Introduction

Serials acquisition is the physical process of purchasing serial materials

that have been selected by a library. Acquisition is also the means of

obtaining library materials which make up a library collection. Acquisition is

usually made after selection; meaning that libraries cannot acquire what

they have not selected. Therefore, for acquisition to be effective, selection

must be effective enough to identify materials to be acquired. Furthermore,

Nwalo (2003) posits that acquisition has to do with purchasing

expeditiously and from the most advantageous vendors the materials

chosen by selection officers. The role of serials in dissemination of current

information in academic libraries cannot be overemphasized. Serials are

the backbone of any academic library or research library because of the

currency of the information they carry. Information explosion has

necessitated an improvement in the gathering, processing, acquisition, and

dissemination of these information resources in libraries. The use of serials

in academic research has continued to rise in recent times hence further

necessitating their effective development and management.

The terms serials and periodicals are synonymous. The terms are used

interchangeably to refer to publications in any medium (print and non-print)

that are published serially or periodically. Similarly, Rogers (2011) cited

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Osborn (1980) to describe serials as publications in any medium issued in

successive parts at regular or irregular intervals, usually having numerical

or chronological designation and intended to continue indefinitely. Serials

include both periodicals and non-periodicals. A periodical is a serial with a

distinctive title, issued more

frequently; that is daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, yearly, and so on;

usually at regular intervals with each issue containing articles by several

contributors, examples are journals, newspaper and magazines (Nwalo,

2003). In contrast, non-periodicals are serials issued at irregular interval

such as yearbook, annuals, proceedings of societies, and monographic

series.

Management and organization of serials in academic libraries

Akinbode (2008) in his study on “serials management in the university

libraries of developing nations” opined that serials collections require

careful maintenance to ensure that the library holdings of any particular

journals are properly arranged and kept for the use of the reader.

Journals not received in the library are noted and claims are sent to the

publisher to send the missing issues to the library. Akinbode (2008) further

stressed that issue parts of journals in the library are sent to a local book

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binder to bind them together in a book form for preservation purpose. A

record is therefore kept for all journals sent out for binding. After binding,

they are arranged according to classmarks on book shelves set aside for

bound volumes of journals.

Serials

 Journals Magazines

 Newsletters

 Electronic journals

 Continuing directories

 Annual reports

 Newspapers

 Statistical publications

 Monographic series (numbered and unnumbered)

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The Basic principles of book selection

Drury's Principles

The basic principle, which still governs the selection of reading material for

a library, was enunciated by Drury in 1930. It states: "To provide the right

book to the right reader at the right time”. The reader is the central

character. A document is right or otherwise in relation to the reader. It is to

be provided when the reader needs it for use. The selector should know the

readers and their requirements. He should select only that material which

caters to the information, educational and recreational needs of the

readers. The selected material should be procured expeditiously to be

made available to the user when he needs it. Knowing the needs of the -

readers and knowing the documents which can meet these needs is

important in making the selection of documents.

Dewey’s Principle

Melvil Dewey's principle states: "The best reading for the largest number at

the least cost" According to this principle a library should select, within the

financial resources available, the best documents which may satisfy the

information needs of the maximum number of readers.

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McColvin's Principles

L.R McColvin advanced his Demand and Supply Theory of Book Selection

in 1925. He states, "Books in themselves are nothing. They have no more

meaning than the white paper upon which they are printed, until they are

made serviceable by demand. The more closely book selection is related to

demand, the greater is the resultant and possible service". The term

"supply" refers to the availability of reading material in all its varieties.

"Demand", on the other hand, means expressed and unexpressed

informational needs of the users. This theory advocates the selection of

only those documents which are demanded by the users for their

informational needs.

Ranganathan's Principles

Ranganathan's first three Laws of Library Science are helpful in formulating

the principles of document selection.

The First Law -- Books are for use - makes it obligatory that only those

documents should be selected which are of use to the clientele of a

particular library. While selecting the documents, the present and potential

requirements of the users must be kept in view. A school or public library

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should avoid the selection of costly books which are not likely to be in

frequent demand. For a children's library, the books should be illustrated in

bold typeface and attractive.

The Second Law of Library Science - every reader his/her book - directs

the selector to cater to the informational needs of all the users of the library.

The subject or the language or the style of exposition of documents to be

selected should be in accordance with the requirement of the users.

Ranganathan's Third Law of Library Science - Every book its reader -

suggests that all efforts should be made to put to use those documents of

value which have been selected in anticipation of the needs of the users

Acquisition of serial in libraries

The study was interested in establishing how libraries in the study created

their serials collections. To find that out, respondents were asked to

indicate the methods their libraries used to acquire these resources into

their collections.

Methods of serials acquisition

 Manual purchase

 Online subscription

 Gift

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  Donation

 Direct ordering

 Exchange

 Institutional membership of the association

Organisation of serials in the selected academic libraries

The study also sought on how serials offered by the libraries it involved

were organized.

 Cataloguing

 Classification

 Proper shelving and carding

 Digitalizing of available serial materials through the use of OPAC

 Indexing

 Abstracting

 Display of serials on rack

 Display of passwords of library data base for users to access online

serials

 Bibliography compilations of serial materials and display on notice

board

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Preservation measures of serial materials in libraries

The study also sought to find out how serials in libraries’ collection are

taken care of to ensure they exist in usable conditions for as long as

necessary. Based on the responses received from respondents it can be

concluded that the libraries have various methods of preserving their

resources;

 Binding of serials in hard cover

 Binding serials with flexible strong spine

 Digitalization of serial collections

 Careful handling of serials by staff

 Availability of fire extinguisher

 De-acidification of serials

Ways to improve serial management in academic libraries

 Government increasing library budget to fund for library staff skills

development Inclusion of serial acquisition and management contents

in curriculum

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 Exposing library staff to continuing education courses or conferences

Nigeria Library Association should be more involved in staff training

and setting of library operational standards.

Summary

 Serials are acquired through various methods such as manual

purchase and online subscription in libraries and information center.

 Libraries and information center use various means like cataloguing,

classification, proper shelving and Carding, indexing, abstracting, and

display of serials on racks to organize serials for easy retrieval.

 Libraries and information center use several methods in the

preservation of their serials. These include binding of serials in hard

cover, binding of serials with flexible strong spines, and careful

handling of serials.

 There are various ways through which libraries and information

center can improve the management of their serials. These include

government’s participation in library staff skill development by

increasing libraries’ budgets, library staff being exposed to continuing

education courses or conferences, and the Nigerian Library

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 Association being more involved in training staff and setting of

standards for library operations.

Conclusion and recommendations

Higher learning institution libraries in Nigeria make themselves worth their

name by making efforts to acquire and manage serial publications for their

users. Serials operations in academic libraries in the state are in parts. A

part of which involves the acquisition of serials.

The part involves the following activities: selection of titles, record checking,

preparation of final list for order, and ordering. Other activities of such an

operation are verification of receipt, checking in of materials, claiming and

renewing of subscription, and cancellation of order. The other part has to

do with the management of serials. This involves careful maintenance of

serials of any kind to ensure that they are properly arranged and kept for

the use of the library patrons.

Serials are managed by organizing them in such a way that they can be

easily retrieved for use.

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However, cataloguing, classification, indexing, abstracting, and displaying

of details on the rack have been considered best ways of managing and

organizing serial publications for easy retrieval in libraries and information

center.

Based on the results of this study, the following recommendations are

hereby made to help improve the management of serials in libraries:

(1) The government should participate in the skill development of

library staff by increasing library budgets.

(2) Academic curriculum should include contents on serials acquisition

and management.

(3) Academic libraries should consider focusing more on acquiring

electronic serials because they are easier to manage and are less

prone to destruction.

(4) Adequate storage space should be considered when planning a

serials collection department in libraries and information center.

(5) Efforts should also be made to provide internet and information

and communication technologies (ICTs) to increase the use of

online serial publications and for effective management of serial s

in libraries and information center.

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