ABSTRACT
This study investigated the availability and utilization of cataloguing tools in Abia State University Library, Uturu. The study was guided by five (5) specific objectives and five (5) research questions. The study employed descriptive survey research, while the population of the study is ten (10) cataloguing staff of Abia State University Library. The sampling technique is the complete census method. Questionnaire and checklist were the instruments used for data collection. The questionnaire and checklist were validated by three (3) experts in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike. Reliability test of the instrument was done using Cronbach’s Alpha. Frequency count and mean were used in analysing data for the study. The study identified Anglo American Cataloguing Rule II 2nd edition, Library of congress classification Schedule, Dewey Decimal Classification Schedule etc. as cataloguing tools that are available in Abia State University Library. Machine readable catalogues 21, Resource Description and Access, OPAC, PUC etc were not available. The study also revealed that the following cataloguing tools are used in Absu Library: Anglo American Cataloguing Rule 2nd Edition, Library of Congress Classification Schedules, Cataloguing worksheet, Sears list of subject heading, Library of Congress (LC) subject heading List, while the following are not used: Dewey decimal classification schedules, Machine readable catalogues, Resources Description and Access, Universal Decimal Classification Schedules, Bliss’ Bibliographic classification, Online cataloguing etc. The reason for the use of cataloguing tools according to the study are as follows: It serves as guide in the application of cataloguing rules, for confirming the correctness of the entry, to provide quick access to materials, to ensure uniformity, for checking if a book has been previously acquired and catalogued by the librarian, aids in updating of catalogue entries, for confirming and checking of available materials, for assignment of subject heading, for assignment of class mark and assignment of author numbers. Some of the challenges experienced by cataloguers are: inadequate cataloguing tools, presence of analogue cataloguing tools, absence of guide on how to use most of the tools, the tiny characters of some cataloguing books, absence of agreement between some tools, epileptic power supply to use digital cataloguing tools. The solution to the challenges of using cataloguing tools by cataloguers include the following: provision of adequate cataloguing tools, incorporation of ICT cataloguing tools, provision of guide on the use of cataloguing tools, use of bold characters for cataloguing books, use of tools that are free of contradiction, ensuring portability of cataloguing tools, ensuring regular power supply to use digital cataloguing tools. The study recommends that adequate cataloguing tools should be provided in ABSU library, including the incorporation of ICT cataloguing tools, relevant incentives for cataloguers and that regular power supply to the cataloguing rooms.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title pages i
Certification ii
Declaration iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of contents vi
List of Tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER 1:INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
of the Study 1
1.1.2 Background information of Abia State University, Uturu library 6
1.2 Statement
of the Problem 7
1.3 Purpose
of the Study 8
1.4 Research
Questions 9
1.5 Significance
of the Study 9
1.6 Scope of the Study 10
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Conceptual Framework 11
2.1.1 Concept of cataloguing 11
2.1.2 Cataloguing tools in
University libraries 15
2.1.3 Utilization of cataloguing
tools in University library 21
2.1.4 Challenges to the Use of
Cataloguing Tools in University Libraries 24
2.1.5 Solutions to the Challenges of
Use of Cataloguing Tools in
University libraries 25
2.2 Theoretical Framework 27
2.2.1 Connectivity theory by George Siemens (2011) 27
2.2.2 Theory of self-efficacy by Albert Bandura
(1977) 28
2.2.3 Theory of reasoned
action (TRA) by Icek Ajzen and
Martin Fishbein (1975) 29
2.3
Empirical Studies 30
2.4 Summary of Literature Review 33
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1 Design of the Study 35
3.2 Area
of the study 35
3.3 Population
of the Study 36
3.4 Sample
and Sampling Technique 36
3.5 Instruments
for Data Collection 36
3.6 Validation
of the Instrument 36
3.7 Reliability
of the Instrument 37
3.8 Method
of Data Collection 37
3.9 Methods of Analysis
38
CHAPTER 4: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS
4.1
Data Analysis 39
4.2
Summary of findings 51
4.3
Discussion of findings
CHAPTER 5
DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1
Discussion of Findings 45
5.2
Conclusion 47
5.3
Educational Implication of the Findings 49
5.4
Limitations of the Study 50
5.5
Recommendations 50
5.6
Suggestions for Further Studies 50
5.7
Summary of the Study 51
References 53
Appendixes 57
LIST OF TABLES
Cataloguing
Tools (N = 10) 39
Cataloguing
tools used in ABSU library (N = 9) 40
Reasons
for the use of cataloguing tools (N = 9) 42 Challenges cataloguers experience
in the use of cataloguing tools (N = 9) 43
Solutions
to the identified challenges experienced by cataloguers (N = 9) 44
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE
STUDY
Academic
libraries select, acquire, process, store and make available for use
information resources in various fields of knowledge to support teaching,
learning and research (Onyesiku & Oduwole, 2004). The purpose of the
University library is to support the objectives of the university which is to
promote teaching, learning and research. Thus, the university library is meant
to serve the undergraduates, postgraduates, lecturers, researchers and other
members of the university community. The library is regarded as the heart of
the intellectual life of the university. Libraries are places that acquire and
disseminate information. They are sources of knowledge and inspiration for many
users. People use information in libraries for different reasons. Sindane (2004)
observes that libraries, being sources of information could improve their
environment by making basic information more easily available, accessible and
user friendly. Silungwe (2006) states that, information in libraries is a
life-giving force for efficient and effective performance in all service
sectors, without which both the individual and the service are at immediate
disadvantage. Therefore, it is very important to have a library which is
properly managed to provide access to information materials.
Silungwe
(2006) further states that the quality of the university is measured largely by
the quality of its library because of its unique role in the university system.
No university can exist without a library since the university is meant to
teach and carry out research. For the undergraduates, the library is supposed
to provide information, materials and services specifically designed to meet
their needs. For the postgraduate students, teaching staff and research
fellows, the university library is supposed to provide information resources
and services of sufficient quality and diversity to efficiently serve users
(Aina, 2004).
Prytherch
(2005) suggests that an information society is one where the population is
dependent on information accessed either through the traditional means or by
modern technology for social, economic or political development. In these
societies, information becomes a precious commodity to be enjoyed by every
citizen.Information materials are organized through cataloguing and classification.
According
to Ekere and Mole (2014), cataloguing is the process of describing an item of a
collection with a view to determining its bibliographical attributes.
Cataloguing is an aspect of library technical services which involves the
organization of library information resources to ensure relative speed and ease
of access by the clientele of the library. Cataloguing is unarguably the hob of
librarianship.
Ekere and Mole (2014)
are of the same view, cataloguing tools refer to those materials that cataloguers
use in the process of cataloguing. They include: Anglo American Cataloguing
Rule 2 (AACR2). Library of Congress Classification (LCC) schedule, Dewey
Decimal Classification (DDC) schedule, Machine Readable Cataloguing (MARC),
Resource Description and Access (RDA) which is basically designed for the
digital world, Universal Decimal Classification (UDC), thesaurus, dictionaries,
Cutter Sanborn three figure author table, cataloguing worksheet, Sears List of
Subject Headings, Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH), metadata formats
and standards, Online Cataloguing Database and Networks, cataloguers Web-based
toolkits, ACM Computer Science Classification, Ranganathan’s Colon
Classification, Mathematics Subject Classification, Online Public Access
catalogue, Cataloguing cards, Catalogue In Publication (CIP) Data and Printed
Union Catalogues (PUC). Cataloguers need these tools in cataloguing and
classification.
Availability of these
cataloguing tools is of paramount importance.
This is because cataloguers would only make use of the cataloguing tools
available at their disposal. However, when there is shortfall in the provision
of these cataloguing tools, Nnadozie (2007) asserts that the process would be
undermined. Though, in most cases, these cataloguing tools may be available but
its utilization is another issue of concern. Bowen-Chang and Hosein (2009) is
of the argument that even as availability is necessary, the utilization and
training to ensure quality utilization is also important. This is because
availability does not necessarily mean utilization.
Hjorland (2008) opines
that utilization of cataloguing tools is very crucial to the work of activities
of the cataloguer. From the definition of cataloguing tools and resources, it
can be deduced that the use of cataloguing tools and cataloguing job are
inseparable. However, experience has shown that these tools are poorly utilised
due to lack of skills by the cataloguers. Another challenge in the utilization
of the tools is non availability of the tools. It is impossible to use what is
not available. Hence, for cataloguers to perform optimally, cataloguing tools
must be readily available and the cataloguers must possess the necessary
competencies to the use of them. Nwalo (2001) laments the dearth of these tools
in school libraries. In fact, at the recent workshop organised by Nigeria
Library Association, librarians were photocopying the current edition of Moys
Classification Scheme and Thesaurus. Aderinto and Obadare (2009) confirm high
cost and obsolete cataloguing materials as major challenges facing cataloguers.
Notwithstanding that cataloguing tools are usually very expensive they should
be made available for use in the libraries for effective organisation of
knowledge.
Consequently, the
cataloguers do not assume that his tools and methods for the control of these
collections reflect permanent relationships between the user and the
information materials. He must be prepared to constantly revise the
configuration of the classification schemes, subject heading list, indexes and
other devices at his command for the efficient management of his bibliographic
store and to reconcile them with the changing demands of his users. Kim (2003)
states that in library, it usually includes the bibliographic description,
subject analysis, assignment of classification notation and other activities
involved in physically preparing the items for the shelf. These tasks are
usually performed under the supervision of a librarian trained as a cataloguer.
There are two types of cataloguing, original and copy cataloguing. Original
cataloguing refers to the preparation of a bibliographic record from scratch,
without the aid of pre-existing catalogue record for the same edition which is
time consuming for the cataloguer. Copy cataloguing involves the adaptation of
a pre-existing bibliographic record from other bibliographic databases, such as
Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) or National Union Catalogue (NUC), to fit
the characteristics of the item in hand with modifications to correct obvious
errors and minor adjustments to reflect locally accepted catalogue practice.
Thus, when cataloguers engage in the process of cataloguing, they are entering
information about a book or any other item into the library’s catalogue so that
when users search the catalogue, they find what they are looking for or at
least something that will help them find an answer to their question.
The library collections
are organized through cataloguing and classification. According to Ekere and
Mole (2014), cataloguing is the process of describing each of the book and
information materials that a library has. It is the process of describing an
item of a collection with a view to determining its bibliographical attributes.
Cataloguing is an aspect of library technical services which involves the
organization of library information resources to ensure relative speed and ease
of access by the clientele of the library. Cataloguing also involves the
determination of subject contents of the material. Classification gives guide
to shelving according to content of the information material. Other activities
are the labels on the materials to make circulation easy.
Cataloguing is an
activity of the library with the intention to facilitate easy access and
location of the collections by patrons. The essence of cataloguing is to make
it easy for a searcher to identify the document in a collection when seen.
Cataloguing involves two broad activities or stages, namely; descriptive
cataloguing and subject cataloguing.
A catalogue therefore,
is an indispensable tool, which facilitates the use of library materials Kumar
and Kumar (2010) asserted, library is a comprehensive list of the books,
periodical, maps, in a given collection, arranged in systematic order to
facilitate retrieval (usually alphabetically by author, title, and/or subject).
Because libraries usually contain a vast amount of materials, users might never
find the information they need if these materials were not carefully organized.
The catalogue is an
important retrieval tool to a library and its users. It is a means by which the
library ensures effective control of the materials so as to aid users get what
they need or require at the time they need it. As an organizational tool, it
serves as an access point in the location of the stock of books in a library.
Without the use of the catalogue, it will be difficult to find a book or
material in a library. Catalogues are necessary whenever a collection grows too
large to be remembered item by item. Kumar and Kumar (2010) opined that the
catalogue has been described as the culmination of the library staff efforts at
organizing information for access. From the users’ point of view, it is the key
to the library collection of great variety. From the library management point
of view, it is where technical processes and reader services meet and where the
user interfaces with information available within the library system (Nnadozie,
2007). Succinctly, the library catalogue can be seen as the key with which to
open and access the resources of the library, as it is a finding tool and an
information retrieval device used by patrons to access a library collection.
1.1.2 Background
Information in Abia State University, Uturu Library.
Abia
State University was founded in 1981 as Imo State University under the first
civilian governor of the defunct Imo State, late Chief Samuel Onunaka Mbakwe.
The University was established based on the Imo State University Law Number 4
of 1981 and Number 21 of 1985 as amended by the Imo State University
(Amendment) Edict Number 5 of 1991.
Following
the 1991 state creation exercise, Abia State was carved out of old Imo State.
Consequently, the then Imo State University found itself within the
jurisdiction of Abia State. After a duly considered asset sharing between the
two sister states, the university was ceded to Abia State and based on the
provisions of the Abia State University Edict of 1995, the name of the
university was changed to Abia State University, Uturu.
The
University library is one of the key departments which came into force with the
University. The library opened its services to patrons in June 1982. From 1981,
the University operated a two-campus structure, which necessitated the
establishment of two libraries; one at Etiti campus and the other at Aba
Campus. The Etiti campus served as the main campus and the library there served
the Colleges of Humanities and Social Sciences, Biological and Physical
Sciences and the School of Architecture. The Aba Campus Library served the
College of Business Administration and Legal Studies.
The
University relocated to its permanent site at Okigwe in 1987. The libraries at
Etiti and Aba were therefore merged into a single University Library as the
two-campus structure no longer held sway. With the expansion of academic
facilities and programmes in the University, departmental libraries were
established for the College of Legal Studies (now Faculty of Law), the Language
Centre (French) and the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba. Equally,
the movement of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine to Umudike,
Umuahia occasioned the establishment of another library there. This means that
Abia State University has a central university library with four faculty
libraries.
Library
materials are centrally acquired, processed and distributed to the departmental
and faculty libraries. The pioneer University Librarian was K.K. Onyeoku who
was in charge from 1981 to 2001 when he retired from the services of the
University and M.C. Onwubiko, a Deputy University Librarian on acting capacity
as the University Librarian took over the post. Presently the University
Librarian is Professor Udo Nwokocha. The library has two (2) principal
librarians, one (1) senior librarian and seven (7) para-professional librarians.
In addition to the above staff, there are fifteen (15) library assistants, two
(2) supervisors, three (3) library attendants and three (3) porters. Apart from
the Faculty of Law Library that is headed by a professional librarian, the
other Faculty libraries are headed by the para-professional librarians.
The
stock value of the library has grown steadily to the effect that the present
book volume is well over 55,000 with over 8,400 serial volumes. In addition to
these, traditional book stock, the library’s virtual library was recently
commissioned by the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission,
Prof. A.N. Okejie in the year 2002.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM
Providing quality service and easy way of
accessing and retrieval information and information resources is critical for
libraries. One way through which libraries provide guides to their collections
is through the use of catalogue, among other means. Effective cataloguing is
important because it provides adequate information on materials available in
the library, as well as serves as a pointer to the location of such materials
(Nnadozie, 2007). For cataloguers, their part in the provision of quality
service is to facilitate access to information resources to meet the needs of the
users in relation to the goals of the library and the parent institution. In
most libraries, the issue of cataloguing is partially considered. The effect of
this could be seen in the presence of few staff in the cataloguing workroom,
presence of volumes of information resources, disarrangement of shelves as a
result of absence of catalogue cards, frustration by library users, low
patronage of the library, and users’ non-satisfaction. However, this can only
be achieved through the application of the right cataloguing tools. The
inadequacy and poor use of cataloguing tools will bring about books in the
library not being catalogued. This will make the library to be a collection of
books that are not organized for ease of access and efficient use. The researcher’s
preliminary observations in Abia State University, Uturu library revealed that
there are backlog of information materials that are not catalogued. This may be
as a result of issues surrounding the availability and use of appropriate
cataloguing tools for the operation, and therefore necessitated the need for
this study, which by all available literature, is the first of its kind.
1.3 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
The main purpose of this
study is to ascertain the availability and use of cataloguing tools in Abia
State University Library, Uturu. The specific objectives are:
1.
To identify the cataloguing tools available in Abia State
University Library, Uturu.
2.
To identify the cataloguing tools used in Abia State University
Library, Uturu.
3.
To ascertain the reasons for the use of cataloguing tools in Abia
State University Library, Uturu.
4.
To find out the challenges cataloguers experience in the use of
the cataloguing tools to process information materials in Abia State University
Library, Uturu.
5.
To proffer solutions to the identified challenges cataloguers
experience in the use of the cataloguing tools for processing information
materials in Abia State University Library, Uturu.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research
questions were answered.
- What are the cataloguing tools
available in Abia State University Library, Uturu?
- Which of the available
cataloguing tools are used in Abia State University Library, Uturu?
- What are the reasons for the
use of cataloguing tools in Abia State University Library, Uturu?
- What are the challenges of
cataloguers in the use of the cataloguing tools for processing information
materials in Abia State University Library, Uturu?
- What
are the solutions to the identified challenges cataloguers experience in
the use of the cataloguing tools for processing information materials in
Abia State University Library, Uturu?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
It is expected that the
present study will be of utmost benefit to different categories of persons and
groups, cutting across librarians, especially the cataloguers, library
administrators, researchers and authors
The result of this study
will help the librarians and administrators understand, from the cataloguers’
perspective, what they think should be done to improve the availability and use
of cataloguing tools in the library. The study will equally aid researchers and
authors who are interested in knowing the areas, and possible solutions, to the
problems, of use of cataloguing tools. It will also be a source of information
in ensuring that every librarian becomes an accomplished cataloguer due to the
solution to the identified challenges.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
The
study covered Uturu, Abia State. Specifically, the study covered Abia State
University Library, Uturu, Abia State Nigeria. The study identified the
cataloguing tools available, extent of availability, extent of use, challenges
facing use and solutions to the challenges facing the use of cataloguing tools
inAbia State University Library, Uturu. The above mentioned presents the
content scope of this study. Consequently, the instruments for data collection
were restricted to questionnaire and observation checklist. Additionally, the cataloguing
staff of the University library served as respondents for the study.
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