MODERN APPROACH FOR COMBATING THEFT AND MUTILATION OF INFORMATION RESOURCES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES IN KOGI STATE.

This study was carried out to examine Modern Approach for Combating Theft and Mutilation of Information Resources in Academic Libraries in Kogi State. The survey research design was adopted for the study. A structured questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The population of the study comprised 38 librarians in academic libraries in Kogi State. The census sampling technique was used in the study. Method of data analysis used was mean score item and percentages. The findings revealed that out of twenty eight (28) library resources listed, 25 are available in Federal Polytechnic Idah, while 3 were not available. The library resources and services available are: consumer books, mass market paperback books, journals, news paper, magazine, memoir, text book, reference book, periodicals and serials, non book materials, report literature, news clippings, theses and dissertation, videos, conference proceedings, newsletters, CDs, DVD, e-resources, photographs, maps, music scores. It was also observed that out of twenty eight library resources which are believed to be important to Kogi State University Anyigba, the researcher observed that 25 library resources were acquired in the library, while 3 were not acquired. The library resources and services acquired are: Consumer Books, Trade books, mass market paperback books, journals, news paper, magazine, memoir, text book, reference book, periodicals and serials, non book materials, report literature, news clippings, theses and dissertation, videos, newsletters, CDs, DVD, e-resources, photographs, maps. From the findings, the following recommendations were made that collection protection against theft and mutilation should be backed with library security plan consisting of library security officer or team, policy formulation and implementation, supervision and surveillance mechanism as well as periodic training and retaining of staff on collection protection strategies as contained in the framework.