SECURITY CHALLENGES AND COPING STRATEGIES OF UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN ENUGU STATE

1.1 Introduction

Security of library resources is very paramount in the provision of efficient library service delivery. Where there is insecurity of library collections, the resources are exposed to dangers such as theft, mutilation, and vandalism among others. These can have adverse negative effect on library service delivery. University libraries face a number of security challenges with their collections. Library collections constitute the bedrock for services provided to the community and serve as important assets to the library. Collection security implies the need for libraries to provide, maintain and secure its collection to ensure longetivity, accessibility and effective provision of services to users. According to the National Library of Australia (2004) one of the major crises facing libraries throughout the world is the rate of deterioration of their collections. Since library materials are composed primarily of organic materials, they are subject to natural deterioration (National Library of Australia, 2004).

As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.

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1.2 Background of Study

Over the years, the University libraries face a number of security challenges with their collections. Library collections constitute the bedrock for services provided to the community and serve as important assets to the library. As such, securing and protecting the collections can help libraries provide an effective service in response to the information needs of the university community. According to Quadri et al., (2014), undergraduates are expected to read further after class instructions to collect relevant information for class assignments, seminars, term papers, dissertations and projects (Quadri, Adetimirin and Idowu, 2014).

Ani (2010) looks at “security” as the condition of being protected physically, emotionally, psychologically as well as from other harms, attacks, terror which could be considered as non-desirable. Edem (2010) defines security as assurance of the future wellbeing and freedom from threat. Security therefore refers to a process designed to protect something or somebody against danger. It is an act of preventing crime. In the case of library resources, it prevents un-authorized removal or loss of materials, usually as a result of intruders' or thieves' interference (Ajegbomogun, 2004).

In reality, research, teaching and learning cannot take place in a university where library collections and resources are not only inadequate, but the limited ones are pilfered or mishandled by students, staff and other users. There are research findings that show that libraries are being exposed to environmental disasters, careless handling of collections, absence of security programmes and policies for library management and administration, loss of library resources to theft and other criminal behaviours.

From documented evidences, every day there are reports of loss, theft, fraud and vandalism of library resources by users, hence the need for university libraries to provide, maintain and secure its collection in order to ensure the availability, accessibility of its collections, as well as to provide effective services to its users.

Therefore, in Enugu State where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Security Challenges and Coping Strategies of University Libraries for Effective Service Delivery.

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1.3 Statement of Problems

Investigation revealed that the importance of information resources cannot be overemphasized as users depend on library resources for knowledge and new ideas to enhance intellectual development (Ajegbomogun, 2004).

As a result, university libraries face varying degrees of delinquency in the use of their resources. The extent of this security problem varies from one university library to another. Mishandling, vandalism of the facilities such as CD ROM, DVD, and magnetic tape can easily crack when it's not handled with care or falls on the ground.

The CD ROM, DVD, may damage and information on it can loss. Accessibility of the information services cannot be possible as a result of data loss by mishandling of CD ROM, DVD, and magnetic tape among others. Theft of books, journals, CD ROM, microfilm, computers and other library collections, diminish materials in the library. These crimes, which are committed by some users, have deprived many users from fully achieving their information needs as it has led to loss of many valuable materials in university libraries (Ani, 2010).

Hence the need for measures to be taken to protect and preserve them to avoid complete loss of materials in university libraries. This study therefore is aimed at investigating security challenges and coping strategies of university libraries for effective service delivery in Enugu.

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1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study

The aim of the study is to investigate the Security Challenges and Coping Strategies of University Libraries for Effective Service Delivery in Enugu State. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:

1. To find out the challenges associated with the implementation of library security for effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu;
2. To determine the types of security apparatus adopted by university libraries in Enugu for supporting service delivery;
3. To identify the security challenges hindering effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu; and
4. To identify the strategies to enhance the implementation of library security for effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu.

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1.5 Research Questions

The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:

• What are the challenges associated with the implementation of library security for effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu?
• What is the security challenges hindering effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu?
• What are the types of security apparatus adopted by university libraries in Enugu for supporting service delivery?
• What are the strategies to enhance the implementation of library security for effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu?

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1.6 Research Hypothesis

In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.

Hypothesis One

• H0: There are no significant challenges associated with the implementation of library security for effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu
• H1: There are significant challenges associated with the implementation of library security for effective service delivery in university libraries in Enugu

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1.7 Significance of Study

The significance of this study is based on the need to improve the security management for prevention of book theft of the library, especially as it relates to the research as well as to re-examine the roles of the university library. This research becomes valuable as its findings if used will help to rendering solutions to the problems of security and crime management for prevention of incessant book thefts, University libraries are not always safe and secure places and they are facing a wide variety of security concerns which includes the theft and mutilation of library materials.

This study will be of immense benefit to other researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.

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1.8 Scope of Study

The scope of the research is focused on the Security Challenges and Coping Strategies of University Libraries for Effective Service Delivery in Enugu State. The study is restricted to only librarians in University of Nsukka, Enugu State.

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1.9 Limitations of the Study

During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:

1. Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
2. Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this research work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this establishment to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
3. 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).
4. Lack of Initial Cooperation from Respondents: A particular limitation of this work came as a result of the respondent refusal to offer their cooperation at the initial time they were contacted. This contributed in making the success of this research study difficult.

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1.10 Definition of Terms

Comparative:

Observation of the similarities or dissimilarities between two or more branches of science or subjects of study

Security:

Protection of a person, building, organization, or country against threats such as crime or attacks by foreign countries

Crime:

A crime is an act committed to omitted, in violation of a public law, either forbidding or commanding it, a breach or violation of some public right or duty due to a whole community, considered as a community.