1.0 Introduction
In the decades ahead, libraries will have to do more with acquisition and management of serials in academic libraries serial management, in particular will require a greater degree of adaptability and flexibility. This proffessional references overviews the most important issues concerning serials management in academic libraries in responding to a changing environment.
Among the issues discussed are the library management and diseemination of text and document delivery. The volume offers practical solutions to the problems facing librarians, which increases effective acquisition effective aqusition and management of serials in academic libraries.
1.1 Historical Background of Nekede Library
The federal polytechnic Nekede, Owerri was established by the edict No; 16 of 1978 with its former name as college of technology, Owerri. The school was renamed a by an amendment decree of 1st January 1993 to federal polytechnic Nekede and on 17th April 1993, the school was completely taken over by the federal government.
The main central library of the polytechnic came into existence in the same year as the polytechnic, the collections of the school was housed in one of the apartment blocks in school of enginerring block hall until 1998 when the foundation was laid for the establishmeny of a permanent library building to house the collection.
The library present permananet site in Januray 1999 was lead by “Mr. J. U Obasi” as the polytechnic librarian.
The library building was completed in the year (2000), the operation started in the year (2001), the staff of the library is more than forty made up of professionals, para professional and support staff. The library is open to students of the institutions, academic staff and researchers from other polytechnic.
The library has about 17,000 books, 8600 periodicals, few audio-visuals, 7,000newspapers and materials. The section include acquisition section, circulation section, technical section and virtual library section.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
Serial is the fundamental of every academic library because of its requisite nature as cararers of current information on research findings in all fields of human endavours. In this case, books are acquired, organized, stored and display the users will make effective use of it. Also there is need for proper co-ordination an management of serials. For the serial section of a library to serve its patrons effectively.
When one task about acquisition and management of serials. It involves normal disbursement of fund and how to manage fund coming in and going out of the library. But unfortunately one discovers that the proper co-ordination and utilization of serial resources in Poly-nekede library are fraught with numerous problems which make it difficult for the libraries to pay the expected roles.
To determine the problems that affect the effective management of serials in Federal Polytechnic Nekede Owerri library is the essence of this investigation. The areas to be investigated are funding stating, selections of information materials, acquisition, storage facilities, personnel, organization, as well as the management style and techniques to these problems.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The broad objective of this study is to examine the acqusitioin and management of serials in library with particular reference to federal polytechnic Nekede library. The specific objectives are as follows:
- To find out how the library serials are organized.
- To find out how these serials are circulated and disseminated.
- To ascertain the factors that affects the acquisition and management of serials in the library.
- To recommend solution on how to improve the acquisition and management of serial in Federal Polytehcnic Nekede, Owerri Library.
1.4 Research Questions
- How are serials organized in Federal Polytechnic Nekede, owerri library?
- How are serials circulated and disseminated in the library?
- How are serials acquired in the library?
- How are the improvement of acquisition and management of serial in federal polytechnic Nekede library?
1.5 Scope of the Study
The study is limited to only the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, library, Owerri. The researcher will cover such area as selection, acquisition, organization and storage, circulation and dissemination of information materials, funding, personnel, as well as Management style of the Serials Department.
1.6 Significance of the Study
The federal Polytehcnic Nekede library is a federal Owerri is a federal Government owned organization. Like very other state owned organization. It has been bruden with so many problems which are left unattended to over the Years, as a result, there has been so much decay in the library as well as the library serials department.
The information materials are so old and current materials are very rare. Serials rendered to clients are not the best and therefore not effective. These problems and more one what the researcher intends to investigate.
In discovering these problems, the investigator will also proffer valuable solutions to these problems. It is expected that the study will be kind of blue print for other academic libraries that would like to establish a serial department. The researcher also hoped that the work will be significant to people with task of managing serial collections of the library. It is also hope that study will be of immeasurable benefit to the following people viz. libraries, librarians in training, universities, polytechnic or college of education planners, administrator, resources persons and pursuers of knowledge and learning.
1.7 Definitions of Basic Concepts
Serials:
A serial is defined as a publication issued in successive part bearing numerical or chronological designation intended to be continue indefinitely, serials include periodical (Newspapers, magazines, journals and memo's, proceeding transactions of societies, annual (report, year book and numbered monographic series).
Academic Libraries:
These are libraries that cater for the teaching, research and recreational needs of students, lecturers, and non academic staff in institution of higher learning like polytechnics, universities, college of education and monotechnics etc.
Library Acquisition:
Acquisition is the process on obtaining library materials to satisfy the need of users. It is also the process of obtaining books and other materials for the library, documentation centre or achieves.
Library Management:
Library manager broadly defined includes all the things that go on from time a group of citizens establishes a library to serve it's need to the moment that library does something which helps a citizen. The objectives of the institution and its methods, it facilities and personnel are involved.
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