services are rendered to users. All these services cannot be given without a retrieval of information materials. Objective of any academic library is to enhance the teaching, learning and research activities of the academic institution. This is an objective which can be achieved through a systematic acquisition and organization of all forms of recorded and undocumented information in all fields important to the goals of the institution. Realization of these goals is by making such information available to the members of the academic institution and other scholars engaged in research and study (Ekere, 2003). Collection development is one of the fundamental functions of the library and information profession. Magrill (1999) described it to include all planning for the systematic and rational building of a collection. In one sense, collection development includes assessing user needs, evaluating the present collection, determining selection policy, coordinating selection of items, re-evaluating and storing parts of the collection and planning for resources sharing. However, in a broader sense, collection development is not a single activity, or a group of activities; it is a planning and decision-making process. In order to play these vital roles effectively, academic libraries are supposed to be adequately funded by their parent institutions to procure adequate information resources. A library’s collection development efforts cannot be effective unless its acquisition efforts are efficient. This practice that is responsible for selecting and acquiring information specialist to perform their myriad function to the users effectively (Aina, 2004). Academic librarians must strive to remain competent navigators of acquisition and collection building in order to assist library users’ .In addition, acquisition practices includes a policy on the conservation and preservation of information materials as well as the weeding of information materials. The policy is to provide guidance to staff when selecting and deselecting resources for the local collection. Henceforth, collection evaluation is concerned with how perfect a collection is in terms of the various kinds of materials in it and value of each item in relation to the institution being served, and to the library users. The intricacy of operating effectively and efficiently in libraries requires a greater knowledge about the processes and evaluating how they affect various libraries’ decision making and planning processes. The process of collection evaluation is a broadly encompassing activity. It can be as simple as the assessment of size of dollar worth of a collection and it can be as complex as measuring its value to a given community. This process is an excellent situation for communication among different units in the library. There are two propositions about the best foundation for good selection in collection development which are: know the collection and know the community. Osborne (2005) pointed out that evaluation possesses the potentials to make known the strengths, limitations, needs and possibilities of the library. These can project the image of responsible management thereby garnering support for improvement, grooming better hope for the future. The aim of this library’s is said to have been achieved if its objectives is not just towards mere warehousing of materials and resources that come within its reach or it becoming a mere dumping room for gifts, but an evaluative system where the best is acquired and organized for easy identification of materials within a set period of time. The goal of those who are charged with acquisition responsibilities are to build the best collection possible that will be relevant to the curriculum but this single goal is not possible in our academic libraries today. Osborne (2007) in his study of relationship between trends in research and in the way in which academic research collections had been built lamented that research libraries are unable to meet the needs of their users, not so much because of lack of money as lack of awareness in the academic research environment. The main purpose for the existence of libraries and indeed librarians is making available the information, materials and resources that an individual wants irrespective of its format or location. Prior to the ability of the institution librarian to do, this is the collection of materials and resources with which students and staff alike will access. He is expected to continuously acquire, assemble and develop a collection bearing the unique characteristics of the institution. In summary, whether the collection of a library is large or small, the challenges must be determined, rated as to their importance to users and accepted or alleviated by all. Categorically speaking, all Libraries under study are involved with collection development and evaluation. We can say that, the issue of policies guiding the process and constant evaluation of collection is yet to be fully actualized. Proper information resources that meet the needs of users are slightly above normal level. The situation might be as a result of some challenges such as insufficient staff/manpower to carry out the library practices, insufficient funds to acquire necessary resource materials and lastly the issue of minimal demand from students, academia’s, departments and faculties for up to date or topical materials relating to current curriculum.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Overtime, libraries have been faced with the problem of inadequate and outdated collections. Providing the information materials a user wants regardless of its format or location is the main reason for the existence of libraries and librarians. Various efforts are being made by Polytechnic libraries in Nigeria to acquire information materials that will meet the desired needs of users in terms of adequacy, currency and availability. The consistent review of library materials is necessary for maintaining an active library collection of current interest to users. Evaluation will be made to determine whether the collection is meeting its objectives, how well it is serving its users, in which way it is deficient and what remains to be done to develop the collection. This is why the acquisitions department of any library is essentially a service unit for the public service department and staff as customers to be satisfied. Unfortunately, most Polytechnics are facing some challenges in providing, preserving and replacing damaged and worn out materials. However, some studies have been carried out on related areas such as book acquisition, collection development in university libraries but none have covered the present status of acquisition and collection development in Polytechnic libraries in South east zone of Nigeria. Notwithstanding all the efforts being made by Polytechnic libraries towards acquiring information materials that is adequate, current and fully meets the institutions curricular, it appears they face a number of problems. Knowledge of these challenges is essential for any Polytechnic library whether federal, State or private. This shows that there is still gap which needs to be filled in order to have a balanced collection.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine library services and the challenges of resource acquisition. Other specific objectives of the study are;

1. To examine the need for adequate resource acquisition in Nigerian libraries.
2. To determine the level of resources present in Nigerian resources.
3. To assess the level of library services in Nigerian libraries.
4. To assess the challenges of libraries and resource acquisition in Nigeria.
5. To examine the level of challenges to library services and resource acquisition in Nigeria.
6. To recommend ways of reducing the challenges of library services and resource allocation in Nigeria.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What is the need for adequate resource acquisition in Nigerian libraries?
2. What is the level of resources present in Nigerian resources?
3. What is the level of library services in Nigerian libraries?
4. What are the challenges of libraries and resource acquisition in Nigeria?
5. What is the level of challenges to library services and resource acquisition in Nigeria?
6. What are the ways of reducing the challenges of library services and resource allocation in Nigeria?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

H0: There are no challenges to library services and resource acquisition in Nigerian Libraries.

H0: There are significant challenges to library services and resource acquisition in Nigerian Libraries.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study would be of immense importance to librarians, educationist and all related stakeholders as it would assess the challenges to library services and resource acquisition in Nigerian libraries with the sole purpose to reducing such challenges in other to enhance library services. The study would also be of benefit to students, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

This study restricted to library services and challenges of resource acquisition using the plateau state polytechnic Barkin Ladi as a case study.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Time constraint- The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.