BEING A RESEARCH PROJECTED SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

1. COMPARATIVE MANAGEMENT OF SERIALS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A CASE STUY OF BENUE STATE
UNIVERSITY AND FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE MAKURDI
BEING A RESEARCH PROJECT PRESENTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMARTION
SCIENCE……
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Academic libraries are universally acknowledged as the central focus
of any educational enterprise. They are usually referred to as the “heart” of
knowledge (Aguolu and Aguolu, 2002). This global characterization is borne
out of the pride of place and the prominent roles they play in the lives of
their parent institutions. Kwampong (2007), described the library as the
heart and aorta of any academic institution. The health, intellectual vitality

2. and the effectiveness of any educational institution depends on the state of
health and excellence of its library, which is its very lifeblood. An inert and
moribund library will ultimately translate into an inert and moribund
institution (Kwampong, 2007).
This category of libraries which are mostly found in the universities,
polytechnics, colleges of education and other institutions of higher learning
play very crucial roles towards the attainment of the overall objectives of
their parent institutions. Quality faculty and indeed quality education may be
difficult not impossible to achieve in the absence of a quality library. In
other words, without a good library, an educational institution can be
considered dead in terms of knowledge generation, acquisition and
dissemination. It is not surprising therefore that the library is a foremost
requirement in the setting up of tertiary institutions worldwide. According to
Olanlokun and Salisu (2000), the major obligation of the library is to provide
information resources and services that will contribute to the effective
performance of these functions through:
i. Collection of all media of information.
ii. Organization of knowledge for easy storage and retrieval.
iii. Storage and preservation of knowledge for the use of posterity and
iv. Retrieval and dissemination of knowledge.

3. In other words, the academic library exists within an organizational
framework that is defined by the shapes of the parent institution. This means
that the library is not an autonomous entity. It should therefore be responsive
to the environment of which it is part. The content and services of the library
should be focused on the programmes offered by the institution and on the
needs of the faculty and students. An important set of library materials in the
university (academic) library is serials.
Serial materials have over the year served as very significant sources of
information for people around the world most especially those in the academic
environment. Baduru (2012) noted that undergraduates, postgraduates, lecturers,
researchers and individuals use serials to gain access to up-to-date information on
various issues. According to Nwalo (2003), serials are publications
issued******************************************************
Proper management of serials in the University library is necessary.
How well serials are managed in the University library can be a pointer to
the success of the library in meeting its objectives. Therefore this study will
comparatively assess the management of serials in Benue State University
and Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
1.2 Statement of the Problem

4. The university library is established with the mandate to support research,
teaching, learning and extension services. The university library sources, acquires,
processes and make available library materials including serials to accomplish its
role of providing information to the university community.*****************
Purpose of the Study
This study aims at assessing comparatively the management of serials
in libraries of Benue State University and Federal University of Agriculture,
Makurdi. The study specifically seeks to:*************************
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