1.0 Introduction
The term “Theft and Mutilation” may be regarded as anti-social habits which are universal phenomenon and have adversely affected the success and growth of academic libraries across Nigerian Universities.
The Oxford advance Learner’s Dictionary defines “theft “as the crime of stealing something from a place or place, while the word “Mutilation” is to damage something very badly.
Therefore, the term book theft and mutilation as we know in library scene, cannot removal of a complete book or parts of it respectively. IN recent years; librarians have become more and more alarmed by the continuous disappearance of books or materials from the library collections. Librarians are increasingly convinced that this disappearance seriously reduced the quantity of library resources acquired and the quality of library service that can be produced, it also imposes a substantial financial drain on already limited library budget.
Oluwafemi, (1992), in his article “changing times crimes and security as major issues in libraries” stated that, “today the situation is such as to give rise to alarm not simply because of the issue of theft and mutilation in our libraries but also because of our nations heritage”.
In the view of the previous statement, it is a common occurrence in an academic library for a student to suddenly appear and complain of a missing book before the librarian.
Hendrick and Murfin, (2002), project library ripoff: a study of periodical theft and mutilation in the University library, it is not enough to simply suffer the problem of theft and mutilation in silence or reject it as an insult to the store house of civilization. It drains the needed resources and also frustrated the frequently infuriates of the library users.
However, it is the purpose of the study to investigate the problems of theft and mutilation of library materials, and to give suggestions on how this problems can be overcome if not completely, at least reduced to the barest minimum.
Finally, it is the intention of this study to make research on the problems of theft and mutilation of library materials in librarian. Babangida library, Federal University of Technology Yola in order to device means of combating the problem in an academic libraries.
1.1 Background of the Study
The Federal University of Technology, Yola was established in 1981 during the Alhaji Shehu Shagari regime. It was among the seven Federal Universities established.
In June 1984, the Federal Governmetn announced the merging of the Federal University of Technology, Yola with the University of Maiduguri and it became a campus under University of Maiduguri on 1st
October, 1984. It was called Modibbo Adama College, University of Maiduguri. In 1986, the Federal Government recognized the need for technologically oriented manpower therefore, decree No.13 of 1986 was promulgated in which five universities were emerged and established into Federal Universities, thus the Federal University of Technology, Yola was created from the University of Maiduguri. IN 1988 with the de-merging and the resolution of the National Universities Commission offered in the University of Technology.The University was established with six schools namely:
The Federal University of Technology, Yola library was established alongside with the University.
The library started with little resources at its disposal, it renders services to both staff and students, the library is located at the centre of the university and it is called Ibrahim Babangida Library, Federal University of Technology, Yola.
The University library just like any other library, its services is oriented in the sense that its resources were meant to satisfy the research needs of the library users.
The Ibrahim Babangida Library, Federal University of Technology, Yola has 31 professional staff, 48 para-professional staff and the library started with a total collection of 3,240 volumes of materials, but presently it has a total number of 189,607 volumes of books and a total number of 10,260 periodical titles.
1.2 Statement of the Problem
The problems of theft and mutilation of library materials at librarian Babangida Library, Federal University of Technology, Yola: observations from some Nigerian academic libraries (1990) observed that, theft and mutilation especially in academic libraries in Nigeria have become so common among readers, yet few librarians over think of the serious problems this has create for library development and services as well as their effort on academic pursuits of the institution, the libraries are established to serve.
Different authors who dealt with issues or problems of theft and mutilation of library materials have held discussions with librarians to hear their views and reactions on these issues or problems, but the usual remarks have been that it is a common problem in all academic libraries in Nigerian institutions.
Some libraries seems to rest on the ascertain of theft and mutilation of library materials without bothering about finding solutions to the menace.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The objective of this study are:
1.4 Research Question
This research questions are:
1.5 Significance of the Study
The significance of this study is to educate the librarians and the library patrons on the effect of theft and mutilation of library patrons on the effect of theft and mutilation of library materials and also keep the librarians above of the need to give adequate attention to the library materials.
Also, to expose to library users that the act of theft and mutilation of library materials can lead to the under-development of the library collections.
The study will also enable the library administration to devise the most effective ways in apprehending the culprits thus ensuring the availability of library resources to majority of the its users.
1.6 Scope and limitation of the study
This study will be limited to only Ibrahim Babangida library, federal University of Technology, Yola. The problem of theft and mutilation of library materials is one of the few areas that have been written upon by librarians and those interested in librarianship.
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms
The following terms are defined as they are operationally used in this study.
Theft: The crime of stealing something from a place or person, and this implies the illegal removal of information materials from the library.
Mutilation: The act of damaging something very badly, which also connote causing damage by breaking, tearing or cutting off a necessary part or destroying the whole thing.
REFERENCES
Hendrick and Murfin, M.E. (2002), Project Library Ripoff: A study of theft and mutilation in Academic libraries, Vol.3 No.3.
Oluwafemi, F.W. (1999). Changing Times: Crime and Security as a major issues in libraries- Gower: Great Britain.
Zimmerman L. (2008). Theft and Mutilation of Library Materials in Development Countries.