Violencia, agresividad y conductas antisociales

Part of the environmental, chemical and biological factors of deterioration are directly or indirectly caused by human attitudes, actions or inactions toward the library materials. The librarians who are the custodians of library and information resources and charged with the responsibility of the overall preservation and conservation of the materials often fall short in these tasks. Mostly, the techniques of material handling in the area of transportation, photocopying, exhibition and storage system often expose the materials to deterioration. On the other hand, library users sometimes exhibit very low standard of care and handling of books. Some users intentionally rough handle materials by marking by pens, dog ear, mutilation and even steal these materials.

Human factor: Source: www.shutterstock.com Agents of human agents

• Fire

• Theft and vandalism

• Material handling (transportation, photocopying, exhibition and storage system)

• Mutilation

3.3.2 Preventive measures for human agents

There are procedures, plans and strategies librarians as well as library users should take to maintain and increase the longevity of the library resources. These include among others:

144

• Important books and manuscripts should be kept in specially prepared containers.

• For carrying many books, trolleys should be used. Utmost care should be taken while transporting rare, valuable and delicate books.

• Care should be taken while photocopying the books because considerable stress may be exerted on the material and the bindings suffer the most and also the spines might be affected too.

• Use bookends to support books when shelves are not full. Books should not be shelved too tightly or too loosely.

• It must always be ensured that while opening the books, pages are not torn or covers damaged. To turn a page, lift the top corner and lightly slip the fingertips down the fore-edge supporting the page.

• Pages should never be folded otherwise creases will be formed and they may be torn at the folds. Corner of pages should not be folded to mark pages.

• Avoid licking of fingers as an aid to turn pages.

• Underlining must be avoided.

• Books should not be left open on the reading table, face downwards.

• Leaning on an open book should be avoided since this can damage the spine and binding.

• Never allow a book to stand on its fore edge.

• When a book is displayed open, never use metal clips or pins to hold book pages open (Mahmood & Mari 2013).

4.0 CONCLUSION

In this unit, we have navigated through various issues relating to challenges faced by the libraries especially in Africa. It is worth noting that if streamlined and proactive actions in not taken, the provision of lasting solutions to challenges affecting the libraries and the attainment of improved library service provision, the preservation of information resources and smooth running of the libraries will continue to be a mirage.

5.0 SUMMARY

In Nigeria and generally all-around Africa, there are challenges of preservation and security of library and information systems and resources. Our discussion in this unit focused on the following thus:

• Preservation and security of library and information systems and resources

• Information System (IS) and its Challenges in Nigeria

• Components of information system

• Challenges of preservation and security of library resources in Nigeria

• Causes of deterioration of library materials and

• Preventive measure for deterioration

6.0 TUTOR-MARKED ASSIGNMENT (TMA)

1. List and explain the components of an information system as discussed in this unit

145

2. Define deterioration and lift the agents responsible for deterioration of library materials

3. List and explain the major issues confronting the preservation of library materials in Africa according to Omosekejimi, Ijiekhuamhen, Ojeme (2015)

7.0 REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

Antiwi, I. K. (2009). The problem of library security. The Bauchi Library experiences International Review. Journal of Academic Librarianship.

21:363-372.

Chaney, M. & MacDougail, A. F. (2004) Security and crime in libraries. Gower Publishing.

CNSS (2010). Implementing a CNSS 4012 certification on an information. Retrieved from: https://www.uttyler.edu/cs/documents/subramanian_whitson.pdf

ComputerHope (2017) What's Happening @ LWLC: Computer Learning Month.

Retrieved from:

Gelfand (2005). A Conceptual Approach to the Role of the Library in Developing Countries. Education Libraries Journal. 40 (3): 13-22.

Gregersen, E. (nd) Components of Information Systems. Retrieved from:

https://www.britannica.com/list/5-components-of-information-systems (May 2021)

https://alasu.libguides.com/c.php?g=726667&p=5187278 (May 2021)

ISACA, (2008). Storage area networking security devices. Retrieved from:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/computer-science/information-systems-audit-and- control-association

ISO/IEC 27000:2009. Information technology — Security techniques — Information security management systems — Overview and vocabulary.

https://www.iso.org/standard/41933.html

Kademani , B. S., Kalyane, V. L & Vijai, K. B. (2003) Preservation of information resources in Libraries : New Challenges .Retrieved from rclis.org (8^th May 2021)

Mahapatra, P. K & Chakrabarti, B. (2003). Preservation in libraries: Perspectives, principles and practice. New Delhi: ESS Publication

Mahood, Z. U., & Mari, H. M. (2013) Deterioration of library resources and its causes: Theoretical review. Retrieved from https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/

(August 2021).

Mundi, S. (2017) Preservation and conservation of library materials: a practical hint Retrieved from https://nji.gov.ng (10^th February 2021)

Ogunmodede, T. A., & Ebijuwa, A. S. (2013). Problems of conservation and preservation of library resources in African Academic Libraries: A review of literature. Retrieved from: https://www.academia.edu/22943392/