ACQUISITION AND MANAGEMENT OF SERIAL IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

ABSTRACT

 The study tends to examine the acquisition and management of serial in academic libraries in Cross River University of Technology, Calabar. The approaches used to investigate the problem under study were, the interview technique, the examination of serials stock and other management records and observation of library activities especially in serials sections. The findings reveal that academic libraries in Nigeria use three major methods purchase, exchange and gift for serial acquisition. The purchase method was used most because it saved time and was found to be effective, reliable and dependable provided the payment is done on time. On management, it was noted that finance is the greatest problem especially since the introduction of foreign exchange markets. Consequently, Nigerian academic libraries have not been able to purchase overseas serials regularly. Poor budget allocation and utilization, lack of qualified personnel, lack of incentives for workers and poor storage facilities were among the management problems uncovered. With the study results, the paper argues in favour of the relevance of steady and proper serial acquisition and effective management as an aid in our quest for quality library services in Nigerian academic libraries.

                                            CHAPTER ONE

                                           INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

One would ask what motivated the researcher to embark on this research work. The answer is simple. The researcher developed keen interest in serials acquisition policy, procedure and management in academic libraries two important factors motivated the researcher to undertake this study first was the acquisition of serials and the inability of librarians to really managed these acquired. Second was the important of serials in libraries.
The role of serials in dissemination of information in academic library system cannot be overemphasized. Like orange juice, milk and bread, information better when it is fresh. Serials from the backbone of any academic library or research library because of their currency in information. In this way, they aided the dissemination of current information.
Information explosion has necessitated an improvement in the gathering, processing and dissemination of information sources in libraries. Hence they could be say to be indispensable in academic libraries. The use of serials in academic research has continued to be on the increase in recent times. This has further necessitated their effective development and management.
The term serials and periodical are synonymous. They are under interchangeably to refer to the materials imprint or non-print form that are produced serially or periodically. As indicated in the Anglo. American cataloguing rule (1978) a serial is a publication in any medium issued in successive part bearing numerical or chronological designation and intend to be continued indefinitely.
The part of serial publication may be published at different materials e.g. daily, weekly, month, bi-monthly, quarterly, annually, bi-annually and so forth by an academic society, a research institution, a learned society, a reputable publishing organization, a professional body. Some serials one published on subject bases while some one on general topic. It is sterility that distinguishes serial publication from book and monographs and it is the periodicity that dictates format and price.
Serials are pointed out lawal (1982) in serial acquisition and management in Nigerian university libraries problems and prospects can be regarded as the nerve centre of any university or academic library because they contain the most up to date information or research and knowledge. Hey are useful for study teaching, learning and research purposes, serials includes journals, magazine, newspaper, bulletins, newsletters, memories, report, year book and directories.
Today, it has not been easy for serials librarians to acquire all the necessary information resources needed. This is as a result of confusion and about over sources of and acquisition idiosyncrasies on the part of book dealers. Even where these materials are supplied, there is yet this problem of storage facilities and equipment to use. Insight shows that the attendant result of these ugly trend is that academics libraries one losing a considerable number of their clientele interims of providing the required information as and when due.
For a library to achieve its objectives effectively. It must be able to co-ordinate both its human and materials resources properly. The effectiveness in the usage of serials depend on the efficiency of serials management in nay library. Serials have to be selected, acquired, stored, retrieve and disseminated to the users. This is where serial acquisition and management becomes indispensable.
Woodward (1991) is of the opinion that acquisition and management of serials need skills as in any successfully manage business. It is a two way communication and clearly perceive task and understanding of the collection is a, must, he stressed that serial acquisition and management comprises all activities needs to facilitate and implement efficient and effective transfer of information to the potential users and thereby fulfill the objectives of the library wishes to achieve.
Like any other concept, management evolves diverse memories in a variety ways. According to Fussler, K. (1963) acquisition is the process by which libraries achieve or documented materials needed by their patrons or clientele. While management according to entrain and jack (1981) is the planning and integrating of effort, judicious uses of resources, motivation of people and provision of leadership other to guide an organization towards its goal and objectives in the efficient manner.
The carryout the above functions, managers are engaged in a continuous process of making decision. Acquisition and management is the beefing up the library stock and proper organizing and preserving of it, management is equivalent to decision making.
The goal of serial acquisition and management is to deliver promptly that serial literature, which the user’s needs. Librarians serving in academic libraries should realizing that researcher and users of the library require a wide range of knowledge. Realizing the complexity of the situation as well as the increasing trend towards publication in serial form, the selection and acquisition should be done on those information need of the organization. The researcher will investigate into problems of serials acquisition and management in academic library of Imo State University.

1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Serial is the backbone of every academic library because of its indispensable nature as careers of current information on research findings in all field of human endevours. Therefore such as books are acquired organized, stored and display that users will make effective use of it. So, also there is need for proper co-ordination and management of serials. For that serial sections 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 Imo state academic library are fraught with numerous problems which makes it difficult for the libraries to pay the expected roles.
To determine the problems that affect the effective management of serials in Imo state academic library (university) is the essence of these 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 objectives of the study are;
I. To determine how the serial collections are acquired in Cross River University of Technology, Calabar library.
II. To find out how the library serials are organized.
III. To find out how these serials are circulated and disseminated.
IV. To find out the qualification of staff working in the Nigerian section of the library
V. To ascertain the factors that affect the acquisition and management of serials in the library.
VI. To recommend solution on how to improve the acquisition and management of serial in Cross River University of Technology, Calabar library.

1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. Are serials organized in Cross River University of Technology, Calabar library?
2. Are serials circulated and disseminated in the university library?
   3. Can serials collections be managed in Cross River University of Technology, Calabar library?
3. What is the strength and qualification of staffs of Nigeria section of Imo state university library?
   5. What are the factors that hinder effective management of serials collections of the library?

1.5 SIGNIFCANCE OF THE STUDY

The Imo state university library is a state owned organization. Like every other state owned organization. It has been fraught 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 (NIGERIAN). 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 problem 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 hope that the work will be significance 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.

1.6 SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is limited to only the Nigerian section of Cross River University of Technology, library. 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.

In the cause of the study, the researcher encounters some limitations which limited the scope of the study;

Staff Reluctance: In most cases the staffs of Cross River University of Technology, Calabar library often feels reluctance over providing required information required by the researcher. This result in finding information where the structured questionnaires could not point out.

Researcher’s Commitment: The researcher, being of full time student spent most of her time on other academic activities such as test, class work, assignment, examination etc which takes average focus from this study.

Inadequate Materials: Scarcity of material is also another hindrance. The researcher finds it difficult to long hands in several required material which could contribute immensely to the success of this research work.

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

1.8 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS

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 nonacademic 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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