SOURCES AND METHODS OF ACQUISITION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NIGERIA

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Adepoju, Eunice Olayinka

Abstract

The main objective of establishing any libraries is to satisfy the users by meeting their needs in the provision of library materials. There is need
for adequate availability of the resources in the library for the users’ consumption. Lack of needed and useful materials in the library will
discourage the users from using the library as it is expected. It is on this basis that the researcher decided to investigate the sources and methods
of acquiring materials in university libraries in Nigeria. It also described the concept of selection and acquisition. It further identified the tools
for selection and acquisition of library materials; and finally discovered factors that hinder selection and acquisition of l ibrary materials in the
university libraries. The population of this study consisted of the acquisition librarians in the university libraries in Nigeria. The sample size was
one hundred and eleven librarians who were purposefully distributed accordingly. A self-designed questionnaire was used to collect information
from the respondents which were suitable to carry out the research. The study revealed that the libraries under investigation acquired their
resources through donation, will, purchase, gift, legal depository, interlibrary loan, exchange and subscription as the sources and methods of
acquisition of materials in academic libraries. Findings revealed that sources and methods of acquisition of library materia ls in academic
libraries have become quite necessary for an institution that has the interest of the prospective users at heart. It was concluded that the only
department that is responsible for the acquisition of library materials is acquisition department and the acquisition librarian should be in the
position to identify the best materials to serve the broad objectives of the academic libraries with the support of other lib rarians. It was therefore
recommended that the library under study should procure materials through the various sources and methods and also the academic library
should procure all the library materials especially the most current ones for researchers and students for effective study and research activities.

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