Preservation And Conservation Of
Library Materials
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page
i
Certification
ii
Dedication
iii
Acknowledgment
Abstract
Table of contents
iv
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1
1.1 Assumption/background of the study
1
1.2 Statement of problem
5
1.3 Objective of the study
5
1.4 Research question
6
1.5 Scope of the study
6
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 Literature Review
9-16
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CHAPTER THREE
3.0 Research Methodology
17
3.1 Data collection instrument
17
3.2 Population of the study
18
3.3 Method of data collection
18
3.4 Method of data analysis
18
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 Data presentation and analysis
19
4.1 Problem of vandalism in academic library
19
4.2 Magnitude of vandal problems
19
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 Summary of Findings, Conclusion and
Recommendation
26
5.1 Summary and Finding
26
5.2 Recommendation
28
5.3 Conclusion
27
iii
Bibliography
30
Appendix
Questionnaire
iv
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
To understand the meaning and scope of preservation
and conservation of library materials in public library, the
definition of public library in digital age becomes relevant.
That is for discussion to be intelligible; it must start with
definition of terms.
Therefore, library has defined by many writers and
many Authors have attempted to define a library without
success. Elmer D. Johnson (1970) defines a library as a
collection of graphic materials arranged for relatively easy
use, carded for an individual familiar with that arrangement
and available for use by at least a limited number of
persons. Here is another satisfactory definition of the library
by UNESCO, that a library is an organized collection of
published books and periodical and of other reading and
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audio-visual materials, and the service of staff able to prove
and interpreter such materials as are required to meet the
informational research, educational or recreational needs of
the user’s.
Aguolu (1989) still go further to say that library can be
described as a place where the dead may be said to be alive
a place where the ideal of the knowledge of great men and
women are fully documented and preserved, conducive to
move the world at though those people may be no more. In
order words, it is a place where the information seeker or
knowledge seeker communicates with authors both living
and dead.
The world library is derived from the term “LIBER” a
representation of ‘book’ this public library is major meant to
serve the public there by increasing the literacy level of the
people
in
that
community
by
carrying
out
extension
services.
Further
preservation,
more
the
key
conservation,
term
library
of
this
work
materials
and
are:
to
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appreciate and understand this work better, the definition of
the following terms becomes necessary.
According to the world bank encyclopedia (1990)
conservation means management, protection and wise use
of the resources as library is noted as organized information
resources through experts, store manage the resources,
preserve, conserve them for effective use and easy access to
use and easy access to users all kinds of level. World book
dictionary (1996) still put conservation in a simplest term as
an act of conserving, protecting from loss or being used up,
avoidance of waste.
Vol. 2 of World Bank Dictionary 91996) still go further
to say that preservation is the act of preserving keeping
safe. Still on preservation, is the restoration of the original
nature of the materials that is keeping it in it’s original
nature.
Alegbeleye (1985) define conservation as a term that
embraces several related idea such as (i) restoration which
is the action taken to correct deterioration of all kind and
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also maintain the items in as near as possible in their
original form (ii) substitution which has to do with the
replacement of the original by microfilm digitalization for
regular use.
Mean while, restoring materials to it’s original nature is
what we know as conservation and a way of using a
materials by making an effort to see that materials are not
made home use rather you make photocopy and return back
for preservation.
A distinction between preservation and conservation is
a method of applying the physical or chemical treatment of
library materials to sustain them in their original state.
Considering preservation and conservation in a digital
age, we consider about digital repository service to support
not only day to day access to digital age challenge a libraries
and archivist to create an appropriate organizational context
for action. Digital technologist is erasing many of the
distinction between custodians of articles libraries and other
repository that traditionally have assumed responsibilities
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for
preserving
information
face
technical,
legal
and
organizational challenges in responding to new demands of
digital preservation. According to the Russell (1999) digital
preservation in a simplest term means a process by which
digital data is preserved in digital from in order to ensure
the usability, durability and intellectual integrity of the
information contained there in on that note, we have the
following
as
preservation.
a
To
library
keep
services
technical
obligation
development
towards
in
the
conservation field under review to utilize those which are
suitable and incorporate them into the strategy to provide
added
benefit
everything
and
possible
more
to
effective
minimize
operations?
damage
To
from
do
use,
promoting good practice in handling.
To promote best practice amongst staff and readers in
seeking to ensure the security of materials which has been
selected for permanent preservation to maintain agreed
standard of preservation through library services? Therefore
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it is highly imperative that materials acquired in the library
should be taken care of.
1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
In the course of preservation and conservation of
library materials in the digital age a good number of
problems are been encourage like fragile storage media.
Technology obsolesces, and we also have legal questions
surrounding copying and access as one of the problems that
militate against preservation and conservation of library
materials. Under the fragile storage media:- most of digital
materials are specially vulnerable to loss because they are
stored on fragile magnetic media that deteriorate rapidly
and can fail suddenly from exposure of heat, humidity etc.
then under technology obsolesce. Digital materials becomes
unreadable and unnecessary to retrieve information from the
media becomes obsolete the information from machine to
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human readable from is no longer available above are the
few problem encountered at course of preserving and
conserving library materials.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY
 To determine if there is need for preservation and
conservation of library materials.
 To find out whether the equipment for preserving and
conserving library materials.
 To find out problems that militates against the
preservation and conservation of library materials.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Are there needs for preservation and conservation of
library materials? What are the techniques and methods for
preserving and conserving of library materials.
Are there equipments for preserving and conserving
library materials what are the personnel need for preserving
and conserving library materials what are the challenges
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confronting the preservation and conservation of library
materials. Are there panacea to solve the problem of
preservation and conservation of library materials?
1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The significance or preservation and conservation of
library
materials
cannot
be
overemphasis
because
it
enhance in keeping those materials for future purpose.
Closely related to the above significance is that preservation
and conservation of library materials ensure the life long
span of those materials in the library.
1.6 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This work covers preservation and conservation of
library materials. The study is on Imo state public library,
Board Owerri Imo state. And it equally focuses in the
facilities and techniques involved in the conservation and
preservation of library materials in public library.
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1.7 HISTORICAL
BACKGROUND
OF
IMO
STATE
PUBLIC LIBRARY
Imo state public library Owerri started as a building for
divisional library services under the umbrella of East central
library Board. The creation of Imo state out of the East
central took place in the year 1976, the Imo state indigence’
in the former East central state library returned from Enugu
to from the numbers of new library board operations.
Furthermore, the state central library was established
on 21th Nov. 1976. The assets and liabilities of the former
board were shared prior to the movement to Owerri. As time
goes on, the new library board began operation with budget
of N546832,66 for the financial 1976/77 of the sum
N246,832,66 was inherited from he central library board and
N300,00 was financial provision by the Imo state Movement.
Imo state and Anambra shared considerable quality of new
books which had been processed and allocated to the
creation of the state. Assets recovered from the sharing
exercise include six catalogue cabinets and cards originally
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meant by Owerri division library. Some filling cabinets and
few typewriters. The Imo state public library board was
established by edict No 12 1977 which made provision for
the composition of board not less than four but not more
than six members the appointment of director and a
secretary to the board function of the board include
engagement of staff. Finding and auditing, legal deposit of
publications land acquisition, authenticated of documents,
powers to invest and pension benefits.
To crown it all, Imo state library was initially under the
ministry of education and information and on separation of
education and information as ministry of their own, the
library board was placed under the ministry of information
culture, youth and sports where it is today.
As earlier stated that the board was appointed on 10th
November, 1976 It consist of Prof. A. O. Anya as Chairman
and seven members namely, Prof. D.I. Nwogu, Dr. Eze
Oqueri, Mrs. Gloria I. Ofo, Mazi F. Nwosu Ezi Mrs. R. Umelo,
presently they have Chief C.D.B Williams as chairman, Mr.
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Jude, C. Ejimofor secretary, members are as followed
Honourable Augustus Chikekie, Hon. Mike O. Okoro, Mr.
P.N.. Iwu, Dr. Samson Nzeribe, Sir C.C. Onuneme.
1.8 DEFINITION OF BASIC OPERATIONS
CONSSERVATION: As a term that embraces several
related idea such as restoration, which is the action taken to
correct deterioration of all kind and also maintain items in as
near as possible original form. (Alegbeleye, 1985).
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