Management and Use of Legal Deposit Materials by Libraries for Effective User Support in the National Library of Nigeria
Chapter One
Objective Of The Study
The general aim of this study is to examine the management and use of legal deposit materials by libraries for effective user support in the national library of Nigeria. Below are the specific objectives of the study;
- Determine the legal deposit practices available in the National Library Of Nigeria.
- Determine the uses of legal deposit materials that promotes effective user support in the national library of Nigeria.
- Ascertain the factors affecting effective user support in the national library of Nigeria.
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Our focus in this chapter is to critically examine relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and furthermore recognize the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps.
Precisely, the chapter will be considered in three sub-headings:
- Conceptual Framework
- Theoretical Framework
- Chapter Summary
CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Library
Library is a learning institution equipped with treasures of knowledge, maintained, organized and managed by trained personnel to educate the children, men and women continuously and assist in their self-improvement through an effective and prompt dissemination of information embodied in the resources. This is an instrument of self-education, a means of knowledge and factual information, a center of intellectual recreation and a beacon of enlightenment that provides accumulated preserved knowledge of civilization which consequently enriches one’s mental vision and dignifies his habit, behavior, character, taste, attitude, conduct and outlook on life. (Islam, 2004). The international federation of library association (2001) observed that libraries are organizations established, supported and funded by the government either through local, regional or national government or through some other forms of community organization. IFLA further explained that library provides access through a range of resources and services and it is equally available to all members of the community regardless of race, nation, age, gender, religion, language, disability, economic and employment status and educational attainment. According to Ochogwu (2010), library is defined as professionally organized collection of graphic and non-graphic materials for exploitation. It is generally seen as an institution responsible for the acquisition, organization and storage of recorded knowledge in various media for study, research and consultation. Contemporary libraries maintain collections that include not only printed materials such as manuscript, books, newspapers, magazines etc., but also art reproductions, films, sound and video recordings, maps, e-journals, e-box and other media. Libraries provide people with access to the information they need to work, play, learn and govern.
Overview Of National Library Of Nigeria
Most governments of the world maintain National Libraries to serve the needs of elected officials and the staff members. Usually these libraries are open to the general public as well. In addition, most governments maintain national libraries and museums which collect and maintain artifacts and historical records that include government documents of enduring values. The first instance of a library being referred to as national is that of France, the Bibliotheque Nationale. Ezema (2009) stated that the origin of legal deposit system dates back to 1537 when Francois 1 of France issued The “Ordinance de Montpellier”. This Royal Decree forbids the sale of any book without first having deposited a copy in the library of his castle. Many of the apex libraries of the world usually referred to as the national library of such a country did not originally assume that status. In fact, some still retained their original names. In the United States, Canada, Australia and most other countries, authors are required to submit copies of their published work to the national libraries in order to receive copyright protection for that work. Most national libraries also create national bibliographies which list information about every publication in their countries (John, 2009). Some of the largest and prestigious National Libraries in the world include Library of Congress in Washington, D.C; the Bibliotheque Nationale de France in Paris; the British Libraries in the outskirts of London and the Russian State libraries in Moscow. By functioning as legal copyright depositories, national libraries collect and preserve their Country’s cultural heritage. From the perspective of a conceptual clarification of a National Library, the UNESCO’s definition is worth noting. It states that: “Libraries which irrespective of their title are responsible for acquiring and conserving copies of all significant publications published in the country and functioning as a deposit library either by law or under other arrangements”.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION SAMPLING SIZE
The population for the study will consist of executives and their subordinates in the organization which is charged with the application of management by objectives to attain organizational goals in the organization.
This study was carried out on the management and use of legal deposit materials by libraries for effective user support in the national library of Nigeria. Hence, the population of this study comprises of selected librarians from five departments offering library services in National Library Of Nigeria, Abuja.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of forty-one (41) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which thirty eight (38) were returned while 35 were validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 35 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS:
Introduction
This chapter summarizes the findings on the management and use of legal deposit materials by libraries for effective user support in the national library of Nigeria. The chapter consists of summary of the study, conclusions, and recommendations.
Summary of the Study
In this study, our focus was on the management and use of legal deposit materials by libraries for effective user support in the national library of Nigeria. The study is was specifically carried out to determine the legal deposit practices available in the National Library Of Nigeria, determine the uses of legal deposit materials that promotes effective user support in the national library of Nigeria, and ascertain the factors affecting effective user support in the national library of Nigeria.
The study adopted the survey research design and randomly enrolled participants in the study. A total of 35 responses were validated from the enrolled participants where all respondent were librarians from five departments offering library services in National Library Of Nigeria, Abuja.
Conclusions
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher concluded that;
- The legal deposit practices available in the National Library Of Nigeriaare Collection of legal deposit of thesis and dissertations; collection of legal deposit of government resources; collection of legal deposit of serials; collection of legal deposit of non-print resources like CDs and audio-visual materials; ensuring direct delivery by publishers and authors to any of national library offices nationwide; maintaining periodic legal deposit drive to ensure timely delivery of the publications; establishes effective clerical routine of processing, registration and receipt of legal deposit materials; checking records and following-up those publishers and authors that did not deposit complete number or did not deposit at all; providing periodic sensitization workshop on legal deposit for publishers, authors and other stakeholders; ensuring comprehensive collection of legal deposit materials; and ensuring timely collection of legal deposit materials.
- Legal deposit materials are used to promotes effective user support in the national library of Nigeria, hence, it is used for compilation of an authoritative national bibliography, promotion of copyright protection, and stocking of selected libraries including the National Library.
- The factors affecting effective user support in the national library of Nigeria include poor enlightenment by NLN campaign, poor assistance from Staff, poor legal framework of the NLN, none compliance by publishers, not purchasing more copies of each materials, restricted access to users, poor quality of materials submitted, poor bibliographic services, and multiple legal deposit laws.
Recommendations
Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations are proffered.
- The National Library of Nigeria should improve on the legal drive of unpublished materials especially the government documents and also ensure that materials inspecial formats like digital publications and oral records on indigenous information are also acquired for the users. This will make more materials available for effective accessibility and utilization.
- The National Library of Nigeria should ensure that government documents should also have diverse access points like digitization and granting of monitored open access to the users.
- There is also the need for the federal government to make room for adequate funding of the NLN. This is to enable it provide for capital intensive method of accessibility like the Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC).
- The National Library of Nigeria should improve on the readership promotion campaign across the country. This could draw more category of users to the library for the legal deposit materials.
- The apex library should also make proper enlightenment to the public. These may include buying of airtime on the television and radio stations to educate the Nigerian public on the potentials of legal deposit materials, especially the government documents, to the citizenry. This could improve the extent of utilization of these materials.
- There is the need to review the National Library act to incorporate stiffer penalties on the legal framework of the National Library of Nigeria to make the publishers comply with submission of more and better copies. Also that the apex library should purchasemore copies of legal deposit materials to reach all the branches for maximum access and use.
- Adequate power supply and reprographic services should be set up in the branches to improve accessibility and utilization of legal deposit materials.
REFERENCE
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