Security and Crime Challenges in Academic Libraries in Nigeria

Thesis Overview

<p><b>1.0 INTRODUCTION&nbsp;</b></p><p><b>1.1 BACKGROUND</b></p><p>library is a treasure-house of knowledge. A well-stocked library is an asset to the school, college, university and the environment where it is located. A library is a place where not only books but also magazines, journals, newspapers, atlases, encyclopaedias and more are kept for the benefit of the users. It has books on various topics, subjects and events, all books are kept systematically and classified according to their subjects, the labelling of books helps the users to get a particular book without any difficulty. With the growing popularity of Internet which provides lots of information with just a click of a mouse, one may pause to think about the decreasing relevance and importance of a library in today's world. But one should keep in mind that a person goes to a library not only to search and get information from books but also to sit and study there. The ambience and the peaceful and scholarly atmosphere in the library help one to concentrate more on one's work and study. Thus, libraries will never become redundant. They will always be there to indicate the presence of a well-read and educated society.</p><p>Libraries are institutions set up to cater for the educational, cultural, research, recreational and information needs of their users. Libraries have the main objectives of being entrusted with the selection, acquisition, organisation, storage and dissemination of information to their patrons. A library is a benefit to poor students who cannot afford some of the text books that is required in their areas of specialization. The best place for easy access to books is a library which is a popular place in the academic curriculum. The academic libraries are integral part of any institution, most especially at the tertiary level.&nbsp;</p><p>Library services can only be achieved through the availability of library collections. Nkiki and Yusuf (2008) observed that information is an essential part of a nation’s wealth and access to it is a basic human right. A library houses a wide variety of information resources. Information is not only a national resource but also a medium for social communication. No wonder, it is generally argued that library is the only centralized location where new and emerging information technologies can be combined with knowledge resources in a userfocused, service-rich environment that supports today's social and educational pattern of learning, teaching and research. Academic libraries are the “heart” of the learning community, providing a place for students and faculty to do their research and advance their knowledge. One major challenge academic libraries have been faced with is security problem. That is, how to secure their valuable resources collected over time. Academic libraries must be safe from security threats and vulnerability. Academic library collections are broad and varied and they support the educational community in satisfying their information needs. Borrowing privilege is an important means of giving access to library collections for personal, educational, and socioeconomic advancement. Oyewusi and Oyeboade (2009) discussed the importance of access to collections in supporting the mission of the university. One of the reasons of encouraging accessibility of library resources to users is to make effort towards minimizing or avoiding library theft.&nbsp;</p><p>Ajegbomogun (2004) opined that collection security refers to a process designed to protect library collections against un–authorised removal or loss. This involves protecting resources against disasters as well as thieves or intruders. Information security governance is the manner in which information security is deployed. Collection security management in libraries can be conceptualized to mean the overall manner in which collection security policies, programs, procedures, or measures are deployed to mitigate risk and ensure access. <br></p><p> Criminal activities in academic libraries are not limited to library information materials alone but theft of properties such as handbags, purses, keys, laptops, handsets and notebooks are equally common. The extent, nature and rate at which these crimes occur vary from one academic library to another. Anunobi and Okoye (2008) stated that, “academic libraries are faced with hybrid challenges of managing resources and are challenged to acquire the necessary skills.” One such challenge is the issue of collection security for print and non-print resources. From the earliest time to the present, librarians are bothered on how to ensure the protection of Library collections from theft and damage. A depletion of available materials means a reduction in how the library can serve and satisfy the needs of the patrons. It is therefore crucial to preserve available materials and resources from theft and mutilation. Vandalism, mutilation, violence, arson and other criminal activities needed to be properly addressed, measured and the level of their existence in the libraries needed to be understood by the librarians and information scientists of today.&nbsp;</p><p>The crimes which are committed by some users of the libraries have deprived many others from fully achieving their information needs. Vandalism, mutilation, defacement, theft, arson, etc are problems regularly encountered in must libraries since libraries are the best places where information resources are acquired, organized, preserved and disseminated to users. Some of these information resources are not only rare to come by but they are also expensive and fragile in nature. These days libraries be it academic, public, school, national and other types of libraries spend a lot of money to install considerable security devices in order to check these criminal activities. Ensuring effective use, longevity, and accessibility makes an effective program of collection security necessary. It is important to secure library resources. It is equally important to ensure that the security is performed as seamlessly as possible, without interfering with the library’s objective of providing a user-friendly environment (McComb, 2004).&nbsp;</p><p>The bad news is that, the more these control and security devices are available in the libraries, the more the libraries lose their security values originally identified with. Loss of library materials is a recurring problem of libraries all over the world, but it seems to be more serious in academic institutions in Nigeria. No wonder Ogbonyomi (2011) stated that, offenders of this type of crimes are the patrons for whom the materials are collected to serve. There is inadequate security to control behaviours and loss of books. Also, lack of funds has not helped matters as a lot of fund is needed for effective security of library materials to be achieved. This problem indicates the need to determine the current state of crime and&nbsp; collection security in academic libraries. Library and information managers must have a clear vision and focus on the contemporary reality of security breach in academic libraries, especially those targeting the collections. This is one of the things librarians should concern themselves with if they are to successfully manage a flourishing and efficient library.&nbsp;</p><p><b>1.2 Objectives of the Study&nbsp;</b></p><p>The study aimed to achieve the following objectives:&nbsp;</p><p>(a)To find out the security problems F.U.T. Minna Library and C. O. E. Minna library are facing.&nbsp;</p><p>(b)To investigate the causes of these security problems in F.U.T. andC.O.E. libraries.&nbsp;</p><p>(c)To identify the type of collections that are more vulnerable to security breaches.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;(d)To suggest measures that could enhance library security in F.U.T and C.O.E libraries. &nbsp;</p><p><b>1.3 Research Method&nbsp;</b></p><p>The descriptive survey research was used to collect data in the study. Two tertiary institutions were purposively selected from Niger State One federal and state owned institutions and the population of the study consists of all undergraduate students of F.U.T., C.O.E. and the staff working in the academic libraries of the institutions. The population was restricted to thirty (30) library staff and hundred (100) undergraduate students, giving a total of one hundred and thirty (130) population used for the study. The random sampling technique was used for data collection. The instrument employed for data collection is the questionnaire. The questionnaire was randomly distributed to students during their lecture hours while the library staff were distributed theirs during working hours in their offices. Interview and observation were also used to collect data for the study. Some staff in the two institutions were interviewed to obtain information for the study and direct observation was undertaken to physically assess some information resources in the libraries. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br></p>