Handling of Records: The Case of St. Joseph Major Seminary Library, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria Handling of Records: The Case of St. Joseph Major Seminary Library

Abstract

This study was carried out to examine how records are handled using St. Joseph Major Seminary Library, in Akwa Ibom State, Southern Nigeria as a case in point. Three objectives and research questions were formulated to guide the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. A questionnaire entitled “Handling of Records Questionnaire (HRQ)” was used to elicit responses from respondents. The population of the study consisted of 445 registered library users from the seminary during the 2019/2020 academic session. 150 respondents were sampled using random sampling technique. Out of the 150 copies of questionnaire distributed, 146 were properly filled and returned. Research questions were answered using simple percentages. It was concluded from the findings of the study that improper handling of records such as mutilation and defacement adversely affects library records.  As such the library should properly manage its records to curtail mutilation and defacement for adequate availability, accessibility and utilization. It was recommended among others that library orientation, or formal user education programme allotted with credit hours can be incorporated as part of the school programme for Seminarians as this will enable them to know the disadvantages of mutilation in addition to the privileges that abound in relation to appropriate use of library facilities.

Key words: Library materials, mutilation, defacement, seminary.

Corresponding Author: Clement Samuel UDO, St. Joseph Major Seminary, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Email: udoclement4@gmail.com