SHELVING OF LIBRARY MATERIAL IN COLLEGE LIBRARIES
ABSTRACT
This research work examined shelving of library materials in college libraries with Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo and FECOLART as comparative study. Data was collected through a combination of questionnaire and documentary sources. The questionnaire, which was the major instrument for data collection, was designed to elicit information relevant to the research questions and objectives.
The data obtained were analyzed and results show that shelving of library materials were undertaken by Para-professionals and recommendation was made that shelving of library materials should be done by Para-professional under the strict supervision of professional librarians.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 OVERVIEW
Shelving of library materials is a veritable technique that ensures that books and other information materials are kept on the correct shelves after the materials have been processed at the Technical Services Section or after material have been consulted by users.
In every library, information materials are arranged on the shelves according to a definite plan. Shelving is defined as the process of returning processed or used books to the appropriate shelves from the cataloguing/classification section and reading tables respectively, while shelf-reading is the act of examining books kept on the shelves to see that they are properly shelved and in their correct positions on the shelves.
However, in shelving library materials, efforts are made to put them according to the symbols of classification call-number in shelving of library materials, there is need to ascertain the positioning of the materials. The college library is an important institution in the academic environment. These are libraries found in institution of higher learning which are completely devoted to the academic activities which are usually in line with the objectives of the parent institution therefore, shelving of books in the academic library is an activity aimed at facilitating the dissemination as well as retrieval of information.
Apparently shelving in college libraries is among the routines which constitute the non-professional jobs in the library because it is usually carried out by support staff like library assistants, library attendants and library officers.
However, in order to avoid or minimize mis-shelving and other shelving errors, shelving should be supervised by experienced professional staff especially the readers services librarian, circulation librarian and serials/documents librarian.
