THREE LIBRARY AND EDUCATION

1. Library Decorum
• Library and Its Use
• Information materials and Its Use.
2. Library Routine
• Users’ Registration
• Loan Systems
3. Library Organization
(b) Sections in the Library
• Administrative
• Technical - Acquisition
Cataloguing and Classification
• Readers’ Service Circulation
Reference
Serials
• Reprographic Bindery
Photocopying
• ICT Electronic library
Digital /Virtual Library
Library Decorum:
Having gone through the section on the importance of library to education, it would not be out of to
understand the etiquette. Etiquettes are rules or acceptable behavior in a society or among any
group of people. Various societies, professionals and communities have their decorum; the library is
not an exception. Different writers have contributed to the various literatures on library decorum,
some of them are hereby discussed, the things that are acceptable or unacceptable in the library.
Disruptive behavior that interferes with other people’s use of library is not acceptable, this
includes physical abuse like assault, swearing, argument or any other harmful behavior. Other
things that are not acceptable include loitering, congregating, re-arrangement and reservation of
the library furniture, defacing or destroying library property. No eating, drinking, smoking. Some
other things that are expected or unexpected of users are specified by SOAS (2017). Library users
must do every necessary thing to secure their property as library does not take responsibility
for loss or damage of users’ property. They must maintain silence, they must not do anything to
harm or harass other users and library staff; filming or taking photographs of the library or its
property must be done with permission ; they must also obey closing bells or alarms sounded at
any point in time. It was also stated by SOAS (2017) that failure to comply with library rules attracts
sanctions. German National Library of Economics (2012) also mentioned certain things in relation
to library etiquette. These include the fact that users must register with library before they can be
allowed to use the library and they are to submit their card for termination of membership. Users
must also comply with copyright law in relation to copying library materials. It is important for
users to follow the instructions for the use of library equipment, databases and internet services.
The library like SOAS (2017) also mentioned the fact that library users must obey library rules or
face sanctions. In lending its voice to library etiquette, Massey University Pocket Guide also
reiterated the facts that library users must not leave their belongings unattended to and must show
consideration for other users in all they do which include putting their mobile phones in silent mode.
SECTION IN THE LIBRARY
Introduction: Libraries are set up with the responsibility of acquiring, organizing, disseminating and
providing information to satisfy users’ information need. In order to meet up with these
responsibilities, librarians offer various services which form the basis for organizing the Library into
different units. Libraries are organized into sections or departments, although a library’s size and
philosophy usually affect its organization. Some of the departments are in direct contact with the
users or patrons while others perform strictly in-house services. The various sections where
specific services take place in the library are: Administrative. Technical services (Acquisition.
Cataloguing and Classification), Readers’ Service (Circulation, Reference, Serials),
Reprographic (Bindery, Photocopying), ICT , (Electronic library Digital /Virtual Library)
1. ADMINISTRATIVE - this section is charged with the responsibility of managing, leading,
controlling, supervising and coordinating all library affairs including employees and other resources.
They carry out decisions of the Library Board. In university libraries, this section is headed by the
University Librarian in conjunction with the Library Committee to formulate the library’s policies.
The policies include regulations which govern the operations of the library such as provision of
resource materials, opening hours, number of books to be borrowed and the loan period. They also
define the type of work to be carried out in the library. Library administration involves planning,
organizing, controlling, leading and motivating staff and other library resources towards achieving
set goals.
2. TECHNICAL SERVICES: Different activities are performed at the technical section of the library
this is behind the scene section of the library. Here are the units that make up the technical services
and their activities.
A. Acquisition section Library materials (book and non-book) are selected and acquired by the
acquisition section. This section oversees all processes involved in obtaining library resources such
as selection, ordering and receiving. Sometimes patrons are involved in the selection of library
materials as they can submit their request to the library. Library materials may be acquired through
purchase, donations, gifts, exchange and legal deposit. Legal deposit here means that by the
National Library Decree, publishers are required to deposit a number of copies of their published
books in the country to the National Library of Nigeria. Also, they conduct a bibliographic data
check before and after placing order for library materials to avoid duplication of order, and receipt
of ordered materials respectively. The functions of the acquisition section of the library are
highlighted below.
Selection of materials, Ordering Receiving and processing of materials - every material that
comes into the library is given the stamp of ownership and accession stamp. Accessioning means
assigning a number to each book. Accession number is also referred to as ‘Control number’.
Statistics - they keep record of library materials ordered and received. After these activities, the
book is sent to the cataloguing section.
B. Cataloguing and classification unit: This section is responsible for bibliographic control of
library collection. It is responsible for cataloging and classification of acquired materials which is
one of the most important library operations. Activities in this unit of the library are not visible to
library users. Cataloguing is a generic name for cataloguing and classification; both are systematic
ways of organizing library resources received from the acquisition section. Cataloguing entails the
physical description of a book by author, title, imprint (publisher, date of publication, place of
publication), collation (pagination, illustration etc.) while classification means grouping library
materials with similar characteristics such as subject and call number together. Staff of this section
i.e. cataloguers, prepare card catalogue and assign call number to information materials. This
section is also responsible for maintaining the library catalogue which could be in form of card
catalogue, or Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) and filing catalogue cards inside the
catalogue box or cabinet.
3. Readers’ services section: Headed by reader service librarian; here we have the circulation
unit, reference unit and serial unit
A. Circulation unit: The circulation unit is charged with the responsibility of executing one of the
primary functions of a library that is, making information materials available to users within minimum
time period. After classifying and cataloguing books, they are shifted to the circulation section for
shelving. This unit manages the flow of library materials in and out of the library in accordance
with the library’s rules and regulations. It is this section that holds, renews, recalls library
materials, and maintains fine administration. Materials that are not reference materials are loaned
out to registered members for a given period of time and when users default; they are required to
pay fine. Reserved materials are kept at the circulation desk and could be used for two hours,
borrowed overnight or for a weekend according to the library’s rule or according to lecturer’s
instruction.
Reasons for keeping Reserve books
i. If a book is rare or very costly and have no other copies.
ii. If there is high demand for a book within the same period.
iii. When a lecturer/ instructor requests for a book to be placed on reserve and referred all his
students to use the book.
iv. When a few copies of the book are available and are prescribed for use in various courses by
lecturers simultaneously.