Binding for Bookstock Integrity in a Nigerian University Library

Abstract

This article reports on the effort to preserve worn-out books in a Nigerian University of Technology against the backdrop of almost whole dependence on the importation of foreign imprints to promote scholarship and research in Nigerian universities. Shortages of books are currently so severe in Nigeria that some university programs stand to lose accreditation but direct replacement is problematic. Worn-out books create inaccessibility problems for library patrons and run counter to the spirit of Rangnathan's laws of library science.

Through the quantitative analysis of a total of 503 worn-out books withdrawn from the shelves, the subject areas of the books were determined. The analysis revealed that one-fourth (24.9%) of the books were in the engineering sciences, 76 (15.1%) were in social sciences (economics, banking and finance, management sciences) texts, while 57 titles constituting one-tenth of the total were in the mathematical sciences (computer science, mathematics, statistics, operations research). The study concludes with suggestions on reinforcing books available only in soft binding to make them durable, buying multiple copies of textbooks and setting up a mini-bindery to promptly repair and make worn-out books available and accessible to library patrons.

Key Words:

• Binding
• book stock
• preservation
• university libraries
• Nigeria