LIBRARY SECURITY AND SERVICE DELIVERY IN FEDERAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN NORTH CENTRAL, NIGERIA

This study investigated the library security and service delivery in federal university libraries in North Central Nigeria. It sought to find out the types of security systems adopted by the federal university libraries. A descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of 25,590 using the Taro Yamane (1964) formula, the total sample size for the study was 572. The questionnaire and observation checklist were the instruments used for data collection. In analysing the data, mean and standard deviation and ANOVA were used. The data collected were presented in tables. Descriptive statistics was used based on SPSS statistical analyses. The findings revealed that close circuit television (CCTV) and surveillance cameras are slightly adopted, that other security systems are not sufficiently adopted by most of the Federal University libraries. The findings further, revealed that there is insecurity in the collections of reader services, through, theft, mutilation, defacing of library materials, and vandalism of the university library collections. Findings also indicate serious dysfunctional security implementation by library staff. However, some challenges such as insufficient budgeting/inadequate funding of the library, inadequate staff/personnel, sabotage of library security by members of staff, low lightning in essential areas of the library, epileptic/erratic power supply to implement electronic security, lack of institutional security policy among others were identified. There was a significant difference between the electronic security system and manual security system in Federal University Libraries in North Central, Nigeria. The study recommended the recruitment of competent security personnel to man the entrances/exit of the library, provision of close circuit television (CCTV), particular intervention in the installation of electronic security systems, the need for adequate funding, development of a workable security policy and the need for collaborative efforts by the entire library staff in ensuring the security of the library at all times