PRESERVATION AND SECURITY OF INFORMATION SOURCES IN POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN THE SOUTH EAST STATES OF NIGERIA

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           i

Approval page                      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           ii

Certification –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iii

Dedication                 –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           iv

Acknowledgement   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           v

Table of contents                 –           –           –           –           –           –           –           vi

List of tables                –           –           –           –           –           –           viii

Abstract                     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           ix

CHAPTER ONE:    INTRODUCTION

Background of the study     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           1

Statement of the problem    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           4

Purpose of the study            –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           5

Research questions –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           5

Significance of the study    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           6

Scope of the study   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           6

CHAPTER TWO:   LITERATURE REVIEW

Conceptual framework        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           7

An overview of library preservation and security          –           –           –           7

Methods of preserving and securing information

source in the library            –           –           –           –           –           –           –           17

Constraints to preservation and security of information sources   29

Strategies for improving the preservation and security of information sources –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           32

Theoretical framework          –           –           –           –           40

Empirical review of related studies          –           –           –           –           –           40

Summary of review of related literature –   –           –           –           49

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD

Research Design       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           51

Area of the study      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           51

Population of the study       –           –           –           –           –           –           –           51

Sample and Sampling Technique  –           –           –           –           –           –           52

Instrument for Data Collection      –           –           –           –           –           –           52

Validation     –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           55

Method of Data Collection             –           –           –           –           –           55

Method of Data Analysis    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           55

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF DATA

Research Question 1                –           –           –           –           –           56

Research Question 2         –           –           –           –           –           –           57

Research Question 3    –           –           –           –           –           –           57

Research Question 4             –           –           –           –           –           –           59

Research Question 5         –           –           –           –           –           –           60

Research Question 6     –           –           –           –           –           –           61

Summary of Major Findings       –           –           –           –           62

CHAPTER FIVE:   DISCUSSION, SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION

Discussion of Findings        –           –           –           –           –           –           –           64

Implication of the study      –           –           –           –           –           –           –           66

Recommendations of the study     –           –           –           –           –           –           68

Suggestion for further research           –           –           –           68

Conclusion    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           69

References    –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           –           70

Appendix

LIST OF TABLES

Input output relationship    –           –           –           –           –           56

Population of the study                   –           –           –           –           –           –           52

Mean responses of librarians on the problems of preservation and security of information sources     –           –           –           56

Mean responses of librarians on the extent of book loss through theft and mutilation              –           –           –           –           –           –           57

Mean responses of librarians on the methods adopted in preserving and securing information sources             –           –           –           –           58

Mean responses of librarians on the effectiveness of methods of preserving and securing information sources         –           –           59

Mean responses of librarians on the constraints to preservation and security   –           –           –           –           –           –           –           60

Mean responses of librarians on the strategies for effective preservation and security          –           –           –           –           –           –           61

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to investigate the preservation and security of information sources in polytechnic libraries in South East States of Nigeria. This is with the aim of ascertaining the problems, the extent of book theft and mutilation, methods, effectiveness of methods, constraints and strategies for enhancement. Six objectives and research questions were formulated to guide the study. These research questions are: What are the factors that constitute the problems of preserving and securing information sources in polytechnic libraries in the south east states of Nigeria, what is the extent of book loss through theft and mutilation in these polytechnic libraries. What methods of preserving and securing information source are adopted by these libraries. To what extent are the methods adopted in preserving and securing their information sources effective. What are the constraints to preservation and security of information sources and what are the strategies for effective preservation and security of information sources. A descriptive survey design was adopted in carry out the study. The entire population was studied. The instruments for data collection were questionnaire, observation and interview. Out of 34 copies of the questionnaire distributed to the librarians of polytechnic libraries in South East States of Nigeria 33 copies were returned, representing 97% of the questionnaire distributed. To analyse the data, the following descriptive statistical measures were employed frequency table, simple percentages and mean (x). The result obtained from the analysis of data revealed that: The problems of preservation and security in polytechnic libraries in South East States were mutilation, theft, dust, overdue and disintegration of books, that these libraries used untrained security men to protect their information sources, that combination of methods can make the methods of protecting information sources effective, that there are many constraints and strategies to preservation and security of information sources. Based on the research findings, it was recommended that: libraries should embark on training and retraining of library security men, better incentives in terms of remuneration and training of all library staff and user as to the evils of these antisocial activities in the libraries.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background to the Study

            Polytechnic libraries are established to assist the polytechnic institutions to perform their functions and roles by selecting, acquiring, processing, securing and preserving their information sources, which are made available to users.  Libraries are also an essential part of the organization of a polytechnic and the basis of all study and research.  The polytechnic libraries hold a very important and large proportion of the nation’s literary wealth and resources. They represent the polytechnics’ sole instrument capable of reflecting the totality of knowledge and the institutions’ major purposes and of relationships and interdependences of its many departments and faculties.  The basic purpose of a polytechnic library is to serve the needs of its students, academic staff and polytechnic community.  Therefore, the library should have a comprehensive and functional collection to serve the information needs of the users.  However, most of the vast collections of the library are made of paper based materials.  These paper-based materials are subject to deterioration within a space of time. Harvey (1993), some rare books and other library materials need to be preserved and secured.  It becomes necessary that the librarians and other library workers, having been aware of the problems of book preservation and security in libraries, should be concerned with the protection of these materials.

The issue of preservation and security of information sources is very important to the existence of a library.  Harvey (1993) observed that deterioration is on a massive scale, affecting such an immense volume of materials in the libraries throughout the world, that to suggest it will become the major professional concern of the coming decades is no exaggeration.  Already the problems exist.  The magnitude of the problem is enormous.  The factors that worsen the problems vary from that of the quality of the environment in which library collections are stored, the ways of handling these collections, increased use of library resources as a consequence of improved education, to recent awareness of our cultural heritage inherent in the materials themselves.  Lincoln and Lincoln (1987) on their part observed that the techniques that have been developed to prevent and control crime are far more sophisticated than the chaining of books.  The  presentation of research about library crime, disruption and deterioration can provide insight into the problems faced by librarians and stimulate thought about the range of solutions to the problems of crime, disruption and deterioration.  Further, these problems arise from theft, mutilation, war, and vandalism of library materials.  Others are related to disaster occurrences such as flooding, earthquake, volcanic eruptions and fire. Therefore it becomes imperative that the librarians should inculcate preservation, conservation and restoration as one of its programmes, make arrangement for restoration of damaged materials and educate other staff towards achieving this aim.

Information sources can be in print or in electronic version, and they are vital and delicate.  The way they are handled can affect the life span of the records contained in them.  These records must be preserved and secured for future purposes. Feather, (1997), information sources are also materials consulted for knowledge about a topic, a theme, an event, a date, a number, a place or even a word. Some information source lend themselves to quick and easy use and are called reference sources (Aina, 2004). Other types of information sources are; Journals, official publications and statistics, theses and dissertations, internet sources, non-book material like cartographic materials, sound recordings, motion picture. All these information sources are stored in the library to provide the information that the uses need. 

Information on the other hand is all published and unpublished knowledge from a source to meet human needs for decision making and for meaningful existence (Folurunso, 2004).  Information is indispensable, an ingredient for social, economic, industrial, political and technological advancement.  It is a stimulus and responding to it prompts us to act the way we do (Afolabi, 2003).  Information is not only an instrument for change, growth and development but also data meant for answering or meeting users’ queries.  Igbeka and Atinmo (2002) opined that information is an important tool and a valuable resource required for the realization of any objective or goal set by individuals.  Therefore acquiring and using information is critical and sine qua non to excelling in one’s responsibilities.

Information sources in our polytechnic libraries should be preserved and secured because of the importance of the information contained in them.  Levy (2003) pointed out that written documents help us to conduct financial transactions, build bridges and skyscrapers, send greetings and express love, run factories and corporations.  He asserted that our documents are agents helping us to make and maintain a meaningful workable culture. 

There are also other reasons why information sources in our polytechnic libraries should be preserved and secured.    In a developing country like Nigeria, there is a dearth of valuable publications.  It often takes a long time to purchase information sources from overseas due to high exchange rate of our local currency in comparison with dollars and pounds. In addition, paltry financial allocations are made to polytechnic libraries.  These resources are inadequate and reproduction facilities are expensive (Banjo, 1982, Abifarin, 1992).  The importance of preservation and security of these information sources cannot be over emphasized.

Preservation is a means of taking care of library materials to avoid deterioration (Aina, 2004). There are many enemies of books which may attack or destroy library materials. These include climatic conditions such as humidity, aridity, and ultraviolet rays, biological agents such as book worms, ants, rodents and natural hazards such as fire, flood and war.  According to English Folkdance and Songs Society (2009) preservation refers to the totality of measures for maintaining the integrity of documents and the information contained in them. It includes all the managerial and financial considerations, storage and accommodation provisions, staffing level policies, techniques and methods involved in safe guarding documentary materials.

On the other hand, security of information sources deals with measures taken to guarantee the safety of information sources in our libraries.   Aguolu and Aguolu (2002) are of the view that the advent of open stack encourage browsing and faster dissemination of knowledge to all, but it exposes library collections to more pilfering, mutilation and other antisocial acts. Many borrowers ignore the due date of return of books borrowed and are undeterred by fines attached to late return of books.

Information is a vital organizational tool and an important business resource. Benedon (1992) was of the view that because of today’s advance in technology and dependency upon communication, information has joined capital, labour and materials as the ingredients for successful enterprise. Unfortunately, as important as information is, effective preservation and security of information sources have been accorded a  low priority in many polytechnic libraries. It is therefore little wonder that when a library building goes up into flames, the information it houses is destroyed and there is little protection programme for these materials (Alegbeleye 1993).  Libraries are social institutions created to conserve knowledge, preserve cultural heritage, provide information aid education and research and recreation (Aguolu and Aguolu 2002). The above objectives of the library can never be achieved if librarians allow the information sources in their care to be stolen or deteriorate.

Statement of the Problem

PRESERVATION AND SECURITY OF INFORMATION SOURCES IN POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN THE SOUTH EAST STATES OF NIGERIA