AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF CATALOGUING TOOLS IN ACADEMIC LIBRARY IN KATSINA STATE

This study investigates the availability and utilization of cataloging tools in academic library In Katsina state. To achieve the objectives of the study, five research questions were raised and answered. Qualitative research method was adopted for the study. The population of the study consists of fifteen (15) professional librarians of the three (3) university libraries in Katsina. All the fifteen (15) professional librarians were sampled as participants of the study respectively. Interview guide was used as the instrument for data collection. Data was coded and analyzed using the metric analysis. The findings revealed that the types of cataloging tools available in academic library are catalogers computer, AACR2, CONSER manual for serial's, Sears list of subject headings, library of congress classification schemes, cutter table and MARC21. The findings revealed that the participants have unrestricted access to the cataloging tools in technical unit. Findings of the study reveals types of cataloging tools used in university libraries are Resource description and access (RDA), MARC21, CONSER manual for serial's, catalogers computer, cutter table, Library of congress classification schemes, Dewey decimal classification scheme and AACR2. Major challenges surrounding the availability and utilization of cataloging tools in academic library are lack of acquisition of new ICT skills by catalogers, lack of training and retraining of catalogers, the problem of licensing, ownership and cost, also lack of standard infrastructure to house the cataloging tools. The study recommends that adequate cataloging tools should be made available for use such as MARC21, RDA, LCCSH print and web formats. The management of the library under study should use digital cataloging tools such as callibra data Catalog, MARC21, RDA, and Google cloud data cataloging, the management should provide standard infrastructure to the cataloging tools, ensure regular training and retraining of catalogers in workshops seminars and conferences, and also encourage collaboration amongst libraries under study in joint purchase of high cost cataloging tools especially web formats tools so as to reduce cost.