Causes and Effects Of Theft And Mutilation Of Information Material In Academic Library Services In Delta State

Abstract

Academic Libraries are library that is attached to academic institutions above the secondary school level, serving the teaching and research needs of students, staff and the community. This library serves two complementary purposes; to support the school’s curriculum and to support the research of the students. Academic library according to Okiy (2014) is a library that is established in tertiary institution they include libraries in the universities, colleges of Educations and polytechnics. Academic libraries are established by institutions of higher learning to help satisfy information needs of the academic community. Academic library is an integral part of institution of higher learning and met appendices or adjuncts of the institutions. Aguola,(1989)and Edoka (1992). It is also seen as those libraries that exist in institutions of higher education such as universities, colleges of education, colleges of technology and polytechnics

From the above, “definitions provided by various authors, it is wise for one to conclude that academic libraries are established to cater for their individual parent bodies. That is, the academic community. The academic community includes lecturers, undergraduates, postgraduates, faculty specialists and researchers. Academic libraries usually have rich collections covering variety of subjects. . Hant S. (2003) observe that Academic libraries in particular, assume a focal point where users of diversified resources that are relevant to their individual needs. As a result of this diverse use of the materials, these libraries stand to be vulnerable to all forms of crime and security risk from not only the users, but the library staff as well. Prasad (1968) defines mutilation as “any act that makes materials unfits for reading either partially or completely. In support of Prasad’s definition,