Theft and Mutilation of Information Resources in Nasarawa State University Library, Keffl.

The study focused on theft and mutilation of information resources in Nasarawa State University library Keffi, to determine among others the information resources that are prone to theft and mutilation and the challenges in combating the menace. The survey research design was employed. The population of the study comprised of fifty-seven library staff of the university who formed the respondents. The researchers used questionnaire and observation as the instruments for data collection. The collated data were analysed using frequency counts and percentage. The findings from the data revealed that: Nasarawa State university library collections comprise of both print and non-print resources and are prone to theft and mutilation; hiding of materials for future use, folding, painting and removing of portions in some material as well as overdue and sneaking away with the information material were some of the mode of theft and mutilation in the library. The findings further revealed that restricted lending services, searching users at exit, proper netting of windows and photocopying services constituted security measures employed in the studied library. However, lack of lending services to students, inadequate functional modern security gadgets and inadequacy of staff on duty are some of the issues challenging the security services in the library. The researchers recommend among others the implementation of lending services to student users and provision of adequate functional e-security gadgets to combat the menace in university libraries in general and Nasarawa State university library in particular.