Implications of inflationary trends on collection development at the University of Ilorin Library, 1976-1985, 2010-2014

Janet O Omoniyi,Jamiu W Abdulraheem

doi:10.4314/iijikm.v9i4.3

Abstract

This case study discussed inflation and its implication for collection development at the University of Ilorin Library in particular and academic Libraries in Nigeria. Documentary Research Method and Structured Oral Interview techniques were used to examine the records of budgetary allocations and expenditure in the acquisition of books and journals at the University of Ilorin Library between 2010 and 2014. The study identified some problems facing collection development at the university of Ilorin library as a result of inflationary trends. The study therefore posited that inflation-driven library collection development poses great danger to the quality of information resources of the library, the quality of information retrieval by library users, the quality of research and community service mantra of the university. It there recommended that collection development librarian should ensure balanced acquisition with the available funds. Rising number of academic programmes should be controlled in view of the fact that paucity of funds would not be able to go round the myriads of academic programmes satisfactorily. The Federal Government of Nigeria should checkmate inflationary phenomenon on library books and periodicals while textbook writers and publishers should focus more on producing local books/periodicals so that libraries and library clientele would be discouraged from patronizing the more expensive foreign publications.Keywords: Inflation, Collection Development, University of Ilorin, budgetary allocation

Highlights

The main purpose of establishing a University is for teaching, research and community service
Documentary Research Method and Structured Oral Interview techniques were used to examine the records of budgetary allocations and expenditure in the acquisition of books and journals at the University of Ilorin Library between 1976-1985 and 2010 and 2014
By the undulating pattern of acquisition and expenditure during the first nine years of the library’s existence, the conjecture would be that collection development at the University of Ilorin could not be adjudged as being very healthy in terms of balance funding and equitable purchase and allocation of books and periodicals across Departments

Summary

Introduction

The main purpose of establishing a University is for teaching, research and community service. Collection development is used in this study to explain the process and product of acquiring information resources such as books and journals in various formats into the library (ifidon, 2006). Since universities are established primarily to provide a conducive environment for teaching, research and community service, the library ensures that it provides suitable and quantitative books; journals and reference materials so as to enable the university realize its mantra. When exchange rate is low, the Library is better for it because it will be able to acquire more information resources across programmes being taught in University. When prices of books and journals are high as a result of inflation, the Library becomes worse for it because it will not be able to acquire as many information resources as it requires (Bitagi & Akor, 2012)

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Conclusion