Challenge in the Provision of Reprographic Service

Challenge in the Provision of Reprographic Service

CHAPTER ONE

Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the role of reprographic services in enhancing library resources accessibility in Federal University of Technology Minna Library. However, the study seeks to achieve these specific objectives:

To find out if available resources are They are to;
find out if there are reprographic services in the library under study
determine the extent to which reprographic services are carried out in the library
determine if the reprographic services have enhanced the accessibility of library resources in the library
identify the challenges militating against accessibility

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

Introduction

Marketing is crucial to businesses. Attracting and retaining customers is the major focus of marketing. Every business entity has profit making as its cardinal aim. Hence, marketing reprographic services to the target audience helps them fulfil such aim.

Strategies for Marketing Reprographic Services in University Libraries

Academic libraries need to develop effective strategies to showcase their reprographic business to the patrons. Technological innovations in the 21“ century has made the world a global community hence making the field of marketing easier. Libraries can tap into this technology alongside the traditional print media to publicize their reprographic services to the university populace. Strategy is the plan of action intended to accomplish a specific goal. Blythe (2009) outlined key elements to consider before strategizing. They include: understanding your client, identifying the market segment, identifying your business strength, knowing the services your clients’ need, developing effective and efficient procedures to meet those needs, employing and training staff in both work skills and client relationship and communicating the benefits of your services over competitors. The various strategies university libraries should adopt in marketing reprographic services include;

Public Relations Strategy

Public relations is an activity that focuses on building a positive image of the reprographic section of the library in people’s eyes. Obi (2013) defined public relations as a set of actions aimed at promoting a positive cause in the library. Omehia (2016) revealed that academic libraries need to create the office of public relations officer to project the image of the library in the limelight. Hence, public relations maintains a favourable library image and builds beneficial relationships between the library and the university community. Through public relations, the library could create its influential image in the reprographic market and persuade the targeted customers to patronize these services. Sequel to the fact that librarians are knowledge managers who are keen in maintaining valuable information resources such as books, reprographic section should be positioned strategically for ease of access for the benefit of all (library users and non-library users). This will reduce the level of damage to books and also create more awareness about the library services to non-library users. According to Uchendu (2012), librarians who have direct interface with the patrons should disseminate information on the need to photocopy, print and laminate works in the library.

There are various public relations strategies to employ for marketing reprographic services in university libraries. These include word of mouth interaction with customers to get their suggestions, feedbacks, priorities or interest, speaking to media persons to create awareness about reprographic services, internal marketing relations with library staff, lecturers and non-academic staff who will need reprographic services and carrying-out marketing communications/campaigns on the availability of reprographic section in the university library.

CHAPTER THREE

RESEARCH Methodology

Research design

Census design was used to conduct this research on the role of reprographic services in enhancing accessibility of information resources in Federal University of Technology Minna Library. Census design as maintained by Lohr (2009) is associated with the total enumeration of of individuals concerned about a certain problem. Census design allows the researcher to carry out an in depth study on a given entity. It involves using total enumeration method to collect data from the entire staff since their population is small. It also allows the researcher to obtain factual data and information needed to conduct effective study.

CHAPTER FOUR

Data analysis based on research questions

CHAPTER FIVE

FINDINGS CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Findings

There is no significant relationship between reprography and accessibility of Library resources in FUT Minna Library.

TheT-test table showing the relationship between reprography and accessibility of Library resources in FUT Minna Library. From the result a statistically significant relationship was found between reprography and accessibility of Library resources in FUT Minna Library Since there is a significant relationship between reprography and accessibility of Library resources in FUT Minna Library, it implies that reprography has positive relationship with accessibility of Library resources in FUT Minna Library. For this reason, the null hypothesis is thereby rejected, which implied that there is no significant relationship between reprography and accessibility of Library resources in FUT Minna Library.

Conclusion

Libraries generally are established to provide adequate information resources to meet the information needs of the users, but availability of information resources does not mean its accessibility, as materials can be available in the library but may not be accessible to those who need them. It is therefore fundamental for libraries to make their resources adequately available and accessible to the users. In academic libraries, relevant resources are provided and made accessible to users, but most times the level of accessibility is not encouraging as most materials available are either not adequate or sufficient in terms of copies or volumes making it accessible to one or few users at a time.

However, reprographic services are carried out in order to enhance the accessibility of information resources in libraries. Reprographic services enable libraries to disseminate information on a large scale; it allows the libraries to produce multiple copies of costly and rare materials and also enables the library to enhance the longevity of the original resources. Therefore, it is concluded that provision of reprographic services in academic libraries is fundamental for the enhancement of accessibility to library information resources.

Recommendations

Based on the findings made from this study, the following recommendations were given,

Librariesshould make their resources accessible since accessibility of library resources is a pre-requisite for users’ satisfaction. Since the level of satisfaction of users depends on the level of accessibility to library resources, the need for academic libraries to improve and provide adequate and effective access to their resources is of utmost importance. A library whose resources are not accessible is more or less like an empty
Theparent institutions of academic libraries should provide adequate financial allocation to their libraries for the procurement and maintenance of reprographic equipment
The study also recommends that management of academic libraries should implementpolicies that will provide enabling environment for the use of reprographic services in enhancing access to information resources.
The study also recommends that the library should make multiple copies of costly andrare materials available in the library with the available machine in order to safeguard the life span of the original
It is further recommended that academic libraries should make reprography practicesas one of the fundamental services to be carried out by the academic

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