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OZIOKO, ANGELA CHINEDUM
PG/MLS/09/51169
PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF LIBRARY
RESOURCES IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-
EAST ZONE, NIGERIA
Digitally Signed by: Content manager’s Name
DN : CN = Webmaster’s name
O = University of Nigeria, Nsukka
OU = Innovation Centre
Ugwoke Oluchi C.
LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
FACULTY OF EDUCTION
ii
PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES IN FEDERAL
UNIVERSITIES IN SOUTH-EAST ZONE, NIGERIA
BY
OZIOKO, ANGELA CHINEDUM
PG/MLS/09/51169
PROJECT SEMINAR PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA, NSUKKA, FOR THE PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE AWARD OF MASTER DEGREE IN LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE UNIVERSITY OF
NIGERIA, NSUKKA.
SUPERVISOR: DR V.N. NWACHUKWYU
JANUARY, 2014
iii
APPROVAL PAGE
This project has been approved for the Department of Library and Information Science,
University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
BY
……………………. ………………………
Dr V.N. Nwachukwu
SUPERVISOR INTERNAL EXAMINER
………………….. …………………………
Dr V.N Nwachukwu
EXTERNAL EXAMINER HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
…………………………..
Prof. I.S.E. Ifelunni
DEAN, FACULTY OF EDUCATION
iv
CERTIFICATION
Angela Chinedum Ozioko, a Postgraduate student in the Department of Library and Information
Science with Registration Number PG/MLS/09/51169, has satisfactorily completed research
requirements for the award of Mater in Library and Information Science. The work embodied in this
project is original and has not been submitted in part or in full for another degree of this or any other
University.
……………………………. .……………………………..
Angela Chinedum Ozioko Date
PG/MLS/09/51169
……………………………… …………………………….
Dr, Victor N. NwaChukwu Date
Supervisor
v
DEDICATION
This work is humbly dedicated to Almighty God who is the source of wisdom and who has
also led me throughout the Programme. This work is also dedicated to my lovely children and my
friends for their encouragement and support.
vi
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I humbly express my sincere and profound gratitude to Almighty God who sustained me in all
ramifications throughout the period of this study. I thank my humble and able supervisor, Dr, V.N.
Nwachukwu whose special guidance and brotherly handling acted as a pillar for reaching this stage.
I also express my gratitude to all the lecturers in the Department of Library and Information
Science for their encouragement, inspiration and co-operation which had helped in producing this
work. May God bless you all.
I am also grateful to my dearly and numerous friends and relations who contributed in the
development of this programme. I thank you all in Jesus name.
Finally, my wonderful and lovely children are not left out as I thank and bless them for the
support and prayers they showered on me throughout the programme. I love you all so much.
vii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title Page - - - - - - - - - - - i
Approval Page - - - - - - - - - - ii
Certification - - - - - - - - - - - iii
Dedication - - - - - - - - - - - iv
Acknowledgements - - - - - - - - - - - v
Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - - vi
List of Tables - - - - - - - - - - - viii
Abstract - - - - - - - - - - - - ix
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - 1
Background of the Study - - - - - - - - - - 1
Statement of the Problem - - - - - - - - - - 7
Purpose of the Study - - - - - - - - - - 9
Significance of the Study - - - - - - - - - 9
Research Questions - - - - - - - - - - 10
Scope of the Study - - - - - - - - - - 11
CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF LITERATURE - - - - - 12
Conceptual Framework - - - - - - - - - 12
Preservation and Conservation Practices in Libraries - - - - - 22
Factors Necessitating Libraries Adoption of Preservation
and Conservation Practice - - - - - - - - - 25
Library Resources to which Preservation and
Conservation Practices are Applied to - - - - - - - - 30
Human Resources Needed for Preservation and Conservation in Libraries. - - - 37
viii
Problems Associated With Preservation and Conservation in Libraries - - - - 39
Strategies for the Enhancement of Preservation and Conservation in Libraries - - 47
Review of Related Empirical Studies - - - - - - - - 54
Summary of Literature Review - - - - - - - - 62
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD - - - - - - 64
Design of the Study - - - - - - - - - - 64
Population of the Study - - - - - - - - - 64
Sample and Sampling Technique - - - - - - - - 65
Instrument for Data Collection - - - - - - - - 65
Validation of the Instrument - - - - - - - - - 67
Method of Data Collection - - - - - - - - - 67
Method of Data Analysis - - - - - - - - - - 67
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF DATA - - - - - 69
Summary of the Major Findings - - - - - - - - 78
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION - - - - - 79
Discussion of Findings - - - - - - - - - 79
Limitations of the Study - - - - - - - - - 83
Suggestions for Further Study - - - - - - - - 84
Conclusion - - - - - - - - - - - 84
REFERENCES - - - - - - - - - - 86
APPENDICES - - - - - - - - - - 92
ix
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Mean ( x ) Responses Library Preservation and Conservation practices available in federal
university libraries in South-East, Nigeria.
Table 2: Mean ( x ) Responses of Academic Library Staff on the extent are these practice used in these
libraries.
Table 3: Mean ( x ) Responses of Library staff on the prevailing factors necessitating these libraries in
adopting preservation and conservation practices in these libraries.
Table 4: Mean ( x ) Responses of preservation and conservation practices applied to library materials
in these libraries?
Table 5: Mean ( x ) Responses of Library staff on problems encountered in preservation and
conservation practices in these libraries.
Table 6: Mean ( x ) Responses of Library staff of strategies to enhance the preservation and
conservation practices in these libraries
x
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to look at the preservation and conservation of Library Resources in Federal
University Libraries in South –East of Nigeria. The objectives were: to determine the preservation and
conservation practices; ascertain the extent such practices are applied; examine the prevailing factor
necessitating these libraries; examine the library resources where these preservation and conservation
practices are applied; Highlight on the problem associated with the preservation and conservation
practices; suggest ways of enhancing the preservation and conservation practices in Federal
Universities. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study, and 93 academic libraries
comprised of the four University Libraries in South-East Zone were sampled. There was no need for
sampling since the entire populations which are the 93 academic libraries in the four Federal
Universities were used. Observation checklist, Questionnaire and Oral interview were used for data
collection. 93 copies of questionnaire was distributed and collected, representing the 100% in
analyzing the data obtained, frequency counts, simple percentages, and mean (X) were used as
statistical methods. The results obtained from the findings, revealed that various types of preservation
and observation practices exist in University Libraries; that despite the preservation and conservation
practices available in there libraries; that library resources are deplorable in these libraries; that the
academic Librarians agreed with factors necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation and
conservation; that the academic librarians are merely satisfied with the extent under which
preservation and conservation are applied to materials in these libraries; that there are some problems
associated with preservation and conservation of library resources in these libraries; that many
strategies were suggested by the academic librarians to enhance the preservation and conservation
polices in these libraries. Based on the finding, it was recommended that these libraries should put into
practice all the available preservation and conservation polices in their libraries; that regular power
supply should be improved upon; sanctions among the librarians should be encouraged; tanning
personnel of the library should be organized for the academic librarians; adequate funding and
infrastructure should be given to the library users; proper cleaning and dusting as well as proper
shelving of books should be given to library materials; eating in the library should be discouraged and
regular fumigation of the library should be put into practice.
xi
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Preservation and conservation are essential library activities which when well implemented has
the capability of sustaining and promoting library activities for a very long time. However,
preservation is often used interchangeably with conservation, besides, there is a subtle difference
between the two. Preservation suggests that natural resources will be left undisturbed, while
conservation usually indicates some resource management.
The process of preservation and conservation are applied to safeguard the library materials
from further decay and deterioration. Preservation is the process in which all actions are taken to check
and retard deterioration where as conservation includes proper diagnosis of the decayed materials,
timely curative treatment and appropriate prevention from further decay. In effect, these two terms
could be used inter-changeably. In other words, ‘Preservation’ and ‘Conservation’ depicts the
activities which libraries use for the maintenance and sustenance of library resources and facilities
which could be human or material. However, Anjaiah (2008) stresses that “the words” preservation
and conservation” are often used interchangeably to mean: the process of keeping an object safe from
harm or loss, damage, destruction or delay, and maintaining it in a reasonably sound condition for
present and future use. He maintained that these two words are different, though interrelated and
overlapping connotations. As a result of this, Harvey (1993) also explained that the terms
“Preservation and “Conservation” have been used interchangeably in library literature until the last
few years. He maintained that currently, conservation is the more specific term and is particularly used
in relation to specific objectives while “preservation” is a broader concept covering conservation as
well as actions relating to protection between “Preservation and “Conservation”. He explained that
xii
preservation applies to various strategies for preserving the intellectual content” while “Conservation”
is primarily concerned with ensuring that the original artifact is maintained and secure”. Similarly, the
New International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary (1996) also stressed that to conserve, defend,
guard, keep, maintain, sustain among others are synonyms for preservation”.
By definition therefore, preservation of library activities has been defined as the totality of the
steps necessary to ensure the permanent accessibility of a particular material forever. Suman (2008)
defined preservation as the transfer of information to another medium, such as microfilm and
electronic materials. However, the new international Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary (1996)
defined “preservation” as “a noun for the word preserve which means to keep in safety or to keep from
destruction. Similarly, Wikipedia (2009) defined “preservation” as the branch of library and
information science concerned with maintaining or restoring access to artifacts documents, different
from conservation which refers to the treatment and repair of individual items to show decay or restore
them to useable state. In the same view, Harrods librarian glossary also defined “preservation” as the
managerial and financial considerations including storage, techniques and methods involved in
preserving library and achieve materials and the information contained in them”. Ogbodo (2004) also
stressed that “preservation” involves all the measures taken to guarantee the safety of prints and non-
print materials in the libraries. Similar, Ania (2007) explain that “preservation is a means of taking
care of library materials to avoid deterioration. Okonkwo (2009) was not left out as he also defined
“preservation” as “the totality of measures for maintaining the integrity of document and the
information contained in them which includes all the managerial and financial considerations, storage
and accommodation provisions, staffing level policies, techniques and methods involved in safe
guarding documentary materials.
On the other hand, “conservation is also seen as an occurrence of improvement by virtue of
preventing loss or injury or other change. Similarly, Popoola (2003) defined conservation as policies
xiii
and operations embarked upon by the managers of libraries and with the aim of increasing the life span
of their information resources by preventing damage or remedying deterioration. He further explained
that it may also be seen as direct physical intervention arresting or showing down deterioration of
library resources. However, Harrison (1992) stressed that conservation is about good house-keeping,
learning how to handle and store resources to do the least damage, not subjecting it to unnecessarily
heavy use and ensuring that back-up or safety copies exist. Therefore, conservation is a preventive but
active measure, for doing something to the material, not putting it in the wrong environment, not
handling or touching the surface or running material through faulty equipment which will scratch and
damage it.
Generally, available literature has shown that libraries and their resources are essential tools for
education and these resources are generally ephemeral (short life span) and as such because of the
constant use they undergo every day in libraries especially in university libraries, they are bound to
tear and wear. But despite these facts, they are bound to be used.
University library generally, according to Edoka (2000) are those libraries attached to
universities to support teaching, learning and research. Similar to this, Aguotu (1989) also said that
university library like any other forms of establishment is designed and run by people whose job is to
combine and use organizational resources to achieve organizational objectives.
The university library is the central point of all academic activities in the university. The main
objective of the university library is to assist the institution in which it is established to achieve
excellence in teaching, research and extension work. In support of this view, Abdulkadir (1996) and
Ifidon (1997) stressed that the central focus of any educational institution (including the university), is
its library because it is where students and staff resort for academic nourishment. Further more, Agu
(2006) stated that libraries vary from one university to another. He then explain that the characteristic
functions of university library are both academic and administrative, and geared towards the
xiv
achievement of the educational objectives set by the institution. Azino (2006) also stress that the role
of the university library is to ensure that the parent universities intellectual out put is preserved and
accessible for use. He further stressed that the university library should support the university to
promote teaching, learning and research.
Notwithstanding, Edoka (2000) succinctly put that the objectives of these university libraries
are to:
• Provide information materials required for the academic programmes of the parent institution.
• Provide research information resources in consonance with the needs of faculty and research
students.
• Provide information resources for recreation and for personal self-development of users
• Provide study accommodation in a useful variety of locations.
• Provide protection and security for these materials.
• Co-operate with other libraries at appropriate levels for improved information services.
• Provide specialized information service to appropriate segments of the wide community
However, university libraries are created to serve their mother institution. They help those
institutions that created them to further or to achieve their aim. University libraries eventhough are
dependent institutions, are created to promote general and practical education in Nigeria communities
as a whole. In agreement with this, Ogunmilade (1996) said that university library is the core of the
academic activities, where all pertinent information and materials are collected, organized, preserved
for easy retrieval and purposeful exploitation in a continuous process of information dissemination.
Similarly, Babalola (1997) succinctly put that “the fundamental role of the library is educational which
should be operated as a dynamic instrument of education”. In view of this, Odetoyinbo (1982) also
perceived academic library as a building, a service point, a material, an instructional and self-
development centre which operates as an integral part of the entire school environment.” In his own
xv
contribution, Lyle (1961) affirmed that “the primary purpose of the university library is not only to
provide books, journals and other institutional materials in support of the academic programme of the
university library, but also to encourage the formation of a life-long habit of reading much and reading
well. Therefore, university libraries like any other libraries in education is an information centres,
which is no longer an open space but a world where teaching and learning laboratories and
recreational reading takes place.
In view of the above, there is the need to understand the inherent physical composition and
structure of an item along with the permanence and durability of its component materials in these
federal universities in South-East zone of Nigeria. There is also the need to understand the condition
under which these library materials are stored as well as way in which library materials are shelved
and used in these federal university libraries. Moreso, the need to determine the physical and chemical
composition, the environment in which they are stored and their history of use and abuse are necessary
in these federal academic university libraries in South-East zone in Nigeria.
These libraries provide and maintain means of information that are of interest to their parent
institution, provide the study of the objectives of their parent institutions, get involved in preparation
and publications of books, records reports or otherwise as may be desired by their parent bodies.
However, the libraries in a bid to meet the set objectives of the universities provide a wide range of
resources and services, which include monographs, textbooks, reference documents, audio-visual
resources and other equipment like computer and internet facilities, current awareness services,
abstracting and indexing services and a comfortable reading environment. The university libraries can
only achieve their objectives if adequate preservation and conservation practices of library materials
are made available for the procurement and processing of materials, hiring of personnel, purchase and
maintenance of equipment because preservation and conservation is the bedrock of every organization
including the university libraries.
xvi
In view of the above, one of the main problem facing university libraries in south-east zone of
Nigeria as a whole is lack of funds. Robert (2003) explained funding as the process of raising money
or capital for any kind of expenditure. University libraries in developing countries such as Nigeria are
facing major funding problems due to non-growing or even decreasing appropriations from the
university administration and other funding agencies. As a result of this Carole Dyal (2008) explained
that subject specialists, bibliographers, and departmental/subject divisional librarians are directly
responsible for the intellectual composition of the collection that these staff members are in the best
position to know an items intrinsic value to the collection as a whole, and its expected use.
Unfortunately, she said that these professionals are often unaware of preservation and conservation
options that can protect materials and prolong their use despite that the preservation and conservation
treatment of the collection should be their direct concern since physical access is as critical to patron
satisfaction as bibliographic access. She went ahead to explain that the emphasis on preservation and
conservation practices does not extend beyond “rare” books, even though irreplaceable items and
materials of permanent research value are found on the open shelves of most libraries.
Moreso, the current situation in these university libraries is that they cannot order for new
materials because of lack of funds and the materials they have within are out-dated, detoriated, as a
result of over handling and lack of maintenance. However, these made universities materials in these
federal university libraries in South-East zone to be mainly by donation and strict purchase. Therefore,
there is need for us to preserve and conserve what we have by providing a cover or jacket to the
material immediately it arrived, by laminating some of these materials, by binding the materials, by
ensuring a regular dusting and clearing of the materials, by ensuring proper handling and maintenance
of library resources, by ensuring reformatting–photocopying, micro-films and digitization and so on
because the past is the foundation of the future.
xvii
Preservation and Conservation of library materials are done to safeguard the library materials
from further decay and disfiguration. Sule and Ademu (2005) observed that preservation and
conservation practices of library materials leads to the security of man’s recorded knowledge. Through
the process of preservation and conservation, man has been able to keep intact the records of the past,
the present into safe places. These ensure the continued and effective exploitation of resources in any
given library. Moreso, preservation and conservation practices ensure the continued supply of
information for the research purposes and for posterity. When there is a good preservation and
conservation practices on library materials, efforts will not be a waste on replacement. Materials which
should have been expanded on replacement are channeled to the acquisition of new resources to enrich
the existing collection. The life span of the collections, books, journals, monographs, audio-visuals etc
are safeguarded through the instrument of preservation and conservation.
Statement of the Problem
The library materials which are unique in nature because of the information they contain
deserve to have the maximum preservation and conservation practice in order to retain the information
they contain for a very long period of time.
University libraries in developing countries such as Nigeria, there is a dearth of valuable
publication because most of these library materials are not properly protected in these libraries.
Despite that these libraries struggled and suffered to acquire these library resources which are not easy
to be replaced when they are lost are not properly preserved and conserved yet, the information
contained in these library resources can serve library users for decades of years.
Besides, these resources are the major sources of reference and consultation to all who are in
need of one information or the other yet, these resources lack proper preservation and conservation
polices in these libraries.
xviii
It has been observed that in these university libraries, that these library resources are always
very dirt and dusty. Some of these library resources have lost their back cover and as a result of this,
they are just floating in the shelves as they can no longer be identified with their area of specialization.
The spine of some of these resources has been pulled out as a result of rough handling of these
resources. It has also been observed that some of these resources have no hard-cover, they are not
laminated and there is know provision for duplicate copies for these resource. Sometimes, the pages of
these resources will be incomplete as a result of constant and frequently used by the users and as a
result of this, the information contained in them will also be lost. In support of this Olumsola (1987)
and Onadiran (1988) reported that books in university libraries are preferred at an alarming rate.
However, in spite of many benefits derived from effective preservation and conservation in
federal university libraries, the tendency is that these libraries will face the risk of losing the
intellectual contents as well as cultural heritage and other sources of information available with these
libraries. This is because there is a little or no preservation and conservation policy in these federal
university libraries in South-East zone in Nigeria. As a result of this, the conditions of these library
materials in these university libraries in federal universities in South-East are nothing to write home
about. Presently, the current situation of library resources in federal university libraries as with regard
to preservation and conservation of library resources is not known and this is why this study is
important and needs to be investigated.
xix
Purpose of the Study
The main purpose of the study is to investigate the preservation and conservation of library
materials in federal universities in South-East zone of Nigeria. However, the specific objectives of the
study are:
1. To determine the preservation and conservation practices existing in federal universities in south-
east zone in Nigeria.
2. To ascertain the extent such practices are applied in these libraries.
3. To examine the prevailing factors necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation and
conservation in these universities.
4. To examine the library resources where these preservation and conservation practices are applied
in federal universities in South-East zone in Nigeria.
5. To Highlight on the problem associated with the preservation and conservation practices in the
libraries
6. To suggest ways of enhancing the preservation and conservation practices in federal universities
in south-east zone in Nigeria.
Significance of the Study
The findings of the study are of immense benefit to the following: Library administrators, the
staff in Binding section as well as other researchers.
The findings of the study is expected to be of interest to the university or college librarian by
ensuring that they understand the true state of the library materials as they will see that they share
duties properly to each sections of the library and see that they monitor and punish the defaulters
accordingly. The findings of this study are expected to be beneficial to the heads of different units in
the library as it will help to reveal to the state of preservation and conservation methods that will
enable them to improve on saving the library materials from destruction.
xx
Moreover, the information generated by the study will be of help to the binding section as they
will enable them to understand the need to bind library materials as soon as they arrive to the library
before sending them to their various shelves in order to give longevity to the materials. Moreso, the
information generated by the study will be of help to institutions and organizations as it will provide a
framework for the preservation and conservation programme in their libraries.
In addition, other researchers will benefit from the findings of this study as it will highlight
them to the strategies of preservation and conservation practices in the federal universities in South-
East zone in Nigeria.
Research Questions
The following research question were formulated to guide the study:
1. What are the library preservation and conservation practices existing in federal Universities in
South-East zone in Nigeria?
2. To what extent are these practice used in these libraries?
3. What are the preveling factors necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation and
conservation practices in these libraries?
4. To what extent do preservation and conservation practices applied to library materials in these
libraries?
5. What are the problems associated with the preservation and conservation practices in these
libraries?
6. What strategies could be used to enhance the preservation and conservation practices in these
libraries?
Scope of the Study
The research work covered the following federal universities in South-East Zone of Nigeria.
The universities includes; University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa
xxi
(NAU), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Federal University of Agriculture
Umudike-Umuahia (FUAU). The respondents include all the library staff members that are involved in
the project. The study is limited to the preservation and conservation of library resources in the
libraries of these institutes.
xxii
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
In this chapter, literature relevant to the research topic has been organized and presented in the
following order:
Conceptual Framework
• An overview of the concept of preservation and conservation of library resources.
• Preservation and conservation practices in libraries.
• Need for libraries adoption of preservation and conservation practices
• Library resources to which preservation and conservation practices are applied to
• Human resources needed for preservation and conservation in libraries.
• Problems associated with preservation and conservation in libraries
• Strategies for the enhancement of preservation and conservation in libraries
Review of Related Empirical Studies
Summary of Literature Review
Conceptual Framework
An overview of the concepts of “Preservation and Conservation” have erroneously been used
inter changeably in some library literature. However, to preserve and to conserve may literarily be
seen as synonymous in meaning. Fadehan (2009) observed that the essence of information is to
preserve them for all future generations and also to see that the state of the materials at any period in
time is to engender and achieve the later end. He also argued that the problem of deterioration of
library materials apply to all categories of materials in the library.
The institute of Museum and library services (2009) stresses that preservation has been
described as any action that effectively extends the life or useful life of a living or non-living
xxiii
collection, the individual items or entities including in a collection or structure, building or site by
reducing the likelihood or speed of deterioration. It further explained that preservation actions include:
planning, conservation treatment, prevention action to improve environment or otherwise reduce the
risk of damage or loss. It also points out that it deals with formatting or re-formatting to provide access
without the physical use of original objects. Preservation according to Hornby (1976) implies the state
of being or remaining in a stated condition after a long time. However, Noah Webster dictionary
defined preservation as the act of preserving or keeping in safety from harm, injury, decay or
destruction. Similarly, the National conservation Advisory council in United State (1983) states that
preservation is an action taken to retard------- deterioration------by control of their structure. It also
explained that currently, preservation is a broader concept covering conservation as well was action
relating to protection, maintenance and restoration of library collections. Clarkson (1993) states that
preservation encompasses every fact of library life. He said that preservation is a preventive
medicine,… the concern of every one who walks into or works in a library. In the same view,
Grimwood-Jones (1993) points out that preservation apply to various strategies for preservation
applies to various strategies for preserving the intellectual content. Moreso, Harvey (1993) also states
that preservation includes all the managerial and financial considerations including storage and
accommodation provisions, staffing levels, policies, techniques and methods involved in preserving
library and archive materials and the information contained in them. From the definitions so far, it has
been observed that preservation practices is to library materials as what air is to human being. Without
preservation practice in the library, library materials will be useless and waste of information. In the
same view, Feather (1993) stressed that for most of us, preservation is about making our libraries
useful, preserving materials for as long as they are wanted. He therefore explained that preservation is
indeed a central issue in modern librarianship and one which will continue to be of concern to the end
of this century and beyond. Alegbeleye (1996) explained that damages attributed to environmental
xxiv
factor include those caused by insects, sunlight, mould and water. He further explained that the
damage caused to the library materials is associated with the physical environment in which the
materials are kept as well as the house keeping practices provided. He also argues the libraries are
prone to disaster like fire, flooding, vandalism, civil unrest, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, wars,
lightening, rodents and pests. Similarly, Feather and Strugues (eds.) (1997) defined preservation as the
maintenance of collections and individual objects as close as possible to the original condition through
appropriate housing, handling, repair and conservation treatment.
Furthermore, Eden (1997) states that preservation is the managerial, financial and technical
issues involved in preserving library or archive materials in all format and/or their information content
so as to maximize their useful life. Similarly, Adeniran (1998) says that preservation involves
stabilizing the environment under which the library materials are kept. He maintained that the basic
responsibility of the librarian or the institution is the preservation of the materials in their custody. The
then said that this implies that the materials should survive not only for years or centuries but for all
time. Beside these facts above, Nwogwugwu (2001) sees preservation as the specific individual and
collective measures taken for repair, restoration, protection and maintenance of documents. He also
explained that it is an act of anticipating and preventing damage to records or documents. Similarly,
Alegleleya (2002) defined preservation as the act of preserving, guarding or protecting, preservation
from loss, decay, injury or violation. In the same view, Alhassan (2002) defined preservation in terms
of restoration or treating them against attack or book-worms, termites, beetles, cockroaches etc. In
spite of this, Kenny et al (2002) strongly believe that digital technology has the potential to redefine
preservation reformatting but until the concern associated with maintaining long-term accessibility to
material stored in digital image form can be resolved, many libraries and archives loath to initiate
digital projects beyond the pilot phase.
xxv
However, McCarry etal (2002) maintained that with the advent of high performance computing
and high speed networks, the use of digital technologies enable information to be created,
manipulated, disseminated, located and stored with increasing ease. They said that digital preservation
involves the retention of both the information object and its meaning. In the same view, Madu (2004)
also observed that libraries serve to preserve for those who follow us, our thoughts, intellectuals and
artistic creations and man’s historic records. However, Jantz and Garlo (2005) defined digital
preservation as the managed activities necessary for the long term maintenance of a unite of
information stored in a computer which is sufficient to produce a suitable facsimile of the original
document and for the continued accessibility of the document contents through time and changing
technology. They said that digital technology offers unprecedented opportunities for access and use
since it could facilitate the expansion of scholarship by providing timely, distributed access to a
variety of sources from variety of locations.
University of Las Vegas Libraries (2008) states that preservation is an indirect method of treatment in
which the environment around an item is changed. It further explained that this includes stabilizing,
maintaining and monitoring temperature, humidity, light exposure, air pollution, dirt and mold. It
maintained that preservation includes surveying the condition of the building and collections, the
construction of protective enclosures using acid-neutral or buffered materials, proper storage and
handling techniques, security, including theft, vandalism, eating of food, drinking, use of tobacco in
the libraries, insurance, disaster prevention, preparedness and recovery and education training and
outreach programs for staff, patrons, the university community and the public. From the
definitions, it is clear that several scholars have tried to define preservation, in some many ways. Some
look at it as technical problem requiring managerial solution. However, Battin (1993) is more concrete
in defining preservation as strategies and actions necessary to proved access to the accumulated human
record as far into the future as possible. Notwithstanding, Ala Glossary of library and information
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science see it as, characterized with maintaining library and archival form or in some other useable
way. Ellen Mccrady has also observed that preservation can be anything from full conservation to
simply not throwing an item away and it also mean microfilming an item and then throwing it out.
Meanwhile, Kovacs (1987) explained that Ritzenthaler in the National conservation advisory council
defined preservation as an action taken to retard or prevent deterioration or damage in cultural
properties by control of their environment and/or treatment of their structure in order to maintain them
as nearly as possible in an unchanging state. Aside from this view, Hornby (1976) stressed that
preservation implies the state of begin or remaining in a state of condition after a long time. Similarly,
Feather and Sturges, (1997) define preservation as the maintenance of collections and individual
objects as close as possible to the original condition through appropriate housing, handling repair and
conservation treatment. In spite of this, Madu (2010) explained that preservation connotes far more
than keeping a material in its original form or being familiar with all reformatting technologies
available. He said that it means accessibility: when a user needs it, he gets it. Hence, he further
explained that the whole process of security, shelving, shelf-reading and circulation are actually
preservation techniques. He maintained to explain that preservation from abuses like mutilation,
defacing and/or stealing of materials are preservation tenets. He said that all these things are done to
ensure longevity of the lifespan of library materials.
Similarly, Nwogwugwu (2001) expressed that preservation refers to the specific individual and
collection measures taken for repair, restoration, protection and maintenance of documents. He also
said that it is an act of anticipating and preventing damage to records or documents. Therefore, he
explained that the concept of preservation is not only with protecting the document in particular
against possible dangers, but also that of permanently keeping them in conditions that could ensure
their preservation in the most favourable atmosphere and away from anything likely to cause slow but
continuous deterioration. Conservation on the other hand, may literarily be seen as synonymous in
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meaning with such terms as preservation, and restoration. As a result of this, the National
Conservation Advisory Council in United State (1993) explained that conservation is all-
encompassing term that includes preservation and restoration as specific areas.
The World Book Encyclopedia vol.4 defined conservation as the management, protection, and
wise use of natural resources. It went ahead to explain that conservation is important for two basic
reasons.
1. To meet demands for natural resources and
2. To maintain the quality of life.
However, the New Book of knowledge vol. 3 agreed with the world book Encyclopedia by
explaining that Conservation is the sustainable use of natural resources. “Sustainable use” means
managing and using a resources carefully so that it may last for future generation.
On the other hand, the world book dictionary vol. 1 defines conservation as the action of
conserving. Preserving, protecting from loss or from being used up avoidance of waste. In agreement
with this, the 21st Century Webster’s international Encyclopedia explain that conservation is
management and protection of the earth’s natural resources to assure adequate supplies for future
generations. It explains that conservation aims to provide an environment free from pollution of air,
water, land, and to protect the welfare of plants, animals and humans. As such, conservation is a
means of protecting what one have at hand to see that it doesn’t get lost or damaged and to last for a
very period of time. However, Encyclopedia Americana international; vol. 7 defined conservation as
the concerns and strategies surrounding the protection of natural resources from over use or
degradation.
In the same view, moreso, Kovacs (1987) stresses that Ritzenthaler in the National
Conservation Advisory Council defined conservation as an action taken to return a deteriorated or
damaged artifact as nearly as is feasible to its original form, design, color, and function with minimal
xxviii
further sacrifice of aesthetic and historic integrity. In spite of this Clarkson (1993) stressed that
conservation is the specialized process of making safe, or to a certain degree usable, fragile period
objects and restoration expresses rather extensive rebuilding and replacement by modern materials
within a period of object, catering for a future of more robust use. Aside from this, Grimwood-Jones
(1993) is of the opinion that conservation is primarily conserved with ensuring that the original artifact
is maintained and secure. Similarly, Harvey (1993) explained that conservation denotes, those specific
policies and practices involve in protecting library and achieved materials from detoration, damage
and decay, including the methods and techniques devised by technical staff. UNESCO defined
conservation as those actions involving minimal technical intervention required to prevent further,
deterioration to original materials. From these definitions so far, it is clear that conservation actions are
necessary because it is recognized that the original medium, format and content are important for
research or other purposes such as to retain aesthetic, materials, cultural and historical qualities.
However, Madu (2010) explained that conservation is an activity subsumed therefore under
preservation. He further explained that it implies the active use of preservative measures or processes
of repair of damage materials to ensure restoration and the continued existence of individuals items.
He said that the decision to repair a particular item or to intervene in the deterioration of a material is
essentially managerial or professional. However, he explained that the decision on the process and the
materials to be used in intervening may be technical but, even that has to be taken within the broad
parameters of managerially determined policy. Similarly, Hornby (1976) stresses that conservation
refers to the controlled use of a limited supply of materials to prevent waste or loss so as to facilitate
its use in the future.
Beside these facts above, the new International Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary (1996)
said that conservation is defined, guard, keep, maintain, sustain and among others are synonyms far
preservation. In spite of this, wikipedia (2009) defines conservation to the treatment and repair of
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individual items to show decay or restore them to useable state. It further explain that conservation
includes proper diagnosis of the decayed materials, timely curative treatment and appropriate
prevention from further decay. Vinas and Vinas (1988) defined conservation as the operations which
are intended to prolong the life of an object by forestalling damage or remedying deterioration. He
further explained that in essences, it refers to specific practices taken to show deterioration and
prolong the life of an object by directly intervening in its physical or chemical make-up. He said that
an example of this is the process of determining the causes and extent of damage of a document.
Furthermore, the American institute for conservation (1997) defined conservation as a more
specific term referring to the physical treatment of individual items usually after some damage has
occurred. Similar to this, the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) (1986) in a
conference held at the National Library at Austria Vienna, defined conservation to denote those
specific polices and practices involved in protecting library and practices involved in protecting library
and archival resources fro deterioration, damage and decay, including the methods and techniques
devised by technical staff. He further explained that conservation focuses more on precise techniques
perfected by the technical staff in the struggle against the degradation of collections. Harrod’s librarian
Ghossary (1987) sees conservation to mean simple processes of book repair, lamenting of covers,
strengthening of spines or pressure on publishers to produce books that are physically more durable
complex method of paper preservation and rebuilding for the longer term. Moreso, the University of
Nevadn has Nega (UNLV) policy statement (1999) defines conservation as direct methods of
treatment in which an item is physically or chemically changed. This includes cleaning, deacidifying,
repairing, rebinding, and reformatting. It further explained that all conservation treatment entail the
least intrusive methods possible and use acid neutral or buffered materials. Nwalo (2003) also sees
conservation as the careful handling of resources, dusting of resources and shelves, treatment of
resources and the identification and gathering of resources needing restoration or fortification.
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Although Clarkson (1987) defined conservation as the specialized process of making fragile objects
safe or to a certain extent strategies employed for safeguarding the intellectual contents of information
from deterioration or decay. Govan (1986) in stressed that the part of the difficulty in discussing
conservation is that librarians have not been precise in their use of terms which is responsible for
making their discussion confusing in definitions. He further explained that binding and mending
adding duplicate copies or reprints, microfilming or photocopying on acid free paper and anyone of
the variety new technological solutions all as filling within the definition of conservation.
Olatokun (2008) therefore explained that for decades, librarians have tended to mix up
conservation and preservation and all efforts have concentrated on the curative treatment of single
documents. Conservation and restoration are the most central activities of preservation; they are
concerned with the physical maintenance and repair of documentary materials. He further explained
that conservation and planning for the practical application of the techniques of binding, restoration,
paper chemistry, and other technological materials as well as other knowledge pertinent to the
preservation of archival resources. He explained that conservation can be characterized as both
preventive and remedial preventive conservation consists of indirect action to retard deterioration and
prevent damage by creating conditions optional for the preservation of materials.
Similarly, Alhassan (2002) expressed that conservation is a phase where materials are properly
processed and stored for easy retrieval any time the need arises. Sources in Nigeria libraries and
information centres are either in the state brittleness or disrepair. In spite of all these, the deterioration
of library materials forms the basic problem of libraries and gives rise to preservation and conservation
needs. Madu (2010) explained that in libraries, the course of preserving materials, that there is need to
adequately consider the value of records in terms of its educational socio-political and economic
impact on society, and decide the period during which each class of documents night be kept for use
and then destroyed or permanently preserved for future use. He further explained that while assessing
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library materials, that it is mandatory to consider their durability in relation to their usage. He also said
that to retain the information contained in all media of communication for effective use by future
generations, that there is the need to either preserve, conserve or affect both activities on them.
Therefore, Madu (2010) give three main factors that are important in the process of taking decisions
regarding preservation and conservation which are:
• The building to identify potential hazard arising from security, fire, flood and other natural
disasters.
• The interior building including reading and storage areas, to assess the environmental conditions
and the physical state of shelving units taking measurements of lighting levels, temperature and
humidity, and assessing levels of dust and atmospheric pollution and
• The collection to identify the scale of damage to paper including assessment of paper
embitterment, damage due to mould or insect and damage to binding etc.
He explained that the programme should promote awareness of the problems, take steps to
introduced of simple but cheap preventive measures to improve operating conditions and initiate steps
to develop a conservation programme. Similarly, Jordan (2003) stressed that conservation activities
can be divided into four major areas. According to him, he explained that stabilization treatments
attempt to arrest the inherent process of decay. Clearing is an attempt to remove damaging agents.
Repair is intended to correct appearance and or function. Restoration aims at returning original
characteristic and functionality using appropriate and sympathetic materials but without concealing the
restoration itself. She then explained that each of these categories uses a wide range of techniques to
accomplish its objective.
In spite of all these Nwogwugwu (2001) expressed that it is important to point out that the term
conservation is however believed to be wider in scope, highly technical and is concerned with such
complicated issues as.
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• The chemistry of materials
• The monitoring of environmental system and
• The design of the document structure.
Preservation and Conservation Practices In Libraries
The concept of preservation and conservation is firmly rooted in the idea that mankind learns
form the past and that evidence of the past therefore has considerable significance to the human race
and is worth saving. Therefore, it means that all libraries are, or should be involved in preservation and
conservation practices. Such as using photocopying machine, digitization facilities lamination
equipment, bindery, fumigation, cleaning and dusting of the library materials, reformation and others.
Besides some of the important preservation and conservation practices in university libraries
for books and related materials include: binding or books/journals (serials), news papers, repairs to
bindings and simple repairs to turn or damaged pages. Some of the reformatting techniques include:
microfilming of newspaper, brittle or fragile paper based materials, copying photographs, copying
audiotapes and video materials and electronic digitizing. Preservation and conservation facilities and
equipment include: conservation laboratory, paper lamination equipment, bindery, fumigation
chamber, microfilming and digitization facility. Preventive preservation techniques or procedures
include: floor cleaning, shelf clearing, collection condition surveys, pest inspections, environmental
monitoring and a plan for disaster preparedness and response plan. However, Harvey (1993) explained
that many writers have expressed the idea that we have a duty to preserve and conserve what went
before us similarly, Agresto (1986) when he headed the National Endowment for the Humanities
stressed that “we have a human obligation not to forget. He went further to explain that it is essential
to scholars and educators, who must rely on the availability of primary source materials as the basis
for good teaching. He then expressed that preserving the past is useful and practical to us, the living.
xxxiii
Libraries then have a major responsibility to preserve and conserve the information contained
therein. Harvey (1993) expressed that if libraries as custodians of these records both printed and in
other forms--- fail in their preservation and conservation duties, then that it is not tow fanciful to
suggest that what is at stake is nothing less than the perpetuation of society as we are accustomed to
conceive or idealize it.
However, Eden (1997) is of the opinion that the basic aim of a preservation and conservation
policy is to ensure access to information content, either by preserving the original or creating a
surrogate copy; one of the best ways to exploit stock is to ensure that it remains in a usable condition
for as long as possible. He further explained that this can only happen if preservation is seen as having
a role to play throughout the library, and is accordingly supported at the highest level. He explained
further that the stone of any preservation and conservation policy is selection. He explained and
conservation policy is selection. He than explained also that librarians and archivists approach this
most basic activity in different item becomes part of an archival collection, a decision has been made
to preserve and conserve it. Though, he explained that not every item accepted by the archive will be
preserved and conserved.
Similarly, Eden (1993) has the same opinion with Alhassan (2002) financial pressure leading
to a general lack of resources, is one of the basic problem faced by both librarians and archivist in
trying to meet their preservation and conservation needs. An inevitable consequence of the above, is
that choices have to be made and priorities established. Jordan (2003) explained that the size and scope
of a preservation programme vary from institution to institution depending on an institutions needs and
resources. In spite of this, Alhassan (2002) stressed that preservation in Nigeria library is of primary
importance, that book votes are drastically reduced by authorities and is even openly discussed in
certain quarters that whenever vote reduction are to be made, that the library will not be able to acquire
new materials, journals that carry latest funding by researchers are particularly worse hit. He further
xxxiv
explained that the next logical thing to do by the librarian is to preserve and conserve what he/she has.
He then went ahead to explain that the financial situation in the country is another good reason for
preservation and conservation. He explained that over 90% of books and 100% non book materials
required by patrons are imported and these involves foreign exchange and these involves foreign
exchange and the Naira is so week to most international currencies. He said that librarian has to
preserve and conserve what he has in preference to anticipatory long waiting of money to purchase
materials from abroad. Therefore, he explained that there is need for materials to last as much as
possible and the only way is to preserve and conserve them for active use by the next generation.
However, conservation is preservation at the item level which embraces those activities that
improve the condition of the physical object or protect it from damage. Kemoni (1996) stressed that
conservation activities may be grouped into three major areas. He then explained that the first one is
examination which involves the process of determining the causes and extent of damage to a
document. The second area is preservation which also involves stabilizing the environment under
which archival materials are kept. Lastly, the restoration which refers to the repair done on a
documentation order to prolong its life span and restore it to its original status. Aside from this, as long
as document have ravages of time and the need has arisen to repair them. As a matter of fact, Popoola
(2003) stated that until 1980s, conservation of library resources was though to be relevant to race book
resources by librarians and curators of collection of special resources, library resources has broken
down through the aging process, and to replace them were difficult and expensive if not practically
impossible. He also stated that the modern libraries and information centres are faced with the problem
of deterioration of resources in their holdings. He maintained that the resources have deteriorated to
the extent of losing their intellectual contents. Therefore, Popoola noted that thousands of volumes of
library res.
Factors Necessitating Libraries Adoption of Preservation and Conservation Practice
xxxv
There is no library material that is not infinite because of their very nature which are
susceptible to deterioration and as a result, preserving and conserving them became very-important.
Therefore, it is instructive to understand the factors that necessitates libraries adoption of preservation
and conservation practice. However, the need for preservation and conservation of library materials
are determined by their physical and chemical composition, the environment in which they are stored,
and their history of use and abuse. Some of these factors that necessitate the need for library adoption
of preservation and conservation practice are the inherent physical composition and structure of an
item, along with the permanence and durability of its component materials in support of this, Dyal
(2008) explain that if a book printed on poor quality paper is rarely used, the paper may deteriorate
faster than the binding and repair may never be necessary. On the other hand, that if a publisher’s
binding for a new book is inadequate, repair may be needed after just one circulation.
Notwithstanding, the condition under which library materials are stored also affect the need for
preservation and conservation treatment. Dyal (2008) also explain that overly warm storage conditions
hasten chemical reactions and promote the aging or deterioration of all types organic materials,
including papers, bookcloth, and leather. She further explain that Humid conditions stimulate the
growth of mold and hasten acid deterioration, while very low humidity leads to desiccation and
embitterment. That ultraviolet rays in sunlight and fluorescent light weaken and degrade cellulosic
materials, such as paper and cloth, and cause leather bindings to dry and crack. She also explain that
the exposure of library materials to dirt and dust causes abrasion and soiling. That Air pollutants, such
as sulfur dioxide and ozone, found in libraries in urban/industrial areas promote deterioration.
However, the way in which library materials are shelved and used also has a significant impact
on the need for physical treatment or repair. This means that jumbled or untidy shelves, rough
handling by staff and patrons, and the use of book “drops” all damage bindings and needlessly waste
resources. On the other hands, proper storage and handling significantly reduce the need for
xxxvi
preservation and conservation treatment. Moreso, if library materials are made sturdily, stored under
optimum conditions, shelved properly, and handled carefully, a certain amount of tear and wear is
inevitable with use. However, by the application of sound preservation and conservation treatments,
libraries can maintain materials so that they will be available for use as long as they are needed. Aside
from this, the physical preservation and conservation of library materials has implications for every
facet of library work. This implies that the physical condition of an item affects its availability, and an
item that is allowed to deteriorate can be completely lost to users. In these federal academic library in
South-East, Nigeria, preservation and conservation activities such as binding preparation, repair,
mending, reshelving, shelf preparation, identification of damaged items. Unfortunately, in a library
without an active conservation program, these activities can work against preservation of the
collections. However, Dyal (2008), explain that many libraries encourage the premature
deterioration of their collections by simply being unaware of proper preservation and conservation
practices. If care is not taken, this is applicable to all the federal academic university in South-East
zone of Nigeria.
Aside from this, Harvey (1993) also explained that hand in hand with the deterioration caused
by increased use has been caused by the introduction of new technologies into libraries such as
photocopies. Harvey explained that there is also know library that function now without photocopiers
and not least as a tool for preservation not knowing the act of photocopying is inherently at least
somewhat stressful to books and paper, and potentially disastrous. He then noted that the act of
photocopying in most cases imposes on the item being copied high levels of mechanical stress for
(example opening out the binding) and light which speed up the rate of deterioration. Aside from this,
Harvey expressed that other factors which have been responsible for deterioration are categorized
loosely as environmental which he explained that the major contribution here is air pollution. He also
explained that modern industrialized cities typically have a high level of air pollution, whose major
xxxvii
threat is to the paper in library collections. He further explained that just and dirt particles may also
cause mechanical damage, through abrasion of the paper with which they come into contact. He
mentioned that disasters are another significant cause of damage to library collections, and chief
among them are floods, fire and earthquakes.
Moreso, Singh (2008) explained that light produces photochemical reaction which results in
discoloration and effect of sunlight coved be noticed if newspaper is exposed to sunlight for couple of
days. He also explain that excessive heat produces dehydration, which results in loss of flexibility and
consequent disintegration of fibres. He also said that excessive humidity hydrolyses fibres and coupled
with stagnant air generates fungus and insects like cockroaches, bookworms, boo dice and silver fish
that eat away the documents. He further explained that dust particles act as abrasives, cutting down the
fibres and reducing the strength of paper. Apart from this, it also acts as a medium for absorption of
acidic gases present in the atmosphere which becomes the nucleus for the growth of fungus. Singh
went ahead to explain that Toxic and noxious gases containing sulphur dioxide emanating from
automobiles and industrial chimneys contribute to atmospheric pollution, resulting in development of
acidity in paper which gradually leads to discoloration of paper into yellow and dark yellow. He made
it clear that acidity which are transmigratory in behaviour spreads in the paper that are kept in close
contact and this embitters the fibres of the paper.
Besides these facts mentioned above, Eden (1997) stresses that the high, and continually
increasing, level of use of collections was frequently cited as a major problem by librarians and
archivists alike. He explained that library and archival materials are damaged by handling, and the
more they are handled the more they are handled, the more they become damaged. Similarly,
Ogunmilade (1996) explained that in recent years, that many users of the college library resources as
well as certain environmental and weather conditions and biological agents have damaged many books
and other resources. He went ahead to explain that the attention of many library staff has been drawn
xxxviii
to books and other library materials damaged by indecent users, various insects and certain reptiles,
humidity and mould just and dryness, sunlight and splashing of rainfall. Notwithstanding, Kemoni
(1996) gave the view that even though Kenya is seen as a success story in the conservation of archive
materials, that there is still a lot to be done. According to him, he said that a review of the conservation
programs revealed that the department does not have a disaster control plan, and he then explained that
the absence of such a plan implies that in the event of a disaster occurring, it would not be in a position
to respond to the disaster with the urgency that is required.
On the other hand, Williams (1971) lamented that libraries today are hospital for sick books in
which with very few expectations, not nearly enough is being done to treat the patients---books are not
lasting as they can and should. Similarly, Ifidon (2006) explained that initially, the university library
system is the best funded. That in the 1950s and 1960s’ that the United Nations Educational Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proposed 50% the approved recurrent budget for library
development and in 1993, this percentage was raised to 10% in Nigeria. He then explained that the
euphoria amongst university librarians was short-lived because by 2001, the Nigerian National
Universities commission tacitly withdrew the approval and right now, there is no known financial
standard for library development. He equally explained that low book publishing output in developing
countries as well as imported books raise problems in university libraries. As a result of this, we can
see that the librarians has know option than to preserve and conserve the documents within his/her
reach.
However, Kovacs (1987) explained that the concern about the future of library collections and
fiscal support promoted library managers to review their purchasing practices and collection managers
to review their purchasing practices and collection management procedures. She further explained that
the lack of funding combined with “information explosion” continues during the eighties. Therefore,
xxxix
she said that he deterioration of existing collections is a matter of great concern, since much of the
materials is collections is potentially irreplaceable due to lack of funds or lack of availability.
Library Resources to which Preservation and Conservation Practices are Applied to
Library resources are of various forms, shapes, sizes and formats. They various and are
distinctive as the institution it serves. The most common library resources found in almost all libraries
include:
Books: A book is a publication in printed form with a distinctive title. It usually appears as a
monograph, but it can also be multi-voluminous. Ifidon (2006) explained that books form one of the
major items in any library holdings. He said that there are at least 10 types of books which have a
multiplicity of variants. The basic ones illustrated by Ifidon are:
Reference Books: This is probably the most fundamental to all libraries. They are meant for
consultation only within the library and they are not to be read from page to page. Ifidon, further
explained that while Seldom treating any subject in exhaustive detail, that reliable reference works are
usually an excellent beginning point for information, study or research on practically an topic. Each
type of reference book may also have several variants the first type of reference work is encyclopedia
which of four different types.
There are general encyclopedias such as:
� Encyclopedia American Danbury, CT Grollier, 30 vols.
� The New Encyclopedia Britannica Chicago Encyclopedia Britannica, 32 vols.
However, these are regarded as the best general adult multivolume encyclopedias. Ifidon
(2006) also explained that for children, that the following are unrivalled:
� Children’s Britannica: Chicago Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 vols
� Compton’s encyclopedia and fact index Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 vols
� Merit students’ encyclopedia New York Macmillan educational corporation 20 vols.
xl
� The New book of knowledge Danbury CT. Grolier, 21 vols.
� World book encyclopedia Chicago: World book, 22 vols.
The new trend is now towards subject encyclopedias. He explained that these are particularly
handy when questions are so specific and specialized that they cannot be answered by the general
encyclopedias or when the user wants a more detailed overview of his subjects than a general
encyclopedia can provided a few examples of these are:
� Encyclopedia of Architecture, design, engineering and construction. New York. John Wiley,
vols. 5.
� Encyclopedia of library and information science. New York Marcel Dekker, 1975 to date. 36
vols with supplements.
� The encyclopedia of religion. New York: Macmillan, 16 vols.
� McGraw- Hill encyclopedia of science and Technology. New York: McGraw-Hill 20 vols.
Besides, the next set of reference books comprises dictionaries. A general dictionary is a work
which gives the meaning and usage of words. Entries are arranged in an alphabetical sequence. Like
encyclopedias, there a general, children’s and specialized dictionaries. Examples of general
dictionaries are:
� The Oxford American English dictionary New York: Oxford University press.
� The Oxford English Dictionary. New York: Oxford University press. 20 vols.
Examples of children’s dictionaries can be illustrated by the following:
� Macmillan Dictionary for Children. New York: Macmillan, 784 pp.
� Webster’s Elementary Dictionary: Springfield, M.A. Merriam-Webster, 600pp.
� The world book dictionary. Chicago world book, 2 vols.
Some example of the specialized dictionaries are:
� Dictionary of Biochemistry. New York: Wiley
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� A Dictionary of Economics: New York Barness and Noble
� Dictionary of Science and Technology Amsterdam Elesevier
� Dictionary of World History. New York Tow Continents.
Not only this, there is a specialized type of dictionary which deserves attention and it is the
biographical dictionary. An example of this work is Dictionary of National Biography.
Moreso, Bibliography is another library resource to which preservation and conservation
practices are applied to. However, Ifidon, (2006) defined a bibliography as a critical and historical
study of printed books. Examples of bibliographies include. Systematic enumerative bibliography
which includes.
� Bibliography of publications issued by UNESCO or under its auspices; the first twenty-five-
years. Paris UNESCO.
� Bibliography of reports arising out of meetings held by international organizations Brussels:
Union of International Associations.
However, there are also national bibliographies these are limited to works published within or about a
country. Examples include.
� A Bibliography of Ghana, Evanstion, 111. Northwestern University press.
� British National Bibliography, London: council of the British National Bibliography
� Nigerian Publications, Lagos, Nigeria: The National Library.
Another type of bibliography is a bibliography that is issued for or by booksellers and
publishers of a particular country. Among these are:
� Books in-print, new York: R.R. Bowker 10 vols.
� Cumulative book index, New York: H.W. Wilson, 98 vols.
� Whitaker’s cumulative book list, London: Whitaker, 5 vols.
xlii
There are also subject bibliographies available for researchers and other library users in special areas
such as:
� Blazek, Ron and Aversa, Elizabeth-the Humanities, a selective guide to information sources,
Englewood, Colorado: libraries unlimited, 382 pp.
� Music reference and research materials. New York: Schirmer, 714pp.
� Science and technology annual reference review. Phoenix, Arizona Oryx
However, there is analytical bibliography which is concerned with the physical description of a book
while textual bibliography deals with the author’s works. An example of analytical bibliography is
Analytical bibliography of writings on modern English morphology and syntax Louvain. Nauwelaerts.
� Almanacs
� Directories
� Handbooks yearbooks
� General facts books
Notwithstanding, textbooks are also among the library resources to which preservation and
conservation practices are applied to. Ifidon (2006) explained that a textbook is a classic publication
used in the study of a subject. It usually contains a systematic presentation of the principles and
vocabulary of the affected subject. He went ahead to explain that textbooks may be written by one or
more authors; that it can also be a collection of writings by various authors dealing with a specific
subject. That it takes about four years to write and test a good textbook not only thus, that this is why
some of the information-especially the statistical data-is out-of-date by the time it is published. In spite
of these seeming negative features, it is estimated that textbooks account for about one third of the
worlds’ total publishing output. Sometimes, the term technical books is used to refer to handbooks is
used to refer to handbooks and monographs in particular subjects areas such as accountancy, law,
xliii
medicine, natural sciences, social sciences and technology. However, there can also be textbooks in
any of the areas of specialization.
Besides, light reading materials or Fiction are not left out of these class of books. Ifidon
(2006), explained that although that they are a class of books, nevertheless they occupy such a unique
position in libraries holding that this separate section is being set aside for their treatment. This is
because this type of materials helps the library to meet with one of its objectives, namely, assisting the
library user in his own personal self development as man is not adjudged educated merely by the string
of academic certificates he has acquired. Rather an educated man is one who has trained his mind,
broadened his horizons, has some insight into the experiences of other follow human beings and is
equipped to solve personal life’s problems Ifidon (2006).
One must not forget to mention children’s books in this section illustrations are the overriding
element in children’s books. Hence more attention is paid to the design element and to the choice of an
illustrator.
Aperindicals are another library resources to which preservation and conservation practices are
applied to periodicals are defined as publication that appear with distinctive titles and in successive
numbers or parts at regular or irregular intervals. They fall into a number of different categories which
depend partly on the purpose of the publication and partly on the type of publisher. Ifidon (2006),
explained that from the academic scientific point of view, the most significant are learned journals. He
explained that they are produced by learned that from the academic and scientific point of view, the
most significant are learned journals. He explained that they are produced by learned and professional
societies and are intended to report new insights into the fundamental principles underlying every
discipline. Consequently, they are more up-to-date them books and carry the results of in depth
investigations.
xliv
Moreso, other library resources to which preservation and conservation practices are applied to
are these and dissertations. These two words means the something in terms of what they are but the
only different between them is that while these means works or write-up for those are ------ to get their
doctorate degrees, dissertations are meant for the masters degree. However, Ifidon (2006), uses theses
to mean works based on systematic investigation with a view to earning academic degrees such as
Doctoral and masters degrees. He, therefore explained that these are a category of research materials
which every research collection must have. They have always in high demand among postgraduate
students who are working in one narrow field or the other and faculty members. It is mandatory for the
school of postgraduate studies to send copies of these emanating from the higher degrees awarded by
the parent institution to the library of that institution.
Special materials such as archival collections, manuscripts and regional collections are
regarded as special collections. These are also among the library resources to which preservation and
conservation practices are applied to.
Notwithstanding, documents are not left out among the library resources. Documents refers to
government and United Nations publications. They can be issued by the Federal and state
governmental executive, legislative and judicial branches of government. Most of the information is
printed farm; but it can also appear in a wide variety of formats.
Another type of library resources is microform. Microform is a generic term referring to any
information storage or communication medium that is made up of images too small to be read by the
naked eye. There are mainly three types of microforms. Ifidon (2006), explained that oldest and best
known is reel microfilm or roll microfilm which is 16mm or 355mm wide. The 16mm type is used
mainly on offices, banks, and other commercial application which the 35 type is standard in libraries
because of its ability to display whole pages of news paper at a satisfactory reduction ratio. He, also
explained that the second type is micro-opaque which uses paper instead of film support. This type is
xlv
also of three types micorocards, microlex and microprint. However, the first two are no longer
produced while microprint utilizes 6” x 9” card with ten rows and ten colums. He then explained that
the third type of microform is microficahe. The standard size is 105mm x 148mm. one fiche can hold
approximately 210 sheets of paper or 105 pages. Besides, another version of the microfiche is
ultrafiche or ultrastrip. This form uses much greater reduction ratios that is a high as 210x on one
fiche.
More so, another form of library resources to which preservation and conservation practices
are applied to are the Vertical files. Ifidon (2006), explained that it is a collection that is meant to
augment other library collection by providing quick and easy access to pamphlets, clippings, fliers and
other ephemeral materials. He explained that his collection is maintained by reference unit and
department libraries and it provides information about topics of current interest. Such information is
usually not available elsewhere.
Machine-readable materials are as well among the library resources to which preservation and
conservation practices are applied to. Ifidon (2006), explained that machine-readable materials are
collections of information held in some farms of computerized or electronic format. He explained that
they include computerized databases held on mainframe, minicomputer or microcomputer. That they
also refer to databases published an floppy discs and distributed in this way to customers. He further
explained that a database is a collection of information stored on a remote computer which is accessed
using a telecommunications link.
Therefore, an attempt has been made to identify at least ten basic types of library materials to
which preservation and conservation practices are applied to. These are books, periodicals, these,
special materials, documents, microforms, audio materials, visual items, vertical files and machine-
readable materials. It has also been observed that each of these has several sub-sets. For example,
seven types of reference materials which are almanacs, bibliographic, handbooks and yearbooks were
xlvi
considered. However, each of these in term has its own sub-sets. This is applicable to almost other
library resources.
Human Resources Needed for Preservation and Conservation in Libraries.
The resources of the library should be cared for and preserved and conserved in order to
maintain in usable condition, each item in the collection and also to enable contained supply of
information essential for documenting the history of the nation and aiding research in order to ensure
continued and effective exploitation of library resources. However, Arua (1997) explained that certain
human resources should be required by librarians in order to place much emphasis on preservation and
conservation of the library resources by:
� Setting aside a percentage of the budget for preservation and conservation.
� Handling the materials with care by both the staff and the users such as not forcing the book to
open as that will cause damage to the cover and crack the glue which holds the sections together.
Provision of good storage facilities and smooth shelves to avoid damage and to enable proper
shelving.
� Arranging the resources properly on the shelves for easy access and to avoid mal-handling
� Clearing and dusting the shelves and materials with duster frequently and spraying chemicals an
them to prevent attack from microbes
� Supervising the stacks, inspecting the cleanliness and arrangement every morning and pulling
out worn out or deteriorating materials for treatment with insecticides and by binding.
� Desisting from mutilating, tearing, making marks on the books and stealing the materials by both
user and staff.
xlvii
� Training librarian on preservation and conservation work so as to have knowledge of
preservation and conservation, preserve and teach staff how to preserve and conserve.
� Strengthening new boos by binding them to make them last long and withstand tear and wear.
� Provision of air conditioners which regulate temperature to help eliminate problems of heat,
caused by temperature and humidity.
Notwithstanding, Ifidon (2006) stated that it is not enough to keep acquiring materials without
occasionally stopping to ask questions and assess the relevance of materials to the library’s purpose.
He explained that several different technique have been devised for assessing library collection in
which sometimes, each of them is used independently; at other times, or used in conjunction with one
or more other techniques. On the other hand, Ratctciffe (1991) states that not all libraries are yet aware
that there is a crises, that the heritage of the printed word is at risks. He went ahead to explain that one
of the most disturbing aspect of preservation and conservation today is that of persuading some
scholars and library users to accept that there is crises. In other words, many of them do not realize the
essence of preservation and conservation. In agreement with this, Ngulube (2001) state that for any
preservation and conservation programme to succeed in libraries, there must be adequate and well
trained manpower. He explained that this is because preservation and conservation of information
sources is a specialized field of knowledge that requires information professionals who understand the
physical and chemical nature of the materials in their libraries. On the other hand Popoola (2003)
explain the need to expose librarians to preservation and conservation practices during their training,
and that such training programmes should include operating environmental control, storage and
housing operating environmental systems, designing new building or renovation of building. Lack of
functional laboratory where library science student could undergo practical works has resulted
inadequate training for students in the area of preservation and conservation of information sources.
Popoola further stated that Africa has not been able to train students adequately in the areas of
xlviii
preservation and conservation of information resources due to lack of functional laboratories where
students could undergo practical works.
Problems Associated With Preservation and Conservation in Libraries
The problem of preservation and conservation of library resources according to Alegbeleye
(2006), is a global problem that is not peculiar to Nigeria. In agreement with this, Harvey (1993) states
that the problem of preservation and conservation is immense as a result of many factors. It is however
more acute in Nigeria due to a number of factors. One of the problems associated with preservation
and conservation is libraries is low level of awareness as to the importance of preservation and
conservation in prolonging the live span of information resources even among information
professionals in Nigeria. As observed by Alegbeley (2006), maintenance is culture that is alien to
Nigeria. This is a sad commentary on our attitude towards the preservation and conservation of
resources. Even where the awareness exists, preservation and conservation is a programme that is
rarely given top priority. However, there is poor or lack of awareness among the staff and the patrons.
With this, Akussanh (1991) states that in Ghana, only few librarians are conversant with the
preservation and conservation management processes. He explain that awareness creation has to do
with everything about preservation the way, how and the problems.
Aside from this, Popoola (2003) identified administrative problems as one of the problems
associated with preservation and conservation practices in libraries. According to him, he states that
lack of cooperative preservation and conservation venture and public enlighten campaign. He explain
that the problem of inappropriate buildings, poor power supply and water supply pose great threat to
preservation and conservation of information resources in African countries. Popoola (2003) further
explain that a great number of buildings that are acquired to house library and archival materials could
not provide adequate protection for loss, decay, and destruction as a consequence of excessive
temperature, humidity, light, insects, fire, flood and theft. Wamukoya (2000) states that they identified
xlix
the lack of information technology skill (IT) due to inadequate training as one of the impediments to
the management of electronic records at Moi University, Kenya.
However, Smith (1987), explain that the library users and staff do not have a genuine concern
for the physical survival of traditional library materials, so they handle them without care. Wilson
(1981) also agreed with smith as he observe that the library professionals have ceased to have respect
for books as a physical object. He further explained that it appears very incredible that even the
librarians and the users will give themselves to a position of prescribing destruction for the books they
are commissioned to preserve. Harvey (1993) and Ogumilade (1996) explain that damages to books
are caused by rough handling like throwing of books during playing, dropping books over a short
distance, mutilations, inserting thick objects to locate the reference pages, writing unnecessary
comments in the page, ripping off some page, opening of pages with moistened fingers, etc. On the
other hand, Akussah (1991) and Ekoja and Pidagih (1996) observe that careful handling of materials is
not easy especially when they are loaned to the patrons because in a situation like this, control of users
handling or display can not be controlled by libraries.
Notwithstanding, Popoola (2003) observed that the African continent stands the imminent risk
of losing so much of its valuable document heritage due to the problem of deterioration of paper and
other media on which they are stored. He explain that the problems of deterioration are caused by
three stakeholders in the African information sector, namely, the government, users and the
information professionals working in the available information systems.
In agreement with the above statement, Olatokun (2008) observed that information managers
in African countries especially librarians, records manasers and archivist are currently facing the
problem of effective preservation and conservation of information materials in their libraries. He
pointed out that there challenges faced by African member countries in the capture of preservation of
records. These include absence of organization plans for managing record, low awareness of the role
l
of records management in support of organization efficiency and accountability, lack of stewardship
and coordination in handling records, absence of legislation, policies and absence of core
competencies in records and procedures to guide the management of records, archives management;
absence of budgets dedicated for records management; poor security and confidentiality controls; lack
of records retention disposal policies, and absence of migration strategies for records.
Tropical climate which is the excessive temperature, high relative humidity, dust, and rodents
that feed on paper-based materials caused rapid deterioration and decay of information resources in
libraries and archives. These agents of rapid deterioration add more to the costs associated with
preservation and conservation of information resources in libraries archives and records office. On the
other hand, Wilson (1987) was of the view that the longevity of any paper depends greatly on the type
of materials used in making it but on a greater note on the environment in which it is stored. However,
they stated that the environment here has to do with the temperature and relative humidity, poor
environment ventilation system and even, the shelves within excess light, tropical climate. Ugwuanyi
(2002) then states that poor environment entails uncontrolled temperature and relative humidity, poor
ventilation style and inadequate shelves. He said that they all accelerate the rate of the deterioration of
the traditional library collection. Popoola (2003) lamenting on the great need for a well established
document repair and conservation in Africa observes that with the exception of air, fungi, insect and
pest are more pronounced in the continent than elsewhere. However, Mowat (1982) is of the view that
the process of deterioration of paper and book materials can be speeded or retarded by the
environment in which they are housed.
Moreover, poor security measure is among the problems associated with preservation and
conservation in libraries. This is because this securities posted to the libraries are often not literate
enough to identify library materials and prevent them from being stolen. They ate easily deceived as
library users often play on their intelligence. The deployment of trained library personnel at the
li
security posts will definitely improve library security. Unomah (1985) states that theft in academic
libraries has deprived many libraries in Nigeria of valuable collections, and that there is a sharp rise of
theft in the recent years. Not only this, that the greater the access to the traditional library materials in
the library collections, the higher the treats of theft, water, mutilation and other misuse. Besides,
Mowat (1982) states that the greater the financial value of a book, the greater the prospects of its being
stolen. Consequently, Akinfolarin (1992) states that books fail to be kept in libraries due to theft and
mutilation by users which is on the increase in Nigerian universities. He further explain that this act of
theft is more today than ever before, owing to the dwindling library funding and general deelining
global economy. Ugwuanyi (2000) therefore states that the prevalence of theft in our libraries is a clear
evidence that libraries have poor security systems. In agreement with the above statements, alhassoun
(2002) conclude that there seem to be no full proof, method of cheeking theft and mutilation. On this
account, Ugwuanyi (2002) strongly maintain that this serious coopholes call for a modern and well-
tested security outfits to bail our federal university libraries out of this quagmire.
Notwithstanding, Mazikana in Ovowoh Owhiuhu (2010), states unequivocally that the
conservation scene in Africa are faced with the problems of building that house where the library and
archival resources kept are grossly inappropriate, as they were built at a time when preservation and
conservation was not an important issues. Explaining further that most libraries and archival buildings
are not equipped with air conditioners to stabilize the temperature and humidity of the storage areas.
Many air conditioners that are present are inadequate and non-functional. In addition to the above, he
lamented that few libraries and archives with buildings and repair facilities lack qualified staff and
working equipment. However, he stresses the need for a combination of facilities and maintenance
procedures that are conducive to longevity of information resources. The process must begin when
resources are produced. He said that the quality of paper, film base for microforms and the disks for
computers must be made with substances that assure a long life.
lii
Consequently, preservation and conservation policy is another problem associated with
libraries. Most insinuations or organization in Nigeria has on preservation and conservation policy.
These reflects to the aims and objectives of an organization or institution. Akor (2007), states that it
particularly gives the organization a focus as to what to preserve and conserve, for how long and in
what format. That it generally provides a framework for the conservation and preservation programme
for the organization or institution. He finally said that the absence of preservation and conservation
policy is, therefore a shortcoming too important to be ignored.
On the other hand, Wamukoya and Mutual (2003), states that many countries do not have a
national information on preservation and conservation policies in the libraries and information centres
is out of the question. They further explain that disaster control plan is also lacking in some libraries.
They stresses that the absence of such plan means that in the event of a disaster, the libraries would not
be in a position to respond to the disaster with the urgency that it requires. However, to Harvey (1993),
preservation policy means a plan of action or ideas on how best to attain maximum protection of
traditional library material while conservation means actions relating to protection, maintenance and
restoration of library collection. Kemoni (1961) states that preservation policy as a vital document sets
guidelines for storage, clearing and handling of documents, conservation and restoration and education
for staff and users. However, the importance of these two terms shows that both preservation and
conservation aims in having the document containing a data for without preservation and conservation
policy, library falters on its attempts to preserve and conserve her collections. Besides Ugwuanyi
(2000) states that lack of preservation and conservation spells a problem to a library because it is a
preservation and conservation compass. He stresses that this is because no library can afford to
preserve and conserve all its collections. He maintained that it is when a library has preservation and
conservation policy that it will be able to think of what to preserve and conserve, who, when and how
to preserve and conserve them. According to smith (1987), policy makes it certain that a library
liii
discards only those materials which it no longer needs rather than being forced to discard because of
deterioration. He stresses that a good preservation and conservation policy states what preventive
measures should be adopted as early as the materials arrive.
However, Kemonis (1996) work indicates that not many libraries have this important policy. In
agreement with this, Moyo and Ngulube (2001), states that many counties in sub-Saharan Africa do
not have preservation and conservation policies and plans. More so, Popoola (2003) states that
unfavourable government and economic policies of most Africa governments do not favour library and
archival services, therefore conservation and preservation activities are not given the priority attention
it deserve. He stated that such economic policies include those concerning high duties and tariffs
charged on imports of preservation and conservation of equipments which have made the practice of
preservation and conservation difficult.
More so, Popoola (2003) states that inadequacy of equipment and materials have contributed
significantly to present poor status of preservation and conservation of information materials on
African libraries, archives and information centres. He stresses that some of the essential materials and
equipment requires for setting up functional preservation and conservation laboratories in African
libraries and achieves are not available locally. He further states that information professionals in
African society today cannot wave aside the obvious fact that the continent stands the imminent risk of
losing so much of its valuable documented heritage in consequence of ever increasing deterioration of
paper and other media on which they have been stored. He observed that the problems of deterioration
are caused by three stakeholders in the African information sector namely; the government, users, and
the information professionals working in the available information systems. He went ahead to state
that the low quality of paper and ink used in the production of information materials especially library
books and other paper- based records in libraries pose serious danger to preservation and conservation
of information materials in our libraries.
liv
In agreement with Popoola, Shahani and Wilson (1987), states that whether a sheet of paper
lasts indefinitely or briefly depends significantly on the materials used in its manufacture. They
however explain that the increased demands of paper forces the manufactures to use inferior materials
that drag in excess acid into the paper. Harvey (1993) views the acidity of paper as depending on the
modern practice of sizing and fitting the sheet in an acidic medium like Aluminum sulphate. He
explained that when the aluminum sulphate is hydrolysed by water, sulphuric results and causes
reaction to the sheet. Keya (1968) is of the view that the degree of acidity in a paper, and that as the
age of the paper increases and makes the paper brittle. Unomah (1985) stets that acid eats up paper if
not deacidified and that the ink used in printing also contains a high degree of acids. He also explain
that acid in paper appear to be the greatest cause of deterioration and, therefore, one of the greatest
problem of preservation. Nzotta (1982) agreed with this when he asserts that the threats of acid to
documents in Nigeria is much and accounts for about sixty percent of the factors responsible for
deterioration. Although acid in paper is a removable, Motylewski (1991) state that the process has
great economic implications. He said that when such has become yellow and brittle, that it cannot be
reversed to the original standard. To support what Motylewski said, Mowat (1982) maintained that
even in ideal conditions the acid in paper is a major threat and this threat is of greater dimension in
modern books which forms the bulk of almost all federal universities in south East zone of Nigeria.
Consequently, inadequacy of financial support is another problem associated with preservation
and conservation in libraries. Meanwhile, funding of library and archival activities in Nigeria is
generally poor, only few organizations give priority to libraries and archives in the allocation of
resources. Even in cases where statutory provisions are made for allocation of certain percentage of
resources in order to guarantee good funding, the parent bodies often have a way of circumventing
such provisions to divert resources to other areas. Popoola (2003) states that within the limited
resources available to libraries and archives, little or nothing is usually appropriated for preservation
lv
and conservation programmes which in most cases, are non-existent. Ifidon (1991) states that
insufficient funding has been a perennial problem common to all libraries. He explain that the situation
is even more bleak with the government supported libraries where their funds allocation is greatly
controlled or even over- controlled by the accounting officers in the ministries and their funds are out
to them.
However, many governments care less about library collections and its preservation. Not
withstanding, Ifidon (2006) states that the first problem that confronts the librarians is the inadequacy
of financial support. He explained that Nigeria National Universities Commission tacitly withdrew the
approved recurrent budget for library development by the United National educational Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO). He went ahead to explain that there is no known financial standard
for library development. Consequently, he explained that the annual budgets for many libraries have
either been epileptic or ceased to come. He explained that scholars such as Edoka (1992), Ugboma
(1994), Ifidon (1999) and Book Aid international (2005), an international donor agency have shown
great concern over this problem. He states that this problem is so grave that collections are the raw
materials for library and information services which without them, there cannot be a literate and
informed citizenry, good primary schools, effective secondary school, efficient Universities, voracious
readers or a noticeable reading culture.
On the other hand, Mowat (1987) states that preservation and conservation involves huge cost
of money, whether it is in terms if maintaining a conducive environment, restoring works already
damaged or the suitable treatment of injures works to ensure their continued preservation and
conservation. In agreement with the above statement, Olatokun (2008) agrees that the prominent
inhibitors to effective and efficient preservation and conservation of information resources in libraries,
archive and record centres include: lack of fund as one of the greatest problems of preservation and
conservation of library resources. He stresses that almost all Nigeria libraries, archives and
lvi
information centres do not allocate sufficient funds in their annual budget for the conservation of
information resources in their holdings. He further explain that this has really caused the low priority
or lack of desired attention given to the preservation and conservation of information resources by the
management of such libraries and archive and thereby hindering the preservation and conservation
programme.
Strategies for the Enhancement of Preservation and Conservation in Libraries
Alhassan (2002) stresses that the library is older than the book, older than both paper and print.
On the other hand, the library is as old as man itself. Therefore, there is need to preserve and conserve
what went ahead before us for the past is the foundation of the future. Harvey (1993) states that to
provide methods of addressing the problem, that it is first necessary to develop policies which will
cover the nature and scope of the methods to be used rather than prescribe the precise methods
themselves. He further explain that strategies must be clearly related to the objectives of individual
institutions. He explains that the methods which treat materials economically in buck should be
developed and applied in preference to methods which can be applied to only one item, or to a small
number of items, at any one tome. Harvey (1993) further states that collaborative nature of the
preservation effort is another area where strategy is being enunciated. He said that all who have a state
in the preservation of library resources must cooperate; that conservators and scientists must work
together with the librarians, archivists, administrators and policy-makers to plan and implement
realistic strategies for coping with the problem. Another strategy pointed out by Harvey is that of
distinguishing preventive conservation from restorative conservation practice. He further states that
preventive measures have recently assumed importance as the most significant and cost-effective way
of addressing the preservation problem. He noted that the new techniques seek to provide protection
for an object with the minimum of alteration (preferably none) to the item in other to prevent further
lvii
deterioration, rather than to repair the item in order to prevent further deterioration , rather than to
repair the item by renewing deteriorated segments in an ‘authentic style.
Another important strategy pointed out by Harvey is the Education and training of personnel at
all levels, from the lowliest library assistant to national decision- makers. He expresses that this will be
vital as it will introduce preservation awareness into all aspects of library management. However, he
stresses that for this approach to succeed, all library staff must be constantly kept aware of
preservation and conservation. He maintain that one more important thing with education and training
for preservation is to train librarians and archivists more adequately in the concerns, techniques and
management of preservation programs.
Moreso, Alegbeye (1996) states the following solutions for acid-book problem. He explain that
the first thing to do is to deacidify the books, as it is the chemical treatment applied to neutralize acids
in paper as well as providing alkine buffer. Therefore , he stresses that brittle books should be
reformatted through either microfilming, photography of digitization.
In his own view, Aria (2004) recommends reformatting-photocopying, microfilming and
digitization as strategies for the enhancement of preservation and conservation in libraries. He stresses
that reformatting involve copying activities as photocopying and microfilm and digitizating of some
library book which could become brittle because of the paper used in producing such books. He states
that they break easily whenever they are handled. Therefore, it is necessary to preserve and contained
in them would be lost generally. He explains that such resources are preserved and conserved through
photocopying, microfilming and digitization. He states that books that might become brittle are
photocopied or microfilmed. However, he explains that digitization is a more recent development of
preservation and conservation. That it is the process of converting a text or image in a print medium or
any other medium into a digital medium. He further states that digital preservation and conservation is
a long-term, error free storage of digital information with means for retrieval and interpretation for the
lviii
entire life time span of that information is required. He maintains that it makes available of
information for human to access. That it is widely considered to require more constant and ongoing
attention than conservation of other media. He also explains that it is also a set of process and
activities that ensure continue accessed to information and all kinds of records, scientific and cultural
heritage existing in digital formats. He explains that this includes the presentation of materials
resulting from digital reformatting, but particularly information that is born digital and has no
analogue counterpart. It ensures longevity of library resources.
On the other hand, encyclopedia of library and information science vol.23, states that
photocopying is a prime example of the two-edged sword which on the one hand, provides the
possibility of preserving the intellectual content of brittle books and of reducing tear and wear on
valuable books to the extent that users can be persuaded to use copies rather than the original; on the
other hand, that copying is inherently at least come what stressful to books and potentially disastrous.
Unfortunately, it explains that inexpensive photocopying appears to be necessary in many libraries to
reduce vandalism, but since cheap copying usually implies, self-services, com-operated machine, that
there is little possibility of controlling the care with which books are handled in the copying process.
Besides, it further explain that although different materials react differently to changes in their
environment and because most libraries house mixed collections, libraries and archives strive for an
appropriate range of environmental conditions that overall minimize mechanical or chemical damage.
However, it stresses that recommended standards for temperature and relative humidity have been 48-
52% RH and 65-68F. recognizing that effective climate control method were both cost-effective and
had the greatest potential in preserving material collections, the National Endowment for the
Humanities, Division of grants in the 1990s to help libraries improve collection environments. It
further states that in improving environmental conditions center on modifying and maximizing climate
control through the use of heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. It explains that
lix
the environmental factors that are typically monitored include temperature and relative humidity, air
quality (gaseous and particulate), light source and levels, and micro-and macro biological infestations.
It states that preservation librarians should work with building engineers, cleaning crew, and a
conservator to plan for environmental monitoring. It further explain that many libraries now have a
central plant that automatically monitors, records, and adjusts temperature and relative humidity
remotely. Nonetheless, it maintain that preservation and conservation librarians should still conduct
independent monitoring of temperature and relative humidity as a check and balance to ensure
reliability of readings and to develop an environmental profile for each library building, collection,
and/or remote storage facility.
However, the fundamental factors in minimizing unnecessary damage to library materials in
handling and use are common sense and an attitude of carefulness on the part of both staff and readers.
In most libraries, there is probably little opportunity effectively to influence the attitudes of readers
except subtly through the example of the staff and the general ambience of the library. As a result of
this, the encyclopedia stresses that there are a few specific book-handling rules which are that:
� Books should never be pulled off the shelf by the head caps;
� When more than two or three books are to be transported within the library a book tuck should
be used to reduce the possibility of dropping the book;
� Book trucks (particularly if they are flat shelved) should be located carefully to avoid books
jiggling off the truck;
� Oversize books (whose structure is normally not commensurate with their weight, and the
rebinding of which in a sound way is enormously expensive) should be handled with particular
care;
� Books should not be jammed onto overcrowded shelves, and so on.
lx
Although the craft aspects (such as bookbinding) of physical preservation treatment are as old
as the materials themselves, the realization that many fundamental problems can be solved only with
the help of science is relatively new. Equally important and even never is concern for sound
philosophical and ethical bases of preservation and conservation methods for those materials which
have artifactual value. However, encyclopedia of library science, vole. 23, stresses that “paper” is
potentially a highly enduring material, depending on two general factors which are
a) The way in which it is made and
b) The vicissitudes which it may undergo once it is made.
It also states that most corrective paper treatments involve either the arresting or reversal of
damage from storage, use, or previous treatment, or attempts to slow down deterioration caused by
inherent instability of the paper itself. It further explain that dry cleaning may be a paper, not only for
its obvious cosmetic improvement, but also because and subsequent aqueous treatment permanently
“sets” dust into the paper firbers. The encyclopedia further explain that depending on the bulk, value,
and character of the materials involved, dry cleaning, may range from blowing dust off with
compressed air hoses to delicate application of eraser crumbs with the fingers.
Water is not only essential to many other paper conservation treatments, but washing in plain
water is itself beneficial to old paper in most cases. Wash as it states, removes from paper soluble
decomposition produces which are them selves damaging, and it also establishes hydrogen bands, the
electro chemical “cement” which holds cellulose fibers together in a sheet of paper, thus providing a
degree of strengthening. Moreover, since most papers from roughly the 16th
to the 19th
centuries
contain more gelatin sizing than is desirable for preservation and conservation, removal of some of the
sizing by washing in hot water improves the flexibility and apparently the permanence of such papers.
Preliminary washing also may increase the receptivity of paper to aqueous deacidification treatment.
lxi
Aside from this, Agada and Ehoniyotan (2006), stresses that application of rodenticides and
insecticides is also another strategy of preservation and conservation in libraries. They explain that this
method involves a process used to ward of rat or exterminate rat, cockroaches and other insects, which
are a threat to library resources. Rodenticides and insecticides are used occasionally to kill them and
reduce their activities in the library. Meanwhile, regular fumigation of the library department and
discouraging of staff and library users from eating in the library are also measures. They stresses
further that environmental control/installation of electric fans or Air conditioners are another
preservation and conservation strategies. Another useful recommendation for greater improvement is
cooperative undertaking of preservation activities by an libraries. To Harvey (1993) this is done by
many libraries coming together to set up a common preservation unit properly equipped and
professionally staffed. Bayness-Cope (1989) supports this type of resourcing together when she states
that such will help to develop a common preservation idea, co-ordinate institutional policies,
procedures and priorities on preservation. This putting together of resources enables the less privileged
libraries to benefit in all needed areas. The various reasons for this adequate human and materials
resources by some libraries. As recommended by Kemoni (1996) such may be serving as a joint
conservation work. In support of this recommendation, Unomah (1985) states that such
cooperativeness is useful for the acquisition of costly equipment, carrying out research for mutual
benefits, aiding the understanding and care of preservation, clearing house of information on
preservation, provision of training for conservators and stimulation of researches into the problems of
preservation.
Another suggestions is the use of acid-free paper by government bodies, parastatals and the
publishers. Cameron (1991) argues that the most cost-effective and efficient way of securing records
for the future is to ensure that they are printed as a durable materials as possible. This is a preventive
preservation that will greatly improve the life span of the traditional library materials if implemented.
lxii
To actualize this idea, Igbinosa (1993) suggests that African governments should legislate against the
production of paper mills and the use of acid paper by government bodies. To Sylvestre (1981), the
production of permanent paper is technical possible but the high cost of doing so makes it an
unrealistic enterprise for most publishers. For this to be successful, both federal and states
governments, and their recognition of the problems of reservation and their readiness to support
preventive measures by making use of acid-free paper in all their publications.
Finally, one of the most important strategy for greater efficiency in preservation and
conservation is the presence of preservation policy, plan or programme. It has been observed that
many libraries do not have this policy statements which ought to be the first part of call as far as
genuine preservation is concerned. This assertion has been corroborated by the work of Moyo and
Ngulube (2001). Here, they maintained that many countries in sub Saharan Africa do not have library
preservation policies and plans. However, this is to prove that these countries’ libraries have not
engaged themselves meaningfully in preserving the life of their documents. It is when a library,
especially academic library, has preservation policy that it can start to think of the needs and ways of
controlling deterioration. Preservation policy according to Sylvestre (1981) and Kemoni (1996) simply
means an important document whose function includes the setting of the framework within which a
collection is preserved and ensuring the preservation of future library conditions through preventive
conservation. It prescribes not only how to preserve but also who and when to preserve. Since a library
cannot preserve all its materials, there must be stipulations on the ones to be maintained. It is a
preservation compass. However, it is, therefore important that for preservation improvement, that
every library should endeavour to draw up a clearly articulated policy programme suited to its
standard.
lxiii
Review of Related Empirical Studies
This section reviewed empirical studies carried out on preservation and conservation of library
materials.
Olatokun (2008) carried out a survey research an preservation and conservation methods and
techniques in Nigerian university libraries. The study investigated the different techniques used in the
preservation and conservation of library materials in selected university libraries. It examined in
particular the causes and the nature of deterioration patterns and strategies used in their control,
existence of preservation and conservation policies and constraints limiting effective preservation and
conservation. The survey method was used on fifteen university libraries were it is purposively
selected. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Collected data were structured into
group frequency distribution using the statistical package for the social sciences software. In the study,
it was revealed that preservation and conservation, techniques, though adopted in the university
libraries where not effectively in use although the libraries all have preservation and conservation
policy. The study also revealed that clearing and dusting of library material is the most commonly
used technique. The study also established that there are indeed incidences of deterioration in the most
prominent results being books becoming turn and cracking and scratching. Notwithstanding, results
revealed that although some libraries adopt and use some digital preservation techniques, they are still
not effectively uses. However, other findings showed that inadequate funding was the most sever
inhibitor to effective preservation and conservation activities in the university libraries.
Alegbeleye (1985) carried out a study on conservation and preservation of the bibliographic
resources of Nigeria problems and prospects. The study investigated the extent of the deterioration
problems in some Nigeria libraries. It also examined the cause of deterioration conservation and
preservation scene on public library, academic library, special library and National Archives. A
stratified sample method was used to carry out this study. The sampling was stratified in terms of type
lxiv
of libraries which are academic library, public library and special library. The data were collected by
means of interview and questionnaires. However, it was revealed that preservation and conservation
practices were not given priority. Besides, it was also revealed that librarians play lackadaisical
attitude towards, preservation and conservation and as a result of this, there is know preservation and
conservation policy. He went ahead to explain that librarians who understand that their libraries should
engage in preservation and conservation policy, fail to realize what preservation and conservation
encompasses. Meanwhile, further results showed that many librarians probably think that the
availability of a book in bindery for instance is all it takes to be engaged in preservation and
conservation policy.
Further more, Aleglegy (1996) in a, study of book deterioration of the university in the
university of Ibadan library and its implication for preservation and conservation in African university
libraries, surveyed, surveyed the Africana collection of the university library. A stratified sampling
technique was used in this study. A random sample size of 1,495 books was drawn from the total of
29017 books. Findings of the study revealed that university of Ibaban library not only has an acid-
book problem but also brittle book problem as well. Therefore, he recommended deacidification for
acid-book problem. He explain that deacification does not impart strength to brittle books, therefore
that such books should be reformatted and that there should be improvement in the storage
environment for books that are still in good condition. He stresses that this involves the storage of
materials in an environment in which both temperature and humidity levels are controlled. He
therefore recommended that air conditioning is perhaps the most efficient method of bringing this
about.
Notwithstanding, Ugwuanyi (2004) examine the preservation of traditional library materials in
academic libraries in Enugu State. She used descriptive survey research design in the study. The
population of the study comprises of five academic libraries in Enugu State. A structured questionnaire
lxv
with 12 items which answered the 4 research questions was used. The study tried to find out the
current preservation practices of academic libraries in Enugu State, the problems associated with these
practices, the perceived preservation needs and the strategies for improved preservation needs and the
strategies for improved preservation. The findings of the study showed that many preservation
practices are in use in these libraries.
However, some of the problems militating against the operational efficiency of these practices
that she found out are poor handling practices, lack of preservation personnel, poor quality paper, poor
environmental storage facilities and inadequate finding. She noted that storage needs, bindery services
as well as personnel needs are needed in the library. She then recommended that there should be an
establishment of preservation policy co-operative, better finding of academic libraries in the state as
well as disaster preparedness for improvement.
Ezani and Ezema (2009) examined the digital preservation of the university of Nigeria’s
institutional respository. The study brought out the major issues and current status of the work through
the first hand experience of members involved in the initiative. Six research questions was used to
guide the study. A twenty item questionnaire was distributed to the respondents who comprised of the
total population of both librarians and the technical staff mainly from the university’s department of
management and information system (MIS) directly involved in the project. The findings shows that
the librarians who were involved in the project do not fully posses the skills needed for the work
especially in the skills dealing with book marking restorization of the scanned documents. The study
recommends more training for library staff, procurement of more state of the art equipment, inclusion
of digitalization skills in the library and information science curriculum, the continuation of synergy
between the library and MIS in terms of resource sharing and technical support. The study proposes
that since digitalization encourages the development of local contents and sharing of digital resources
lxvi
among libraries within the country and beyond. The study stresses that Nigerian libraries should adopt
this initiative for the preservation of their institutions heritage resources.
Ozioko (1996) carried out an investigation on the state of delinquent readership in academic
libraries in Enugu State. The study focused on the extent of loses through theft, rip-off, verbal and
physical assault, overdue, mutilation and misuse. The instruments he used for data collection were
questionnaire, interview and observation check-list. Data collected were analyzed using simple tables
and percentage and recommendations and conclusions were made. He found out that the antisocial acts
among the readers are due to poor parental upbringing of the children, high cost of books and
periodicals among others. The level of the problems existing, strategies employed to protect resources
such as the use of guards was covered in the study. There was suggested recommendations of strategic
precautionary protection mechanism as well as the use of one entrance route and exit for readers,
installation of camera surveillance, computers and electronic security systems in the study.
Sule and Ademu (2005) carried out a survey on the impact of preservation and conservation of
library resources. A case study of Francis Sulemanu Idachaba library (FSIL), University of Agriculture
Makurdi in Benue State was used. The study examined the major root causes of deterioration of library
materials from the internal factors to the extent was well as the biological factors that facilitate the
deterioration of library materials. The result of the study indicates that the library has been making
efforts to fight against all the agents of deterioration of library materials and revealed that it is a
continuous one.
Obokoh (1996) in patterns of disciplinary strategies used in dealing with cases of books,
journals, theft, mutilation in Nigeria University libraries surveyed twenty university libraries that
received the world bank project books to deal with books, journals, theft, and mutilation. A
questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire was sent to the twenty university libraries
out of which sixteen were returned with the questionnaires duly completed. The result showed that
lxvii
there is lack of standardization or uniformity in the application of the various disciplinary strategies
aimed at safeguarding the new books and as such the various strategies are not yielding any serious
result in preventing the books from being stolen or mutilated. As a result of this, suggestions were
sought form the libraries on how to enhance further protection of books and journals and the following
suggestions were given by the librarians:
� That students should sign an undertaking in the library not to steal or mutilate books and
journals
� To bear the consequences of their actions when caught;
� That libraries should prepare hand bills on the problems of staling or mutilation of books or
journals to give to students free of charge; and
� Lastly, that the venalities for infringement of laid down regulation should be in uniform
throughout the libraries in Nigeria so that students will be aware of the possible consequences
of their actions nationwide.
Ogbodo (2004) also examined how information sources in our university libraries are protected
and the effectiveness of methods adopted in protecting these information. Four federal university
libraries and four state university libraries altogether eight university libraries in south-east states in
Nigeria was used and 63 academic librarians was used from the eight university libraries. A
questionnaire was used to collect data. The result indicated that university libraries used security men
at the entrances and exists of the libraries and surveillance by librarians in protecting their information
sources. The libraries that was surveyed showed that they do not have electronic security systems and
staff security programmes are not mounted. Ogbodo, therefore, recommended that libraries should
include electronic methods of securing information sources, and that there should be supervision and
developing of a realistic security programme, improving environmental condition of book storage and
lxviii
expanding the capacity of repair and reformatting of damaged books and increasing preservation and
conservation resources.
Fadeham (2009) on the other hand, examined the preservation and conservation of newspapers
in Nigerian university libraries. Five federal university libraries in South-Western Nigerian
universities were surveyed. He compared their preservation and conservation procedures with that of
international practices. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire and an
interview. The findings of the study revealed that the poor storage facilities (housing, storage
environment) lack of bibliographic control, absence of skilled staff and training in preservation and
conservation, lack of content indexing of papers (either in clippings or page by page), lack of full
understanding of the concept of preservation and conservation no sign of reformatting techniques
(except in one of the libraries) and obvious deterioration of resources. He therefore recommended that
awareness of all these things that the university libraries lack, should be created in the libraries. He
also noted that the magnitude of the problem is high and requires a generic solution in all the
university libraries and other related information agencies in Nigeria.
Azuzu (2000) had a study on disaster preparedness in academic libraries in Enugu and Anambra State.
The study was based on three research questions which sought to identify the causes of disaster in
academic libraries, the measures used by the academic libraries in preventing the occurrence of these
disasters in their libraries as well as the measures that academic libraries use to cope with disaster if it
occurred. Nine academic libraries in Enugu and Anambra state was surveyed. The instrument for data
collection was a questionnaire which was administered to nine university and college libraries in
Enugu and Anambra state. The findings showed that most of the libraries studies were not very ready
to cope with disaster since most of the libraries did not have any comprehensive disaster plan, and not
also inform disaster reaction teams or collaborate with essential service department. Azuzu,
recommended intensified surveillance of reading areas and calls that library administrators should
lxix
ensure that libraries should have comprehensive disaster plans in collaboration between the libraries
and essential services like fire services and telephone services.
Ejiga (2005) assessed the management of archives and records resources at the Idah Polytechnic. Four
research questions was used to carry out the studies. A survey research design was used to carry out
the study. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaire and oral interview. Sixty
respondents which comprises the head of academic libraries and non-academic staff in charge of
archives and records in the institution were administered with the instruments. The descriptive
statistical methods that were used include frequency table, simple percentages and mean (x). The
result of the findings revealed that there is lack of qualified archivists and record managers in the
institution; that the modern technologies are yet to be introduce into the management of archives and
records; that there is an absence of centralized of centralized archives and record centres; that there is
complete absence of archives legislation and record policy in the institution. Therefore, he
recommends that professional archives and records centre managers should be appointed; that there
should be establishment of centralized archives and record centre provision for modern preservation
facilities.
Hassan and Emmanuel (2006) examined library users opinions on mutilation and book theft in
selected college libraries in Maiduguri, in Borno state. A survey research method was used for this
study. There selected college libraries in Maiduguri was used and the population was 8366. a stratified
sampling technique was used and Nine Hundred and five was sampled. Descriptive statistics using
frequency distribution and simple percentages were used for data analysis. The result of the findings
showed that mutilation and book theft in the college libraries the expected services. As a result of this,
it was recommended that bodily search of users should be introduced to curtail the incidence of
mutilation and book theft. They went ahead to suggest that emphasis should be laid on attitudinal
lxx
changes when teaching the use of library to users so as to change their attitudes towards self-
centeredness in the use of library resources.
Finally, Omede (2004) examined the archival preservation at national Archives of Nigeria, in
Enugu. The study tried to identify the human and material resources available for preservation and to
identify the preservation practices undertaken by these archives as well as the problems associated
with the practices and the effects of these problems on its services. Measure that would improve the
services were suggested. A questionnaire was used to collect data from 61 Archivists, technical staff
and librarians at National Archives Enugu. Simple frequency tables and percentages were used for
data presentation and analysis. The result of the findings indicated that there is an inadequate fund for
preservation inadequate skilled staff and inadequate resources and equipment.
Summary and Literature Review
For effective coverage of the related available literature in this section, the review was
stratified into nine sub-heading thus: conceptual framework, an overview of the concept, preservation
and conservation practices, factors necessitating libraries adoption of preservation and conservation,
library resources to which preservation and conservation practices are applied to human resources
needed for preservation and conservation, problems associated with preservation and conservation,
strategies for the enhances of preservation and conservation, review of related empirical studies and
the summary.
A great number of materials were consulted during of materials were consulted during the
review. Among them are journals, books and grey literatures. Out of these materials, journals are in
the majority and these are of local and foreign origin while the local ones are more in number. These
materials covered universities in African countries, some of them were centred on Nigerian
universities generally, while others covered some specific university libraries in Nigeria. The contact
lxxi
coverage of study was to investigate the various techniques and in the preservation and conservation of
library materials in federal universities.
However, were of these literature sources treated this particular topic, which is the preservation
and conservation of library materials in federal universities in south-East Zone of Nigeria.
Therefore, with regards to the insight given to the summary of the literature review, there is
still a gap on a standardized preservation and conservation policy that will be centrally and
uniformally accepted in federal universities libraries. Notwithstanding, there is then an urgent need to
investigate the preservation and conservation of library materials in federal universities in south-east
zone in Nigeria.
lxxii
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHOD
This chapter describes the procedures that were employed in the research which include the
research design, the area of study, the population, sample and sampling techniques,, instrument for
data collection, method of data collection and methods of data analysis.
Design of the Study
The research design of this study is descriptive survey. This is because this research work
studies the preservation and conservation of library materials in the Federal Universities in South-East
zone of Nigeria. These universities are: University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University
Akwa, Federal University of Technology, Owerre and Federal university of Agriculture, Umudike.
According to Ifidon and Ifidon (2007), descriptive survey involves collecting data in order to answer
questions concerning conditions or relationships that exist, practices that prevail beliefs, points of view
or attitudes that are held, processes that are going on, effects that are held, processes that are going on,
effects that are being felt or trends that are developing. They said that such a study determines and
reports the way things are. On the other hand, Nworgu (2006) agreed with Ezennaya as he explain that
descriptive survey aims at collecting data on, and describing in a systematic manner, the characteristic
features or facts about a given population.
This study therefore seeks to sought out the opinions held by the population, by analyzing data
from librarians in federal universities in south-East zone of Nigeria. The entire group not a
representative will be studied.
Population of the Study
The population consists of all the academic librarians in Federal University libraries in South-
East zone of Nigeria. These include university of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
lxxiii
Akwa, Federal University of Technology Owere and Federal University of Agriculture, Umudike. The
respondents will include all the academic librarians who in one way or the other are associated with
the preservation and conservation practices in these libraries.
According to Library Statistics (2011), these are ninety three librarians in these libraries firm
the four federal university libraries in the south-East Nigeria.
Sample and Sampling Technique
The study will use the entire population which are the 93 academic librarians in the four
federal universities in the South-East zone of Nigeria were selected as sample for the study. This was
because they are accessible and manageable to the researcher. Hence, will be no need for sampling.
Instruments for Data Collection
The researcher with the help of her supervisor developed an observation checklist and a set of
questionnaire titled “Preservation and conservation of library materials” (PCLM) which will be use to
collect data for this study.
The observation checklist contains 10 preservation and conservation practices available in the
federal University Libraries under study. It was used by the researcher to identify the available
preservation and conservation practices in the libraries under study and also to know their state of
functions.
The questionnaire are divided into two sections. Section A was designed to collect background
information of the respondents, while clusters B to F, will be used to elicit information on the research
questions of the study. However, sections B are subdivided into six sub sections.
Section A-contains six items on the background information of the respondent. Section B.
Cluster A-Contains eleven items on the list of practices applied in preserving and conserving the
library resources in federal university libraries in South-East zone of Nigeria. Cluster B-contains
thirteen items and sought information on the extent of preservation and conservation of library
lxxiv
resources. Cluster C- contains eleven items on the purposes of resources applied for preservation and
conservation of library resources in these universities. Cluster D-contains ten items and sought
information on the extent of preservation and conservation of library resources in these libraries.
Cluster E-Contains thirteen items on the problems encountered in preservation and conservation
practices in these libraries. Finally, Cluster F-Contain fourteen items on the strategies for enhancement
of preservation and conservation in these libraries. Each respondent will be required to answer the
questions by selecting the appropriate response(s) option from the range of pre-scheduled answers by
ranking their choices. Respondents were also asked to suggest answers by themselves in the column
provided for such.
In scoring the instruments, items on the demographic information of the respondents do not
need scoring as this aspect is not tangible to the work. Items on the six sections of the questionnaire
that is section B-F, are rated on the four points likert type rating scale and are assigned the numerical
values 1-4.
Cluster A = Available
Not available
Cluster B and D = Very Great Extent = VGE
Great Extent = GE
Less Extent = LE
Very Low Extent = VLE
Cluster C, E and F = Strongly Agree = SA
Agree = A
Disagree = D
Strongly Disagree = SD
Method of Data Collection
lxxv
The researcher and some research assistants personally administered and collect the completed
copies of the questionnaire. The researcher administered the questionnaire personally to the
respondents at Nnamdi Azikiwe Library (UNN), some of the copies were collected back on the same
day while others were at two of three days interval. For the staff members at NAU, FUAU, and FUTO,
the researcher used research assistants to administer and collect the completed copies of the
questionnaire.
On the other hand, the observation checking was directly carried out by the researcher on the
eleven items of preservation and conservation practices available in Federal University Libraries.
Validation of the Instrument
The instruments were validated by the three experts in the department of library and
information science in University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This is to ensure that the items in the instrument
relate to the purpose and objectives of the study. Face and validation was carried out by the experts
which is to ensure the clarity of the questionnaire. The experts looked at the format of the
questionnaire, whether it is in line with the research questions, and statement of problem. They looked
at the format of the questionnaire, the appropriateness of the questionnaire, the items contained
therein, as well as correcting grammatical errors in the questionnaire. However, they examined
critically the extent to which the instrument actualizes the objectives, the appropriateness of the
language and the clarity of expression.
Method of Data Analysis
Data was collected and organized in simple table forms to show relative frequency distribution
of response to items contained in the copies of the questionnaire.
Frequency Distribution, Percentage, Mean(x), Scores, Ranking and Real Limits of Numbers such as:
0.00 – 0.99 = NE/SD
1.00 – 1.99 = LE/D
lxxvi
2.00 – 2.99 = GE/A
3.00 – 4.00 = VGE/SA was used to present and analyze the answers to the
research questions.
Tables also helped to clarify and compare certain issues and facts obtained in the course of the study.
However, the researcher will use both descriptive and inferential statistical methods to analyses
the data. Specifically, frequencies, percentage (%), mean Score ( x ) as well as deductive reasoning will
be used to analyses each item in the questionnaire for the purpose of answering the research questions.
Each of the item will be presented in the table for clarity purpose.
lxxvii
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION OF DATA
In this chapter, the data collected through questionnaire and oral interview are presented and
analyzed. The ninety three (93) copies of the questionnaires that were distributed to the respondents
representing 100% were filled and returned. The questionnaires were designed for the academic
librarian in the four federal academic libraries in the South-East zone of Nigeria. The questionnaires
are organized, computed and analyzed by the means of mean score and simple percentage (%) and
presented in tables differently. The total presented in tables differently. The total frequency of the
respondents are ninety three (93) with a criterion mean of 2.5 while the percentage value is 100% with
a cut-of point of 50%.
Research Question 1
What are the library preservation and conservation practices Available in federal university
libraries?
Table 1: Observation Checklist of Library Preservation and Conservation Practices Available in
Federal University Libraries
In answering this question, frequency counts, on observation checklist were analyzed after
computation. The availability and the state of function were also analyzed from the checklist. The
summary of the observation checklist is presented in tables 1 and 2 respectively.
lxxviii
Observation Checklist Data for Each of the University
Table 1: Mean ( x ) Responses Library Preservation and Conservation practices available in federal university
libraries in South-East, Nigeria. S/N ITEMS AVAILABILITY
UNN NAU FUTO FUAU
1. Clearing and dusting of library
resources
√ √ √ √ 4/4
2. Binding √ X X X 1/4
3. Digitization √ √ √ √ 4/4
4. Regular fumigation X X X X 0/4
5. Photocopying √ X X X 1/4
6. Lamination X X √ X 1/4
7. Reformatting √ X X X 1/4
8. Proper shelving of books to
allow free flow of air
√ √ √ X 3/4
9. Provision of enough security
personnel to prevent theft and
mutilation of library resources
√ X X √ 2/4
10. Installation of air conditions in
the library
√ √ √ X 3/4
11. Electronic security system √ X X X 1/4
Total %82
1
100
11
9=x
%361
100
11
4=x
%451
100
11
5=x
%271
100
11
3x
The result presented in table 1 and 2 indicated that out of Eleven preservation and conservation
practices which is believed to be important to library resources in Federal University Libraries in
South-East zone, Nigeria, the researcher observed that nine preservation and conservation practices are
available in University of Nigeria, Nsukka while two are not available. The practices available are:
clearing and dusting of library resources, Binding, Digitization, photocopying, Reformatting, proper
shelving of books to allow free flow of air, provision of enough security personnel to prevent theft and
lxxix
mutilation of library resources, installation of air conditioner in the library and Electronic security
system while Regular fumigation and lamination are not available in the university.
On the other hand, the researcher also observed that at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, that four
preservation and conservation practices out of the eleven practices are available in the university. The
practices available are: clearing and dusting of library resources, Digitization, proper shelving of
books to allow free flow of air, and installation of air conditioner in the library while Binding, Regular
fumigation, photocopying Lamination, Reformatting and Provision of enough security personnel to
prevent theft and mutilation of library resources are not available.
Besides, the library practices available in Federal University of Technology Owerre are five in
number. These include clearing and dusting of library resources, Digitization, Lamination, proper
shelving of books to allow free flow of air and installation of air conditioner in the library while
Binding, Regular fumigation photocopying, Reformatting, provision of enough security personnel to
prevent theft and mutilation of library resources and electronic security system are not available in this
university.
However, in Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, Preservation and conservation
practices available in the University are three practices out of the eleven library preservation and
conservation practices. The researcher observed that clearing and dusting of library resources.
Digitization, and provision of enough security personnel to prevent theft and mutilation of library
resources are available while the practices that are not available are: Binding, Regular fumigation,
photocopying, Lamination, Reformatting, proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air, provision
of enough security personnel to prevent theft and multilation of library resources, installation of air
conditioner in the library and Electronic security system.
Research Question 2
To what extent are these practice used in these libraries?
lxxx
In ascertaining the extent of preservation and conservation practice used in these libraries, the
frequency counts and mean score were computed and analyzed. In deciding the extent of these practice
used, 2.5 remains the cut-off point. The summary of the analysis is presented in table 2. The responses
were VGE, GE, LE and NA.
Table 2: Mean ( x ) Responses of Academic Library Staff on the extent are these practice used in these libraries.
S/N VGE GE LE VLE X Decision
1. Clearing and dusting of library resources 28 58 5 2 3.20 Accepted
2. Binding 28 52 12 1 3.12 Accepted
3. Digitalization 12 30 41 10 2.50 Accepted
4. Regular fumigation 5 27 39 22 2.20 Rejected
5. Photocopying 14 29 34 16 2.40 Rejected
6. Lamination 5 19 48 21 2.10 Rejected
7. Reformation 16 23 36 18 2.40 Rejected
8. Proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air 21 54 14 4 2.91 Accepted
9. Provision of enough security to prevent theft and
multuion of library resources
36 36 16 5 3.20 Accepted
10. Installing of air conditioner in the library 13 15 14 51 1.80 Rejected
11. Electronic security system 8 10 24 51 1.10 Rejected
Grand Mean (≠) = 2.44 Low Extent
Table 2 shows the mean responses of the academic library staff on the extent of utilizing these
practices in federal university libraries under study. The highest mean response is 3.20 (cleaning and
dusting of library resources and provision of enough security to prevent theft and multilation of library
resources. In this respect the items mean are greater than the criterion mean. Therefore, the statement
is positively rated. Binding is ranked second with item mean of 3.12 which is greater than criterion
mean of 2.5. Next is proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air with item mean of 2.91 which
is also greater than the criterion mean. It is therefore positively rated. The fourth in the rank is
digitalization 2.50 positively rated all these ones are greater than items criterion mean. However,
others were negatively rated, they are: photocopying (2.40), Reformation (2.40), Regular fumigation
(2.20), lamination (2.10) installing of air conditioner in the library (1.80), Electronic security system
(1.10). Therefore, there is under utilization of preservation and conservation practices in these
libraries.
lxxxi
Research Question 3
To what extent are the prevailing factors necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation
and conservation practices in these libraries?
To ascertain the prevailing factors necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation
conservation practices in these libraries, the frequency counts means scores were computed and
analyzed in table 3. SA, A, D, and SA were used by the respondents to indicate the prevailing factors
necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation and conservation practices.
Table 3: Mean ( x ) Responses of Library staff on the prevailing factors necessitating these libraries in adopting
preservation and conservation practices in these libraries.
S/N SA A D SD X Decision
1. To provide equipment to promote the original materials while in
use
56 31 6 - 3.60 Accepted
2. To make library resources accessible 37 54 2 - 3.40 Accepted
3. To enhance long term survival library resources 66 25 2 - 370 Accepted
4. To provide security and safety library resources 40 47 6 - 3.40 Accepted
5. To provide an extremely attractive environment for the use of
books
20 63 10 - 3.20 Accepted
6. To provide means for adequate electricity supply, fan and air
conditioner in the library
18 54 15 - 2.90 Accepted
7. To promote and encourage rest practices in records
management
23 63 15 - 3.30 Accepted
8. To promote an end to wasteful use of non renewable
information resources
43 46 4 - 3.42 Accepted
9. To enhance education of library users as well as members of
library staff on the best way of handling library resources
37 61 4 - 3.70 Accepted
10. To train and develop staff appropriately in preservation and
conservation techniques and conservation techniques
30 69 4 - 3.60 Accepted
Grand mean ( x ) 3.43 Great
Extent
Table 3 above shows that the mean responses of the library staff on the prevailing factors
necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation and conservation practices in these libraries. It
shows that out of the (10) Ten resources listed, the academic librarians were agreed satisfied with the
ten resources with respect to the criterion mean (2.5), and they are presented in a ranking order: (3.70)
appeared twice with; To enhance long term survival of library resources and to enhance education of
library users as well as members of library staff on the best way of handling library resources. (3.60)
lxxxii
To provide equipment to promote the original materials while in use and To train and develop staff
appropriately in preservation and conservation technique takes second position while (3.42) To
promote an end to wasteful use of non renewable information resources, comes next. To make library
resources accessible and To provide security and safety library resources (3.40). To promote and
encourage vest practices in records management (3.30). To provide an extremely attractive
environment for the use of books (3.20), and To provide means for adequate electricity supply, fan and
air conditioner in the library (2.90). This shows that all the prevailing factors necessitating these
libraries in adopting preservation and conservation practices in these libraries were all accepted by the
academic libraries.
Research Question 4
To what extent are the preservation and conservation practices applied to library materials in these
libraries?
In answering this question, the frequency counts and mean score were computed and analyzed.
In deciding the extent that preservation and conservation practices are applied to library materials in
these libraries, 2.5 remains the cut-off point, The summary of the analysis is presented in table 4. The
responses were VGE, GE, LE and NA.
Table 4: Mean ( x ) Responses of preservation and conservation practices applied to library
materials in these libraries?
S/N VGE GE LE VLF X Decision
1. Regular cleaning and dusting of library resources 44 38 7 4 3.4 Accepted
2. Lamination 17 34 34 19 2.8 Accepted
3. Installing of air conditioner or fans in the library 11 14 19 49 1.9 Rejected
4. Regular fumigation 10 25 36 20 2.2 Rejected
5. Application of fungicides 24 28 42 13 3.1 Accepted
6. Use of insecticides 3 39 36 15 2.4 Rejected
7. Photocopying 17 38 35 3 2.8 Accepted
8. Reformatting 6 24 43 5 2.4 Rejected
9. Provision of enough security to prevent theft and
multilation of library resources
23 53 16 4 3.1 Accepted
Grand Mean ( x ) 2.7 Great Extent
lxxxiii
Table 4 shows the mean responses of the academic librarians on the extent that preservation
and conservation practices are applied to materials these libraries. The highest mean response is 3.4
(Regular clearing and dusting of library resources). In this respect, the item mean is greater than the
criterion mean. However, the statement is positively rated. Application of fungicides and provision of
enough security to prevent theft and multilation of library resources danced second with item means
3.1 which is also greater than the criterion mean. It is therefore positively rated. Next are lamination
and photocopying with item mean 2.8 which is greater than criterion mean of 2.5. It is also positively
rated. However, others were negatively rated, they are; Reformatting (2.4), use of insecticides (2.4),
Regular fumigation (2(2), and installing of air conditioner (1.9). Therefore, those practices are applied
to few of library materials in these libraries.
Research Question 5
What are the problems encountered with preservation and conservation practices in these
libraries?
To identify any of the problem encountered in these libraries under study from the academic
librarians, the mean scores were computed and analyzed. SA, A, D and SD were used by the
respondents to indicate the level of agreement or disagreements with each problem listed in table 5.
Any mean score that is greater than criterion mean (2.5) is positively rated and accepted as a problem
encountered with preservation and conservation practices with the academic librarians. The summary
is presented in table 5.
lxxxiv
Table 5: Mean ( x ) Responses of Library staff on problems encountered in preservation and conservation
practices in these libraries.
S/N SA A D SD X Decision
1. Lack of trained personnel 34 51 8 - 3.3 Accepted
2. Lack of preservation and conservation policy in libraries 27 41 15 10 3.00 Accepted
3. Harsh environmental condition in the tropical zone 46 42 5 - 3.5 Accepted
4. Little awareness of the importance of preservation and
conservation among information professionals
12 42 37 2 2.7 Accepted
5. Inadequate infrastructure 38 49 6 - 3.4 Accepted
6. Lack of equipment needed for preservation and conservation of
library materials
34 50 9 - 3.3 Accepted
7. Frequent power failure 38 43 14 3 3.4 Accepted
8. Lack of effective sanctions among librarians 48 41 4 - 3.5 Accepted
9. Administrative bureaucracy 34 56 - 3 3.4 Accepted
10. Inadequate infrastructure 46 43 4 - 3.5 Accepted
11. Inadequate funding of the library 40 47 4 - 3.4 Accepted
Grand Mean ( x ) 3.4 Great Extent
The above table shows the mean responses of the academic librarians on the problems
encountered with preservation and conservation practices in these libraries. All items mentioned
eleven (11) were positively rated as their mean scores are greater than their mean (2.5). mean while,
the problems are as follows in their ranking order; Harsh environmental condition in the tropical zone,
lack of effective sanctions among librarians, and inadequate infrastructure, frequent power failure,
Administrative bureaucracy and inadequate funding of the library also scored (3.4) while lack of
trained personnel, and lack of equipment needed for preservation and conservation of library materials
scored (3.3). Lack of preservation and conservation policy in libraries (3.0). Lastly, little awareness of
the importance of preservation and conservation among information professionals scored (2.7). The
overall indication is that much problems are associated with preservation and conservation practices in
these libraries. However, no new problems were identified.
Research Question 6
What strategies could be used to enhance the preservation and conservation practices in these
libraries?
lxxxv
To answer this question, the frequency counts and the means scores of the respondents the
strategies for the enhancement of preservation and conservation of library materials were computed
and analyzed. SA, A, D, and SD were used to indicate the level of agreement or disagreement with
each strategy listed in table 6.
Table 6: Mean ( x ) Responses of Library staff of strategies to enhance the preservation and conservation
practices in these libraries
S/N SA A D SD X Decision
1. Regular power supply 65 24 4 - 3.7 Accepted
2. Sanctions among the librarians 40 43 9 1 2.5 Accepted
3. Training of personnel of the library 46 47 - - 3.5 Accepted
4. Regular fumigation of the library 38 54 1 - 3.4 Accepted
5. Proper cleaning and dusting of the library materials 61 32 - - 3.7 Accepted
6. Proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air 64 29 - - 3.7 Accepted
7. Handling library materials carefully 65 28 - - 3.7 Accepted
8. Avoid eating in the library 63 30 - - 3.7 Accepted
9. Formulating a library policy 49 44 - - 3.6 Accepted
10. Provision of security gadgets as well as enough security
personnel
53 40 - - 3.6 Accepted
11. Adequate funding of the library 57 36 - - 3.7 Accepted
12. Adequate infrastructure 50 43 - - 3.6 Accepted
13. Regular education of library users 55 38 - - 3.6 Accepted Grand Mean ( x ) 3.55 Great Extent
The above table shows that all the strategies identified were positively rated and accepted since
none of the strategies means score is below (2.5), the criterion mean. Mean while, all the strategies can
be adopted for the enhancement of preservation and conservation of library materials in federal
university libraries in South-East zone in Nigeria. No new strategies were suggested. In ranking order,
the best strategy are: Regular power supply, proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air, proper
clearing and dusting of the library materials, Handling library materials carefully, Avoid eating in the
library and Adequate funding of the library. The second rated are: formulating a library policy,
provision of security gadgets as well as enough security personnel, Adequate infrastructure and
Regular education of library uses (3.6). Next is training of personnel of the library (3.5). followed by
Regular fumigation of the library (3.4) lastly, sanctions among the librarians (2.5).
lxxxvi
Summary of the Major Findings
The following are the major findings that emanated from the data analyzed:
1. It is obvious that most of the preservation and conservation practices are available in federal
university libraries in South East, Nigeria.
2. It has been established that the extent these practices are used in these libraries are at a very
low extent.
3. It has also been established that that the prevailing factors necessitating these libraries in
adopting preservation and conservation practices in federal university libraries in South-East
are at a very great extent.
4. The extent preservation and conservation practices are applied to library materials in these
libraries are at great extent.
5. The problems encountered in preservation and conservation practice in these libraries are at a
very great extent.
6. The strategies suggested to enhance the preservation and conservation practices in these
libraries are at a very great extent.
lxxxvii
CHAPTER FIVE
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
This chapter discusses the results of the findings presented in the previous chapter, the
discussion, the implications of the findings, recommendations and limitations of the study, suggestions
for further study and conclusion of the study.
Discussion of Findings
The discussion of the findings of this study is organized based on the objectives of the study
and the six research questions under the following headings:
Types of preservation and conservation practices existing in Federal Universities in South-East
zone in Nigeria.
The data analyzed in the proceeding chapter showed that different types of preservation and
conservation practices exist in federal university libraries in South-East zone, Nigeria. Existing
practices includes clearing and dusting of library resource, Binding, Digitization, Photocopying,
Lamination, Reformation, proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air, provision of enough
security personnel to prevent theft and multilation of library resources, and installation of air
conditioner in the library. The findings agreed with Agresto (1986) and Harvey (1993) that we have a
duty to preserve and conserve what went before us and that we have a human obligation not to forget.
They also explained that if preservation and conservation are practiced in university libraries, that it
will be essential to scholars and educators who must rely on the availability of primary source
materials as the basis for good teaching.
The researcher observed that preservation and conservation practices are well known to these
universities under study, yet, the practices are implemented to resources in these libraries under study
at a very low extent.
lxxxviii
Extent these practices are used in these libraries.
Based on the analysis done on the extent these practices are used in these libraries, it was
observed from table 3 that only very few of the preservation and conservation practices are used in
these libraries. It was observed from table 2 that only very few of the preservation and conservation
practices are used in these libraries. Clearing and dusting of library resources, Binding and provision
of enough security to prevent theft and multilation of library resources are used to a great extent which
means that they are accepted while Digitalization, Regular fumigation, photocopying lamination,
Reformation, proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air, installing of air conditioner in the
library and Electronic security system were rejected, which means that they are not accepted. This
finding is supported by Alhassan (2002) that preservation and conservation in Nigerian library is of
primary importance that book votes are drastically reduced by authorities.
However, the researcher is of the opinion that if preservation and conservation continues to be
in use in these libraries under study, that these libraries will soon lose all intellectual content contained
with them.
Factors Necessitating these Libraries in Adopting Preservation and Conservation in these
Libraries
From the result of research question three, the researcher observed that the respondents
strongly agreed with the factors necessitating these libraries in adopting preservation and conservation
practices. These factors includes: To provide equipment to promote the original materials while in use,
To make library resources accessible, To enhance long term survival of library resources, To provide
an extremely attractive environment for the use of books, To provide means for adequate air
conditioner in the library, To promote and encourage vast practices in records management, To
promote and end to wasteful use of non renewable information resources, To enhance education of
lxxxix
library users as well as members of library staff on the best way of handling library resources, and to
train and develop staff appropriately in preservation and conservation techniques.
Extent of Preservation and Conservation Practices Applied to Library Materials in these
Libraries.
Research question four intended to ascertain how these preservation and conservation practices
are applied to library materials in these libraries. The researcher observed that librarians have positive
attitude towards preservation and conservation practices although few of the practices still have
negative attitude towards the preservation and conservation practices in these libraries under study.
The finding is supported by Popoola (2003) that until 1980s, that preservation and conservation of
library resources was though to be relevant to race book resources by librarians and curators of
collection of special resources. He also asserts that library resources has broken down through the
aging process and as a result of this, that modern libraries and information centres are faced with the
problem of deterioration of resource in their holdings.
The researcher is of the opinion that library resource should be well equipped with good and
well planned preservation and conservation practices in order to enable these resources last for a very
long time.
Problems associated with preservation and conservation practices in South-East zone, Nigeria.
According to the analysis done on the problem associated with preservation and conservation
of library resources in libraries, table six identified numerous problems associated with preservation
and conservation of library resources in Federal University libraries in South-East zone, Nigeria.
The findings are in line with Wamukoya and Mutual (1993), Harvey (1996) Kemoni (2001),
Moyo and Ngulube (2003) and Popoola (2003) that one of the greatest problem associated with
xc
preservation and conservation policy gives the organization a focus as to what to preserve and
conserve, for how long and in what format. He went ahead to explain that policy provides a framework
to the organization or institution and that the absence of preservation and conservation policy is
therefore a short coming too important to be ignored. Ugwuanyi (2000) agreed with Akor (2007) that
it is only when a library has a policy that it will be able to think of what and how to preserve and
conserve the resources.
The problem of lack of equipment needed for preservation and conservation of library
resources is rated as a great problem which is in line with Popoola (2003). The findings shows that
inadequate equipment and materials required for setting up functional preservation and conservation
laboratories in African libraries and achieves are not available locally. The findings revealed that
inadequate fund is affecting preservation and conservation in university libraries. In line with this,
Ifidon (1991) and Ifidon (2006) stresses that insufficient funding as well as inadequacy of financial
support confronts the libraries as well as libraries. In support of this Edoka (1992), Ugboma (1994),
Ifidon (1999) and Book Aid international (2005) have shown great concern over this problem as they
explains that collections are the raw materials for informed citizenry, good primary schools, effective
secondary school, efficient universities, voracious readers or a noticeable reading culture.
Strategies for the enhancement of preservation and conservation in libraries in university
libraries in South-East zone, Nigeria.
Following the results and analyses on the strategies for the enhancement of preservation and
conservation in libraries, it was observed that table 7 revealed a good number of the strategies.
The identified strategies are in line with Harvey (1993) that Education and training of
personnel at all levels, from the lowliest library assistant to national decision-makers as this will
introduce preservation and conservation awareness into all aspects of library management.
xci
The finding is in line with Agada and Ehoniyotan (2006) that regular fumigation of the library
department and discouraging of staff and library users from eating in the library are also a good
measure. They also explain that environmental control and installation of electric fans and air
conditioners are another important preservation and conservation strategies.
The finding agreed with Harvey (1993), Moyo and Ngulube (2001) that it is first necessary to
develop polices in libraries which will cover the nature and scope of methods to be used rather than
prescribe the precise methods themselves. They also explain that it is when a library especially
academic library has preservation and conservation policy that it can start to think of the needs and
ways of controlling deterioration. In agreement with this Sylvestre (1981) and Kemoni (1996) said that
every library should endeavour to draw up a clear policy programme suited to its standard.
The researcher agreed that if all these strategies will be implemented, that it will increase the
maximum preservation and conservation of library resources in South-East zone, Nigeria.
Limitations of the Study
The study was constrained by a number of problems among them are:
1. The study was limited to only four federal university libraries in South-East zone, Nigeria. It
should have been so nice that a study of this type should include all the federal university
libraries in Nigeria as this would have given room for a wider and better analysis and
conclusion.
2. However, the study was also affected by dishonesty and nonchalant attitude of some academic
librarians as they were ticking the questionnaire any how because of time.
Suggestions for Further Research
The study is on preservation and conservation of library resources in Federal University
libraries in South-East zone, Nigeria. The restriction of this study is to only Federal University
xcii
libraries in South-East, however, the work has call for more investigation into this new area of
librarianship in Nigeria context.
The following areas for further studies are therefore suggested.
1. Preservation and conservation of library resources in federal university libraries in Nigeria
2. Preservation and conservation of library resources in federal university libraries in state
university libraries in Nigeria.
3. Preservation and conservation of library resources in federal colleges of Education libraries in
South-East, Nigeria
4. Preservation and conservation of library resources in unity schools libraries in South-East,
Nigeria.
Conclusion
Preservation and conservation of library resources have become a driving force in new service
platform of the libraries. Preservation and conservation have been proved to be an important tool for
improving services in university libraries. It is important for teaching, learning, research and
development of human beings. From the analysis and discussion of the findings, the researcher
discovered that different types of preservation and conservation practices were available, functions,
although not well implemented in the library under study especially in federal university of
Agriculture, Umudike and Federal University of Technology, Owerre. The study also identify that
some of the preservation and conservation practices are practiced to a greater extent while some are at
very low extent and others are not practiced at all. This study has also been able to identify the
problems associated with preservation and conservation of library resources in libraries under study,
ranging from: inadequate infrastructure, frequent power failure, inadequate funding of the library, lack
of trained personnel, Harsh environmental condition in the tropical zone and little awareness of the
importance of preservation and conservation among information professionals. The researcher,
xciii
observed that for the enhancement of preservation and conservation of library resources among
libraries under study, there is need for adoption and implementation of strategies which include:
Regular power supply, proper clearing and dusting of library materials, proper shelving of books to
allow free flow of air, Handling library materials carefully, avoid eating in the library, formulating a
library policy, adequate fund of the library, Regular education of library users, adequate infrastructure,
and Regular fumigation of the library.
xciv
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c
Department of Library and
Information Science,
University of Nigeria,
Nsukka.
Dear Respondent,
Preservation and Conservation of Library Resources in Federal Universities in the South-East Zone of
Nigeria.
I am a postgraduate student of the above named department and university currently carrying out a
research on the preservation and conservation of library resources in federal universities in the South-East Zone
of Nigeria.
This research is in connection with my Master’s degree theses. The study is purely an academic
exercise and not an assessment of any sort. You are therefore assured that all the information provided by you
will be treated in strict confidence. Therefore, do not write your name on any part of the questionnaire.
Thanks for your co-operation.
Yours sincerely,
Ozioko, Angela Chinedum
PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES IN THE
SOUTH-EAST ZONE OF NIGERIA QUESTIONNAIRE
Section A
Demographic Information
Please mark (√) as appropriate in the spaces provided in all the sections.
1. Sex: Male Female
2. Age: 20-30 31-40 41-50 51-60
61 and above
3. Highest academic/professional qualification BLS Bachelor’s Degree
Master’s Degree MLS Ph.D (Lib.Sc.)
Additional qualifications to ones listed above. Kindly specify if there is any variation from the ranks mentioned here
…........
4. How long have you been in the library? 1-5 6-10 11-20
above 20years
5. Rank:
Graduate Library Assistant Assistant Librarian
6. Librarian 11 Librarian 1 Senior Librarian Principle Librarian
Deputy Librarian University Librarian
7. Name of University …………………………………………………..
ci
APPENDIX 1
S/No Name of university libraries Number of librarian
1 Nnamdi Azikiwe library, University of Nigeria,
Nsukka
48
2 Nnamdi Azikiwe University library, Awka 8
3 Federal university of agriculture Umudike, library 7
4 Federal university of technology Owerri, library 30
Total 93
Source: Library Statistics (2011)
SECTION B
Cluster A: Library Preservation and Conservation Practices Available in Federal University Libraries.
Key: A = Available; NA = Not Available
S/No A NA
a Cleaning and dusting of library resources
b Binding
c Digitization
d Regular fumigation
e Photocopying
f Lamination
g Reformation
h Proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air
i Provision of enough security personnel to prevent theft and
mutilation of library resources
j Installation of air conditioner in the library
Cluster B: Extent of Utilizing these Practices in Federal University Libraries
Key: VGE = Very Great Extent; GE = Great Extent; LE = Large Extent; VLE = Very Low Extent
S/No VGE GE LE VLE
a Cleaning and dusting of library resources
b Binding
c Digitalization
d Regular fumigation
e Photocopying
f Lamination
g Reformation
h Proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air
i Provision of enough security to prevent theft and mutilation of
library resources.
j Installing of air conditioner in the library.
k Electronic security system
l Fumigation
m Others: Specify
cii
Cluster C: Purposes for adopting Preservation and Conservation Practices in Federal University Libraries.
Key: SA = Strongly Agreed; A = Agreed; D = Disagreed; SD =Strongly Disagreed
S/No SA A D SD
a To provide equipment to protect the original materials while in use
b To make library resources accessible
c To ensure long term survival of library resources
d To provide security and safety of library resources
e To provide an extremely attractive environment for the use of books
f To provide means for adequate electricity supply, fan and air conditioner in the library
g To promote and encourage vest practices in records management
h To promote an end to wasteful use of non renewable information resources.
i To enhance education of library users as well as members of library staff on the best
way of handling library resources.
j To train and develop staff appropriately in preservation and conservation techniques
k Others specify:
Cluster D: Type of preservation and conservation practices applied to library materials in these libraries
Key: VGE = Very Great Extent; GE = Great Extent; LE = Large Extent; VLE = Very Low Extent
S/N VGE GE LE VLE
1 Regular cleaning and dusting of library resources
2 Lamination
3 Installing of air conditioner or fans in the library
4 Regular fumigation
5 Application of fungicides
6 Use of insecticides
7 Photocopying
8 Reformatting
9 Provision of enough security to prevent theft and mutilation of
library resources
10 Others: specify
Cluster E: Problems encountered in preservation and conservation practices in these libraries Key: SA = Strongly Agreed; A = Agreed; D = Disagreed; SD =Strongly Disagreed
S/N SA A D SD
a Lack of trained personnel
b Lack of preservation and conservation policy in libraries
c Harsh environmental condition in the tropical zone
d Little awareness of the importance of preservation and
conservation among information professionals
e Inadequate infrastructure
f Lack of equipment needed for preservation and conservation of
library materials.
g Lack of competent manpower in preservation and conservation of
library materials.
h Frequent power failure
i Lack of effective sanctions among librarians
j Administrative bureaucracy
k Inadequate infrastructure
l Inadequate funding of the library
m Others: specify:
Cluster F: Strategies for enhancement of preservation and conservation in federal university libraries Key: SA = Strongly Agreed; A= Agreed; D= Disagreed; SD=Strongly Disagreed
ciii
S/N SA A D SD
a Regular power supply
b Sanctions among the librarians
c Training of personnel of the library
d Regular fumigation of the library
e Proper cleaning and dusting of the library materials
f Proper shelving of books to allow free flow of air
g Handling library materials carefully
h Avoid eating in the library
i Formulating a library policy
j Provision of security gadgets as well as enough security personnel
k Adequate infrastructure
l Adequate funding of the library
m Regular education of library users
n Others: specify
civ
INTERVIEW SCHEDULE
1. What are the ways by which preservation and conservation practices are carried out in your
library?
2. What extent are these practices used in your library?
3. What do you think are the major factors prevailing your library in adopting preservation and
conservation?
4. What extent do preservation and conservation practices applied in your library?
5. What are the problems associated with the preservation and conservation practices in your
library?
6. What are the things you think that can be done to enhance preservation and conservation in your
library?