Library Abuse in Academic Institutions

Abstract

The abuse of library materials defined in terms of theft, mutilation, unauthorized borrowing and vandalism was investigated in University of Port Harcourt (Uniport) in Nigeria and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) in Saudi Arabia. The study sought to find out the ways the collections of the two institutions were abused by various classes of readers and for various reasons. By interviewing librarians, and analysis of collection use records, it was revealed that students, as well as faculty, staff and external readers indulged in abuse of library materials, motivated by situational, conceptual, attitudinal and other factors. It was observed, however, that Uniport had more problems with the misuse of library materials than KFUPM. Recommendations relating to library building design, tightening of security, generous and flexible loans policies, etc., were made for improved collection protection. Besides, public relations campaign and multilateral co-operation on book theft detection would help to discourage in particular the uninitiated or new converts from any acts of library abuse.     

The Use of Electronic Book Theft Detection Systems in Libraries

ABSTRACT

The current popular trend in library security is the installation of electronic book theft detection systems to combat the attempted removal of library materials that have not been checked-out at the circulation desk.

Although these systems have been reported to deter theft by library patrons, no electronic book theft detection system is foolproof. To rely solely on an electronic system to provide collection security is foolish.

To truly ensure the security of a library collection, a total security program is necessary. This program must also address the issue of potential theft of materials by employees.     

Interlending in a university library: The KFUPM library experience

This paper describes the statistics of 1340 inter-library loan/photocopy (ILL) requests processed by the Reference & Information Services Division of the King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) Library, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia from 1 April 1985 to 31 March 1986. The objective of compiling the statistics is to assess the weak and strong areas of the library’s collection so that necessary steps may be taken to balance the collection. Also, it is hoped that these statistics would provide valuable results which will help in managing ILL in future as the number of ILL requests are increasing every year.     

Library Book Theft and Audits in University Libraries of Pakistan

Librarians are the custodians of library materials. University libraries have a large number of materials in their collections; these collections have different challenges to maintain their existence and utilization. Security and protection of these resources is a difficult task. Book theft or loss is a phenomenon naturally associated with libraries and librarians. This article is an attempt to provide an overview of existing conditions of theft and loss of library material and to describe a major initiative that has been taken to overcome the situation. This study was designed with survey methodology and circulated to library professionals at 172 university and degree awarding institutions. There were 94 responses (54.65%) received. The study revealed that librarians faced objections from auditors and sometimes paid a penalty for stolen or lost books. The theft and loss of materials are examined critically by university management, library committees, and internal and external auditors. Some library professionals are required to pay from their own pockets for stolen and lost material. However, a few librarians write off library books as per Pakistan's Higher Education Commission (HEC) rule. Research highlighted that most libraries have not used technology such as RFID, 3M, or EM Tags for the security of books. An effective technological book security system minimizes loss and provides relief for librarians from audit issues and financial penalties.     

高校读者阅读倾向对馆藏建设的影响

读者阅读倾向与馆藏文献利用对文献采访的决策和文献组织具有非常重要的参考价值,并对馆藏建设价值观的转变产生积极影响。本文在对上师大图书馆读者阅读倾向与馆藏文献利用的调查结果进行实证分析的基础上,阐述了读者阅读倾向与文献采访相关要素之间的关系,并提出了满足读者阅读需求倾向的馆藏建设策略。     

Meeting of directors of national libraries: Second meeting,Oslo, 12–13 August 1975

The article reviews various definitions of information literacy and discusses a study conducted at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) Library to reassess the need for information literacy, to identify factors which influenced non-attendance, to evaluate the impact of the program, and comments and suggestions used. The major findings include: there is a dire need for information literacy; participants found the programs useful; and one-on-one method coupled with seminars were more effective and more preferred by the participants. The article also advances a set of recommendations for improving bibliographic retrieval education programs at the KFUPM Library and other libraries in Saudi Arabia and other countries.     

Electronic Information Services and Bibliographic Retrieval Education Programs at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Library in Saudi Arabia

The article reviews various definitions of information literacy and discusses a study conducted at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) Library to reassess the need for information literacy, to identify factors which influenced non-attendance, to evaluate the impact of the program, and comments and suggestions used. The major findings include: there is a dire need for information literacy; participants found the programs useful; and one-on-one method coupled with seminars were more effective and more preferred by the participants. The article also advances a set of recommendations for improving bibliographic retrieval education programs at the KFUPM Library and other libraries in Saudi Arabia and other countries.     

基于用户需求统计分析下的馆藏结构的动态优化

本文通过对河北工业大学图书馆近年中文图书文献的入藏情况及读者需求状况的统计调查,利用文献符合程度理论对统计数据进行了计算,通过计算结果对馆藏结构的合理性进行了分析,为图书馆动态地、合理地配置文献资源,确定各学科藏书比例,建立本馆的最佳藏书体系提供了科学的依据。     

Assessment of theft and mutilation of information resources in selected academic libraries in Niger State

This research was conducted to assess theft and mutilation of information resources in academic libraries in the Niger State of Nigeria, the reason why users resort to theft and mutilation, measures used to steal and mutilate information resources, possible measures to stem and curb these acts in the future. The survey research method was employed using the simple random sampling technique where three academic libraries were selected from all academic libraries in Niger State. Two types of validated questionnaires were designed and administered to both staff and student users. One hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered to library staff, out of which 72 copies were returned and found usable with valid responses. One hundred and eighty copies of the questionnaires out of 250 administered to student users were returned with valid data. The findings revealed that most of the offenders are students who use various methods to perfect these acts. It was also discovered that such stolen materials were concealed in clothes, files or bags. Mutilations of materials occurred in the form of tearing pages of text materials and writing on pages of books. It equally revealed that theft and mutilation were encouraged by the lack of adequate copies of titles to meet the needs of users among others. To address these problems, certain security systems, provisions of photocopiers and the extension of library hours are recommended.     

Assessment of theft and mutilation of information resources in selected academic libraries in Niger State

This research was conducted to assess theft and mutilation of information resources in academic libraries in the Niger State of Nigeria, the reason why users resort to theft and mutilation, measures used to steal and mutilate information resources, possible measures to stem and curb these acts in the future. The survey research method was employed using the simple random sampling technique where three academic libraries were selected from all academic libraries in Niger State. Two types of validated questionnaires were designed and administered to both staff and student users. One hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered to library staff, out of which 72 copies were returned and found usable with valid responses. One hundred and eighty copies of the questionnaires out of 250 administered to student users were returned with valid data. The findings revealed that most of the offenders are students who use various methods to perfect these acts. It was also discovered that such stolen materials were concealed in clothes, files or bags. Mutilations of materials occurred in the form of tearing pages of text materials and writing on pages of books. It equally revealed that theft and mutilation were encouraged by the lack of adequate copies of titles to meet the needs of users among others. To address these problems, certain security systems, provisions of photocopiers and the extension of library hours are recommended.     

RFID于图书馆应用实务之规划与探讨

RFID具有条形码无法提供的整批读取、可擦写数据、实时性反应的特性。应用此特性的技术,能够提供图书馆内各种非接触式的管理,包括读者与馆藏的数据。近年来图书馆利用RFID取代条形码识别的功能,再配合RFID快速反应与非接触的特性提高作业效率与精确度,但服务型态本质却并未改变。本文主要描述世新大学图书馆实验超高频RFID于馆藏资料的定位与取阅率计量的创新应用模式。以数字科技应用的复杂度而言,实证其可行性分析的方式,可以分成模拟实境与实务建置,考虑实施哪一种模式会受限于许多关键因素如财力、开发工具与环境限制范围等,本研究通过实作过程的说明,分析卷标频率与型式的选定、多重收发器建置、结合TCP/IP网络桥接等解决方案,分析实务上遭遇的问题与解决方式,提供图书馆导入的参考。     

Patron Preferences: Recreational Reading in an Academic Library

In 2014, Sam Houston State University Library librarians distributed a survey to students, faculty and staff to better understand how the university community was using library materials for recreational reading. The survey found that patrons had preference for print materials with a growing interest in other formats. A significant number of respondents did not view the library as a source of recreational reading materials; those who did read across a broad swath of genres. Greater understanding of patron recreational reading preferences empower the library to expand the library collection to meet all patron demands.     

An International Collaboration: Establishing an Education Collection in a Library in Qatar

ABSTRACT

Texas A&M University has a history of international collaboration, cooperation and global outreach. Texas A&M University at Qatar provides engineering students in the Middle East with an education, and ultimately, a degree comparable to that found on our home campus in College Station. The Texas A&M University Libraries have provided curricular and research support in all of these endeavors, and currently maintain library facilities in Santa Chiara, Bodrum, and Doha, Qatar. In 2004, a noteworthy collaboration between the Colleges of Education at Texas A&M University (TAMU) and Qatar University (QU) in the development of a primary teacher preparation program at Qatar University offered another opportunity for the TAMU Libraries to support our campus community. As the education librarian at the Texas A&M University Libraries, I participated in this collaboration by recommending materials, equipment and supplies for a resource library collection and an instructional materials preparation room. This article describes the collection development involved in the establishment of the resource library, the trips to Qatar to set up the library, and the cultural and logistical challenges encountered in the endeavor.     

新时期的读者观:谈创造读者

进入2l世纪．图书馆读者工作的核心仍在于不断地创造读者，即在图书馆这一平台上，通过向固有读者与潜在读者、到馆读者与网上读者、文化娱乐读者与科研学习读者提供各种服务，并用先进文化加以引导、提高，使图书馆读者队伍不断发展、壮大。要达到上述目标，图书馆必须通过加强传统服务、强化品牌服务、宣传自我、参与公益活动、发挥馆藏特色等来实现。     

重新审视读者自主荐购对资源建设的多重价值——基于北京大学图书馆读者推荐数据的分析

分析北京大学图书馆近五年读者推荐数据,可以发现读者自主推荐对馆藏建设具有重要作用和价值:纸本馆藏方面的价值在于,现存馆藏的补缺和完善、专业研究领域文献的补充、馆藏图书版本的更新和译本对比、国内图书馆馆藏信息的比较、多语种文献的有效补充、馆藏结构的调整和复本补充;对电子馆藏的重要价值主要体现在线索提供上。高校图书馆应重新认识读者推荐数据的多重价值,并加以分析和利用。     

清华大学图书馆“保钓、统运”资料收藏与读者服务

清华大学图书馆在接收捐赠的基础上,建立并不断完善"保钓、统运"资料特藏,在专家团队的协作下,开展口述访谈,注重学生参与,并成立保钓资料收藏研究中心,继续深入挖掘并整理"保钓、统运"资料特藏,为读者提供服务。     

Remember Me? Content Development in a User-Centered Services Library

As a response to the University of Kansas' (KU) strategic planning process and the need to identify budgetary efficiencies, the KU Libraries created a strategic plan and underwent a structural reorganization. In the new structure, the libraries went from thirty librarians doing collection development to seven selecting library materials for the core collection. The new, smaller, more agile department is responsible for all tasks related to collection development as the library moves from being a collection-centered institution to being user-centered. The new organization shifts the collection development paradigm from one based on academic disciplines to one that embraces a holistic view.     

普通外籍人士对图书馆利用与需求状况调研分析

为了了解和掌握普通外籍人士对图书馆的利用及需求情况,项目组运用调查问卷法及SPSS对其进行了调查和统计分析,结果表明,他们阅读的主要目的是为了获取与就业、教育、社会福利和中国文化相关的信息。但语言和文化的差异在很大程度上影响了他们对中文图书资料的阅读。所以图书馆多元文化建设应照顾不同层次、不同背景读者群的具体需求,在地点设置、馆藏布局、资料采购、服务项目上不断调整和完善,为他们提供更好的有针对性的服务。     

Let's Get Rid of It:

A recent survey revealed that very few libraries were doing any significant weeding in their reference collections. Yet weeding the reference collection may have as great an impact on the library as a whole as weeding the general collection. This article discusses some of the author's experiences weeding the reference collection at Georgia State University and the ways in which general weeding concerns, such as planning for staffing, establishing criteria, and formulating selection policies, may be applied to the reference collection. Reference materials differ in nature and use from materials in the general collection, and this article analyses the impact these differences have on the weeding effort.