1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
In an academic library system, there are certain resources that contribute in a small way to the achievement of the goals of its parent institution. These resources in the wards of Nnadozie (2007) include:
- Finance
- Personnel
- Print and non-print materials
- Furniture equipment and fittings
The latter, furniture, according to the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, 8th ed. Refers to all the object is that are put in an office or house to make it suitable to work in it indentifies chairs and tables, as the examples of furniture.
According to Nnadozie (2007) some of the furniture found in a library (whether academic or non academic) are:Chairs, desks, tables, shelves, pamphlet boxes, newspaper, magazine reacts, atlas stands, encyclopedia, dictionary stand, display stand, display racks, suggestion boxes and catalogue cabinets.
To Apeji (2011) some of the furniture found in the library is:Shelves, cup boards, reading seats and chairs, tables, book supports, catalogue cabinets and pamphlets boxes. The furniture in a library according to the libraries, registration council of Nigeria minimum standards and guidelines for academic libraries in Nigeria (2014) are:Shelves, journals, display racks, reading tables, reading chairs and catalogue cabinets.
These furniture enhance the advertising of the resource of information in the library, their organization and use. Up to this time, there has not been any research that investigated the nature and kinds of furniture in the library of the Imo State University, Owerri. Thus is is not yet known.
It is against this background that this study is proposed to assess the furniture in the library.
1.2 Historical Background of Imo State University Library
The library is a centre of academic activities in a university. An effective use of it's as compelling as it is necessary. It is the largest single source of knowledge and information within the university system. The Imo State university library is located in the core academic area situated in a excavation which shield it from noise and predisposes it to learning and research, conspicuous sign post easily lead a new comer from the University main gate to the library.
The library consists of two relatively large building which are joined together.
It can contain up to 30,000 volumes of books an 250,3000 reader at a full capacity. There is a spacious accommodation for an educational technology centre. Membership of the library is free and open to all students, academic staff, senior administrative and technical staff of the University.
In exceptional cases, readers outside these categories maybe allowed to use the library. In such circumstances a special permit maybe issued to such a person through a formal application made to the University librarian.
1.3 Research Questions
The researcher will be guided by these research questions:
- What kinds of furniture are found in the library of the Imo State University Owerri, Imo State?
- Are these furniture wooden or metal made?
- What are the reasons for the preference of these kinds of furniture?
- What are the factors that determine the kinds and nature of furniture found in academic library?
1.4 Scope of the Study
This study focuses on Assessment of the Furniture in the Imo State University library Owerri. It covers both the wooden and metal furniture found in only the main library. The outpost libraries are not inclusive.
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