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Library Resources And Security Challenges
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CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Libraries as a store house of knowledge and information must be safe from security threats and vulnerability.
Academic
library collections are broad and varied. Academic libraries support
the educational community through access to its collections. Borrowing
privileges is an important means of giving access to the library’s
collections for personal, educational and socio-economic advancement.
Gelfand
(2005) posit that the library is the only centralized location where
new and emerging information technologies can be combined with knowledge
resources in a user-focused, service, rich environment that support
today’s social and educational patterns of learning, teaching and
research. Library services can only be achieved through the availability
of library collections. Anuobi and Okoye (2008) state that “academic
libraries are faced with hybrid challenges of managing resources and are
challenged to acquired the necessary skills needed for the adequate
security of the library’s collection or resources both in print and
non-print format.
Chaney and MacDougail (2004) states that
collections are vulnerable to abuse of one sort or another and library
managers need to keep this characteristic well to the forefront of the
library. Ensuring effective use, longevity and accessibility of library
resources makes an effective programme of collection security necessary.
Antiwi
(2009) state that book theft (stealing of books) was already a great
challenge to the library. Book theft started when the Persians went to
Egypt and with one word drew papyrus from the Library of Ramses II
without stopping for any formalities at the charging desk. They thus
began this illegal practice which has continued to torment libraries
ever since (Antiwi, 2009). Oyewusi and Oyeboade (2009) discuss the
importance of access to collections in supporting the mission of the
university. Their research view the importance of good collections as
they point to the need for safety and security for those collections.
Collection
security refers to a process designed to protect library collections
against un-authorized removal or loss. This involves protecting
resources against disasters as well as thieves or intruders
(Ajegbomogun, 2004). Information security governance is the manner in
which information security is deployed, Da Veiga and Eloff (2007).
Collection security management in libraries can be conceptualized to
mean the overall manner in which collection security policies,
programmes, procedures, or measures are deployed to mitigate risk and
ensure access.
Crime is increasing in a spectacular and frightening
rate in academic libraries, vandalism, mutilation, defacement, theft,
hiding of books, verbal and physical abuse, harassment and other
criminal activities are some of the challenges regularly encountered by
the library resources and the library staff. It is therefore vital that
today’s academic libraries be positioned to be able to confront these
challenges in an objective, analytical and professional manner without
displeasing the library users. The act of stealing, mutilation and
vandalization of library resources is no doubt spreading among library
users. These negative acts not only cause some immediate damage but also
have longer effect on those who witness them and the library’s
collection at large.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Library
resources are usually mutilated, stolen and vandalized by some
delinquent users. The extent of these challenges varies from one library
to the other but seems to be a universal problem. Libraries should
therefore ensure that there is high rate of security of their resources.
Academic librarians and information managers must have a clear focus
and vision on the reality of these security breaches in academic
libraries in other to successfully manage a flourishing and efficient
library and resources/research centre.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The following are the researcher’s objectives of the study:
i. To determine the existence of security policy in the academic libraries.
ii. To find out if adequate security of library resources is necessary in an academic library.
iii. To find out the type of library resources security breaches perceived by the respondents.
iv. To identify in general the types of collections which are more vulnerable to security breaches.
v. To find out the measures the library used to reduce and address security breaches in academic libraries.
vi. To identify the challenges to library resources security management.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]This research project is on Library Resources and Security Challenges in the Library of Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri. Data was collected using questionnaire designed and distributed to the staff of the library used as case study. In analyzing and presenting of the data collected, tables, frequencies and simple percentage (%) were used. The findings showed that the library is faced with different types of security challenges which are book theft, non-return of library materials, book mutila ... Continue reading---
