ABSTRACT
This
research work deals with stock acquisition with a reference to Alex Ekwueme
Library, Federal polytechnic, Oko.
Acquisition
is a means by which books and non book materials are collected in a library.
The librarian glossary (2001) defined
acquisition as a process of acquiring or the department concerned with
acquiring for the library. In chapter one of this research study, there are
problems militating against stock acquisition in Alex Ekwueme library such as
lack of fund to build up the library stock, there is a problem of staffing and
inadequacy of reading space and furniture.
Chapter
two of this research study deals with literature review which discusses the
following headings: acquisition, acquisition policy, library materials/stocks,
types of library stocks, methods of acquisition, problems of stock acquisition
and selection tools. Chapter three of this research study is research
methodology which the research adopted survey research/designs because survey
deals with interview and questionnaires.
Chapter
four of this research study discusses presentation and analysis of data which
were drawn and gathered from the research questions as follows:
i.
What
are various methods of acquiring library materials at Alex Ekwueme library?
ii.
Are
there procedures of book acquisition in the library
iii.
What
are the needs for stock acquisition in academic libraries?
iv.
What
types of materials are to be acquired in the library?
Based
on the findings, the researcher indicated that the main reason for stock
acquisition is for dissemination of information.
Chapter
five deals with summary, conclusion, recommendation and suggestion for further
study. The researcher recommends that the institution management should not
depend on government grant alone but should try to allocate more funds for the
acquisition of library stocks/materials.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title
page i
Approval
page ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Abstract v
Table
of contents vi
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Statement of problem 7
1.3 Objectives of the study 8
1.4 Scope of the study 8
1.5 Significance of the study 9
1.6 Research questions 9
1.7 Definition of terms 10
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature review 14
2.1 Concepts of library and its functions 14
2.2 Acquisition 15
2.3 Acquisition policy 17
2.4 Library materials/stocks 18
2.5 Types of library stock 18
2.6 Methods of acquisition 20
2.7 Problems of acquisition 22
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research methodology 26
3.1 Research design 26
3.2 Area of study 26
3.3 Population 27
3.4 Sample and sampling technique 27
3.5 Treatment procedure 28
3.6 Validity of instrument 28
3.7 Distribution and retrieval of the instrument 28
3.8 Data analysis technique 28
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Presentation and analysis of data 29
4.1 Presentation and data/findings 29
4.2 Discussion/findings 32
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary, Conclusion, Recommendation,
Suggestion 33
5.1 Summary 33
5.2 Recommendations 34
5.3 Conclusion 35
5.4 Suggestion for further studies 36
References 37
Appendixes 38
Questionnaires 39
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
1 .1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
The quality of service provided by any
library will be determined by the richness of its collection. According to
oxford advanced learner’s dictionary 8th edition, stock is a supply
of something that is available for use. Stock in library terms refers to book
and non book materials in a given library.
The term acquisition means different
thing to different people. Evans, (2000) defined acquisition as the process of
securing materials for the library collection, whether by purchase as gifts or
through exchange programs.
Gorman (1998) described acquisition as
the procedure which is primarily concerned with ordering, claiming and receipt
of materials for the library.
Acquisition according to Bakare (1999)
is the means by which books and non book material are collected in a library or
group of libraries.
The Librarian Glossary (2001) defined
acquisition as the process of acquiring, or the department concerned with
acquiring for the library.
Webster part II (1984) defined
acquisition as the act of acquiring
According to oxford advanced learner’s
dictionary, acquisition is the act of getting something especially knowledge
and skills.
Wulfekoetter, (1961): Acquisition is the
means by which additions are made to the library; this involves bringing in new
materials into the library stock. These materials maybe acquired through direct
purchase, gifts, exchanges, donations, inter-library loan cooperation and legal
deposit especially if the government designated the library as a legal
depository centre.
It is also the process of obtaining
library materials, both books and non book materials, which aims at building up
a library collection.
Effective acquisition development can
only be possible in any library if the functions of that library are quite
clear in a policy statement. It has always been impossible for any library to
possess every material.
Stock acquisition in Alex Ekwueme
library, Federal Polytechnic Oko, involves print and non print material. (Book
and non Book materials).
Book acquisition according to Adedibu,
L.O (1983) is the procurement of library books whether they are acquired by
purchase, gift or through exchange.
BOOKS:
These are monographs, textbooks or set
of blank sheet of papers bound along one edge and enclosed within protective
covers to form a volume especially a written or printed literary composition
presented in this way. Librarian Glossary (1971)
Stocks acquired are usually housed in a
library.
LIBRARY:
Webster part II (2004) defined library
as a collection of reading materials. Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged
Dictionary of the English Language (1994) defined library as a place set apart
to contain books and other materials for reading, study or reference; as a
room, set of rooms or building where books may be read or borrowed.
Kumar (1992) defined library as a public
institution or establishment charged with the care of a collection of books,
the duty of making them accessible to those who require the use of them and the
task of converting every person in its neighborhood into a habitual library
gore and reader of books.
According to Okeke (2001) library is an
institution meant to collect, organize, preserve and disseminate informational
materials to library patrons.
Chukwuma (2004) defined it as a place
where professionally selected and acquired books and non book materials are
processed and orderly arranged to make for ease of location, retrieval and use.
Hornby (2010) defined library as a
building in which collection of books, CDs, newspaper etc are kept for people
to read, study or borrow.
Academic library:
According to the Librarians Glossary of
terms (1979) academic libraries are those libraries of universities, university
colleges, and all other institutions forming part of or associated with
institutions of higher education.
Ezamba
N.C.
(2004).says that an academic library can be defined as a library attached to
tertiary institutions. Academic libraries are varied and distinctive as the
institutions they serve.
Obodoeze,F.O.(2004) Opines that academic
libraries are those libraries that exists in institutions of higher education
such as universities, colleges of education, colleges of technology and
polytechnics.
Therefore, stock acquisitions in
academic libraries are the process or action taken by libraries to build up the
library’s collection. Various ways are involved in acquiring library materials
such as acquisition by purchase. In purchasing process, there is need for
selection before acquisition, acquisition through gifts, exchanges and legal
deposit.
Selection involves careful choice of
items to be acquired by the library. Selection is based on the needs of user
because the library in the polytechnic is primarily set up to support the
polytechnic curriculum. Many things are considered during selection and
acquisition and they include the objectives of the parent body/institution that
is every institution has objectives and materials are acquired in the subject
field of the institution’s interest.
HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND OF ALEX EKWUEME LIBRARY, FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OKO.
Alex Ekwueme library, Federal
Polytechnic, Oko is an academic library made up of a network of three libraries
located at Oko, Atani and Ufuma campuses. What is today known as the Alex
Ekwueme library, Federal Polytechnic, Oko started in a one (1) room apartment
with (400) volumes of books mostly in the field of classic and literature. This
was when the Anambra state Government approved the institution as a college of Arts and Science to offer a remedial
courses for students at the G.C.E ordinary and advanced level examinations.
When the institution was upgraded to college
of Arts, Science and
Technology on June 28, 1980 more books were acquired to provide information
resources to facilitate teaching, learning, research and community services.
The growth of the library was sustained
with the unassailable objectives of the library, collection development in Alex
Ekwueme library was expectedly dictated by the institutions curricula.
The college was formulized as Anambra
State Polytechnic, Oko through Edict no. 12 of 1985. The library was moved from
the one room it occupied to its present location and more books were acquired
to beef up the collection.
The professional librarian Mr. U.C.U
Uchedili was appointed to organize the library in line with established
procedure in any academic library. This was during the regime of Professor C.
Ezeilo as the rector in 1981. In 1993, the quality of its education programmes,
the availability of vital infrastructure and personal initiatives of Professor
Ben Nwabueze, the minister of Education. The Polytechnic was taken over by the
Federal Government. At the same time, Atani campus of Polytechnic was
established as one of the visionary strides of Professor Ben Nwabueze.
The nucleus of Atani campus library was
established with 1,272 volumes of books in the field of Computer science,
mathematics and Satatistics. The first professional librarian, Mr. Rowland
Ofuluo was appointed in 1995 by recommendation of the polytechnic librarian. Dr
Obiora Nwosu left the polytechnic for Nnamdi Azikiwe
University. The
polytechnic was at that capacity until June 2010 when Mr. F.O Obodozie took
over as the substantive polytechnic Librarian.
Today, Alex Ekwueme Library, Federal
Polytechnic, Oko has benefited from TET fund sponsorship, Federal Government
grants and donations from philanthropic individual like Dr Emeka Offor. As a
result of these interventions, the library has grown into one of the foremost
academic libraries in Nigeria.
They have also applied to Ranforly libraries in England to include Alex Ekwueme
library in global rating of Academic libraries.
At present they have 220,000 volumes of
books with 120,000 titles. It has equally grown in staff strength with (48)
forty eight professional and Para professional
staff. There is still room for improvement in manpower development.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
It is obvious that diverse problems
militate against Alex Ekwueme library in Federal Polytechnic Oko. Recently
stock acquisitions in the academic libraries have little or no attention
In many libraries in Nigeria
especially academic libraries, there is lack of fund to build up library stock.
This is because sometimes Government do not provide enough fund to acquire
library materials which aims at building up the library collections. Sometimes
when government maps out fund for a particular institution, those in charge
will not use it adequately and judiciously.
There is a problem of staffing in the
department compared to the number of library users. In most academic libraries,
there are few numbers of staff to compare to the number of users they attend
to. When you come to the library, there are lots of students seeking for
attention of library staff.
Inadequacy of reading space and
furniture is also one of the problems in Alex Ekwueme library. When materials
are been acquired in the library, there is no reading spaces and furniture for
the library users.
The above problems affect stock
acquisition in Alex Ekwueme library in Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study carried out
by the researcher are as follows:
i to
identify the various methods of acquiring library materials at Alex Ekwueme
library, Federal Polytechnic, Oko.
ii to
ascertain the extent and procedure of book acquisition in the library.
iii to
determine the needs of stock acquisition in Academic Libraries.
iv to
find out the types of materials that are to be acquired in the library.
1.4 SCPOE OF THE STUDY
This research work is limited to the
acquisition of library materials in Alex Ekwueme Library, Federal Polytechnic,
Oko, in Orumba North Local
Government Anambra
State. This research work
discusses the acquisition of print and non print materials in the above
mentioned polytechnic. This research work will examine the different types of
materials which are been acquired by the library, the reasons for the
acquisition of those library materials, its importance to library users.
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
Few books were written on the field or
topic stock acquisitions, what we have severally are materials on collection
development in which acquisition is included.
This research work is carried out by the
researcher in order to help users especially library science students to
identify the processes of stock acquisition in an academic libraries making
reference with Alex Ekwueme library, Federal Polytechnic, Oko so as to enable them to differentiate between stock
acquisition patterns in various libraries (public, school, special and national
libraries).
Additionally, the study will help to
contribute to the knowledge of anybody who might need information or assistance
in the following ways:
·
It will help students and researchers
especially library and information science students who may need this work as a
reference in the field of stock acquisition.
·
It will serve as a guide to library
staff to their users/patrons.
1.6 RESEARCH QUESTION
The researcher formulated the following
research questions on the assumption that it would aid her in bringing the
research work to a logical conclusion.
i.
What are the various methods of
acquiring library materials at Alex Ekwueme library federal polytechnic, Oko?
ii.
Are there procedures of book acquisition
in the library?
iii.
What are the needs of book acquisition
in Academic Libraries?
iv.
What types of materials are needed to be
acquired in the library?
1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
BOOKS:
According to librarian Glossary (2001),
These are monographs, text books or set of blank sheet of paper bound along one
edge and enclosed within protective covers to form a volume especially a
written or printed literary composition, presented in this way.
Books are non-periodical printed
publication of at least forty five (45) pages. It is known that books carry the
knowledge of the society and this knowledge is needed every time by the members
of the society. As a result of this, books are published constantly to carry
information.
Dina and Olukola (2002) cited UNESCO to
define book as a non-periodic printed publication of at least (49) forty nine
pages exclusive of the covers. A book can therefore be described as a
collection of sheets in printed or written form which has been cut, sown, and
usually bound between covers into volume. A book may be more than one volume
like Encyclopedia Britannica which has 30 volumes. Books can be divided into
fiction and non-fiction.
NON-PRINT
MATERIALS.
Non-print materials consist of library
resources that are not in printed format. They are called audio-visual
materials (A.V.M). These materials require special equipment for their use.
They require auditory and visual appreciation to use them. They are divided
into three:
i.
Audio: They consist of sound recordings
produced on magnetic tape. Examples are audio cassettes, audio tapes, records,
educational radio programmes, etc.
ii.
Visual: Visual senses (eyes) are
required for their use. Examples are slides, film-strips, transparencies,
microfilms, ultra fiche, microfiche, etc.
iii.
Audio visual: These materials require
both audio (ears) and visual (eyes) senses for their use. They include
television, videotapes, tape/slide programmes.
COLLECTION
DEVELOPMENT:
This embodies a number of library
activities which include the selection of library resources, the acquisition of
those materials selected, development plans for sharing resources between
libraries, maintenance of resources acquired, weeding, conservation and
preservation of library materials.
SELECTION:
This is the process of choosing books to
be included in the library holdings.
Uchedili U.C and Uchedili E.E (2006)
opined that selection is a process of deciding which materials to acquire for a
library collection. It is a matter of systematically determining quality and
value. They further suggested reasons for selection in libraries which are as
follows:
i.
Achievement of objectives: Every library
has a set of objectives which represent the basic function of its parent body.
ii.
Need/use: Library only needs to acquire
materials needed by its users. Every library is established with potential
users in mind, so selection must be according to their needs because effective
collection building cannot take place without reference to the needs of the
users.
iii.
Selection due to variety of resources:
Library has to select which materials to acquire amongst others in the same
subject.
iv.
Limited resources: Libraries select
because no library can afford to buy all that is needs.
Non
print materials with reference to Alex Ekwueme Library is in audio visual Unit
(AV unit) .
Uchedili
and Uchedili (2006) says that non print materials are the audio visual
materials. They include:
Equipment;
16mm
sound projector,8mm projecter,2X2 slide projector, film stride projector,
overhead projector,television,reel-reel player, cassettes,record player, video
tape recorder, cameras etc.
Materials;
8mm
films, 16mm films, graphic materials, microform, transperencies,multimedia kits
etc. These materials require special handling and a good environmental
condition. In Alex Ekwueme Library, federal polytechnic, OKo they have the
following non print materials as mentioned by the polytechnic librarian Mr.
F.O. Oboboeze as follows;
Four
overhead projectors, two slide projectors, four television sets, 29 computers,
but only six are functioning, four reel-reel tapes, two loud speakers,
satellite dish installed by TET fund and White screen for projector.
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