Fee - Based Library Services in Private University Library Challenges and Prospect

Abstract

The article discussed issues on fee-based library services in private university libraries - challenges and prospects. It is limited to the need for fee-based library services in university libraries, challenges of fee-based university library services and solutions to the challenges of fee-based university library services. The study is limited to Private University Libraries in Anambra State-Nigeria. The private university libraries are:-Madonna University Library-Okija Campus, Tansian University Library-Oba and Paul University Library-Awka all in Anambra State. The findings from the study are quite revealing. It was discovered that fee-based library services are already in existence in the three(3) private universities understudy though at a very low level. It was also discovered that the library are already rendering book binding services, photocopying services, internet connectivity, computer typesetting, membership registration fees and over-due book charges. There is no written fee-based library services policy on ground in the three(3) private university libraries. This has resulted in the half-hazard organization management of the existing fee-based library services. The library staff runs the fee-based library services like ordinary library services. It has resulted to the inability of the library management to give proper account and take proper decision on the operations and guideline of fee-based library services.

Keywords: Fee-based Services, University Library, Information Marking.