Preservation and Conservation of Library Materials in Public Libraries
Chapter One
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To ascertain the various methods in which library materials could be preserved in our public libraries.
To ascertain the extent of use of the library materials.
To provide a comprehensive treatment of library materials.
To make recommendations based of the findings the study.
CHAPTER TWO
LITEATURE REVIEW
In the chapter, the researcher sets out to review literature written on preservation of library materials by some eminent scholar. This has been noted earlier that libraries by their nature are supposed to make available items of information to the community and the public it serves at large, may need for their various teaching and research activities.
This literature review hints at preservation program me, binding and preservation, digitalization as form of preservation and preservation of maps preservation against other enemies of library.
Preservation as earlier noted is the act of keeping library materials safe from harm, loss, damage since the deterioration of library is apparently an endless and universal problems, there is need for every library to have a preservation programme suited to its needs. Such programe should make reasonably certain facts that a library should discard only those materials which it no loner needs rather than be forced to discard materials because they have deteriorated beyond use.
The danger of destruction threatens not only library collections but also the work of knowledge that they support and generate. Preservation is emerging as a major theme in the library and it can be defined as the concern that libraries ougnt to have for the materials kept in them, as carmea of information to the library users.
Sewer (2001).
“Tangible cultural heritage has the great advantage over its intangible counterpart such that with proper care it will remain without falsification and misleading limitations, they will, even in a neglected state, create a sense of continuity that is an essentials part of cultural identity”.
Lynch (2002) described several rules that libraries may play in digital libraries as digitizers of unique materials in special collections (a role also played by muselms and archives). Libraries are providers of such services as “virtual reference, preservation and indexing and as managers and facilitators of scholarly communications, through their participation in establishing institutional repositories”. Vondracek (2006) highlighted severela post involvedments of libraries in the preservation of documents reformatted or duplicated) to enhance access since imediaval times when monks fastidiously transcribed documents by hand,
They also indicated that libraries began massive newspaper microfilming and digitization projects to success fully reformat thousands of rare collections and crumding new papers as effective means of preserving print holdings. They further noted that digitization can also be the first step in conducing advanced research on historical materials and ancient documents present a prime candidate for digitization because on his historical imports, combined with century of exposure and degradation. Digi, cult (2003), he concluded that
“Digitization contributes to the concentration and presenvation of library materials both heritage and scientific resources, creates new educational opportunities that can be used to envoberage tourism and it provides ways of improving access by the citizens to their partrimony”.
However, there must be a balance between dissemination and preservation of library materiasl. According to Howard S. Linger (1995) in his introductory emark in a conference “the danger of destruction threatens not only research library collections, but also the world of knowledge and only paper is involved. Similar dangers of destruction confront other cellulose of paper as the materiasl base of records”.
The above quotation whows how pervasive nd universal the problem of preservation of library materials are. The problem of preservation of library materials is not a recent phenomenon. It has been with us since the invention of books when libraries were established.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODS
DECISION OF THE STUDY:
The research design used was survey designs because it used questionnaire interview and observation of documented evilence to investigate the presentation of library materials in public libraries especially in Kenneth Dike e- library in Awka the main focus of the study was on various internal and enteral pactors that causes damaging effect on these library materials and the various way of combating them.
AREA OF THE STUDY
This study focus on the preservation of library materials library complex beside Anambra Broad casting co-operation off Aronica location Awka Anambra State Nigeria.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
The total number of staff in Kenneth dike e- library Awka is 7 and pf 4 out seven is senior staff and 3 (three) is junior staff and seven library user’s was interviewed which is shown is the table below.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
In this chapter, the data collection were presented and analyzed statically using frequencies and percentages. In most cases, the data are presented in tabular forms and analyed in retatian to pertiners research question. The data were analyzed under the following heading.
a Location of the library
b Effect fo weather
c the manner of use
d Preservation method
e The effect of ventilation
TABLE 1: Location of the library
Question: Does the location of the library sited away from rising and setting of the sun, helps in the preservation of this materials?
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
SUMMARY
Preservation is the act of keeping library materials safe from loss or damages. It is the major concern the library has to protect library materials against the basic elements in the environment, which accelerates the deterioration of library materials and should preserve the memory of civilization and pass on this memory to succeeding generation. Any threat ot bibliographic esource is a threat to the information they contains.
Preservation of library mateaisl in the publci libraries is the act of keeping both books and non-book materials safe form the destructive effects of sunlight, human handling aimals and other insidious enemies of library materials such as book forms, mould and silver fish.
In the course of this project, a number of facts have been identified as agent of destruction library materials. In preserving non book materials which is very expensive, the first principle that ensues good preservation even at whatever climate is careful handling things like films, filmstrip and slides should be handed by a trained projectionist who should always operate the equipment preservation and function of every library.
Abah the Kenneth Dike e- library Awka.
From this research, it was found out that the children section of the library just like other public libraries was not adequately provided for in terms of their learning materials example toys.
- There was no specialist for the peservaion of library materals.
- The library was not proviced with audio visual materiasl
- Some of he books that lasted for a long time in the library that are not being consulted are worn out and no proper ation was taken to bind them or weed them away.
- No contingency programme was made, as one of the aspects of preservation in case of unexpected accidents.
CONCLUSION
The importance of preservation programe in Kenneth Dike e-library Awka cannot be over emphasized if all the recommendation stated above can be implemented, the esearcher strongly believe that the preservation program in Kenneth dike e- library Awka library will be improved as neglected as it is as indispensable tool to the library. Also this project work through restricted to the Kenneth Dike E- library Awka can be used as manual for preservation of library materials by any other public library.
RECOMMENDATION
It is hereby recommended that:-
The children section should be propely equipped because this in the first stage of learning and what evr a children learns at this stage, it will carry him in the rest of his life. Like biblical injunction which says that, teach a child the right thing to do so that when he or she grows up he will not depart form it.
The library should organize a senior specialist in preservation rather than engaging some of the staff to do the job of preservation.
In this present generation of information consciousness the researcher suggests that the library should try to get audio-visual equipment as a means to enhance the learning skill of their clientele.
The researcher at this junction, all on the state government and agency concened to consist and provide enough fund to the library to anable them acquire some of the necessary materaisl, that are not available and also buy the things needed for perservatiion programme of the library should be greatly enhanced.
There should be air-conditioning system for the stability of temperature in the library.
LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
In carrying out a research work, one is bound to meet with some difficulty and limitainly, every library has a need to preserve it materials, but the research has delibrary restricted it study to Kenneth Dike e- library Awka so as to enable her to cope with stains involved in the collection of data.
Against a research of this nature ill certainly involve some financial input and with the present economic situation in the country. Also there are cases of unwillingness of the staff to supply adequate information to the researcher. Even the case of identification clearance on the part of the research before information will be released to he researchers.
SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
Having studies the preservation of library materaisl in Kenneth Dike e- library, the researcher suggest that other people should carry out similar study in other public libraries of other staes in Nigeria. This is because the researcher delibrary restricted her study on one library so as to enable her cope with strains and stresses involved in the collection of data distribution and collection of questionnaire.
References
- Aboyade, Ike (1982), libraries in the aid of preservation process. Nigeria libraries Vol. 1210.
- Akwabro, M. (1981). Preservation of library material, unpublished material P. 7.
- Ala (1980), Ala world encyclopedia of library and information Science Chicago University Press.
- Carolyn, Horton (1980). Conservation of library material, 2nd edition, Ala p.10.
- Chukwuma, M. (2004). Use of library, Enugu Academic publishing company p2.
- Digi, cult (2003) creating cooperation for digitization,
- Europe Edwin, Williams (1970) Deterioration and preservation of library material, Chicago University Press p.10.
- Ejij Gift (2011) Foundation of library
- Harold, Nicklas (1982). Map librarianship London: Chive Brinkley, London.
- Holdard, S. Linger (1995), in his introductory remark in a conference.
- Hones, T. (2001). An introduction to digital projects for libraries, museums and archives. HEEP. 11 images library. UNVE, Edu. Resources / introduction htm.
- Juthardt, Sig. (1010), preserving open access journals, www.cordis/u/ist/kaz/digcult/europe/overview.htm
- lynch, W.T. (2002), the role of librarians in library digitization. New Encyclopedia Britannica of library and information Science (2004) 437.
