UNIVERSITY OF JOS LIBRARY

USE OF LIBRARY G.S. 001

LECTURE 1

JOS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY WITHIN GENERAL LIBRARY NETWORKS

 

Organization of Jos University Library

Jos University Library, like many other Nigerian University Libraries, had traditionally functional departments up to very recently - Administration, Acquisitions, Technical Processing, Serials and Documents, and Readers Services, all emphasising the processes through which materials pass.

However, from 1980 session, in order to achieve the library goals more effectively, a drastic change was made to organise the library along subject division lines. These goals are:

    1. ensure a high degree of relevance of its collections to the needs of the University community;
    2. ensure that maximum use is made of the resources and facilities it provides;
    3. give qualitative reference and information services to its clients;
    4. join its staff with their teaching colleagues in making the use of its resources an integral part of the educational process.

This new organization lays much emphasis on reference and information services by specialists through which the needs of users are better satisfied. The internal structure now consists of three units - Administration, Subject Libraries and Support Services. It allows for Librarians to be responsible for specific subject areas thereby utilizing their basic subject specialisation/interest wherever possible. The duties of these subject Librarians are:

    1. Reference service at all times including evening shift one a week from Monday to Friday;
    2. Liaison with departments to encourage relevant collection development and proper timely arrangement for use of library courses;
    3. Teaching use of library introductory and advanced courses;
    4. Representation of the library on faculty and other senate committees. Additional Librarians and other library staff carry out the work in Administration and Support Services which include Technical Processing Department with Orders, Cataloguing, Circulation, Serials, Reprography Sections and Bindery and the Press Departments. The Press is just about to come into being.

The activities of these sections, as the name of the unit indicates, offer services which support the work done by the Subject Libraries' unit.

This can be detailed as follows:

Orders - treats recommendations for materials to be acquired for the library and stamps and numbers them when they are received. Any user can submit recommendations.

Cataloguing - as the name implies library staff catalogue and classify materials so that they are organized for use. Catalogue users are prepared so that users can know what the library has.

J.U.L.I.A. (Jos University Library Information and Accessions) is issued every two months by this section.

Through this media, users can see at a glance what has been acquired during the past period.

Circulation - controls the circulation of materials by keeping track of items through records to show what is on loan or on reserve and keeps statistics of the users and their use of materials.

Serials - all serials are recorded stamped, classified and recorded in this section.

Reprography - Duplicating and photocopying facilities are provided by this section. Users can take advantage of the photocopying service to obtain their own copies of materials in the library, at a small charge.

Bindery - This exists essentially for the maintenance of library materials either for binding loose serials or repairing damaged items. Students' projects are also being bound. Machines have been acquired for the Press which is to be a commercial venture and should be starting as soon as there are more staff and space available.

 

Need for Library Regulations

As is normal with all organizations there must be regulations to ensure proper functioning and to give equal opportunity to all members.

This is exactly what the library does. It has its regulations which guide users in the proper use of its materials and facilities.

All registered users of Jos University Library receive a copy of "Know Your Library" in which the regulations are embodied.

"Know Your Library" covers varied topics like -

Membership, borrowing privileges, normal loan period, reserve loan period, use of various materials, opening hours etc.

Membership - This has to be stipulated since the University Library cannot cater for the entire public. It exists mainly for the University community-staff, students, and "other" associate members.

Borrowing privileges - To ensure all users have a chance to borrow, a certain number of books is set for each category of user.

Normal loan period - In order to have items circulate so that they are not monopolised, a time is allocated for returning them.

Reserve loan period - a shorter time limit is needed because reserved items are in great demand.

Use of various materials - Some materials cannot be borrowed because they are the only copies available e.g. thesis, or reference books which are used only for specific purposes i.e. bits of information. Users are urged to treat all materials with care because the materials belong to everyone and should be well kept for future use.

Opening hours - The Library is stopped for definite number of hours and those are made know for the benefit of users.

Users are reminded that regulations are made to assist them and are advised to abide by them to achieve smooth and effective running of the Library.

 

Cooperation with Libraries in Nigeria

In spite of microforms and compact storage it is impossible for any library to own every printed document that its users need. The inter-library loan system continues to operate on community, local regional, national and international level.

Within Jos and its environs there are a few libraries with which the University Library cooperates either to borrow or lend books - These include the National Library branch, the State Library, the National Museum Library, Teacher Resource Centre, Hillcrest School and Federal Institute for

Verterinary Research Library.

To go further afied at the regional level, the nearest University Library is Kashim Ibrahim at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. It is understandable that the younger developing libraries need to use the older ones more than vice versa. Following this trend, Jos University Library has received much cooperation from Kashim Ibrahim Library.

The most recent service introduced is the weekly courier from Jos to Kashim Library when lecturers and postgraduate students who wish to physically consult materials at A.B.U. are taken there for a day.

It should be noted that it is still only books that are loaned. Should materials from serials be required, photocopies are supplied. All these are provided for a fee to cover the cost of materials and handling.

On a national level, all the University Libraries have been planning and inter-university libraries courier service but it has not yet come off the ground. However, like Jos and A.B.U. some others have been running their individual courier services.

 

Cooperation with Libraries Outside of Nigeria

 

This cooperation among libraries transcends national boundaries. At the international level therefore Jos University Library can tap various sources of information. Not only can books and photocopied serial articles be procured, but also because of developments in miodern technology, access to electronic data bases is available.

 

A Lecturer can make a request through the library for a search to be made for many years from several journals. If these are not stacked locally, then the request is sent abroad and the information can be received from one of these data bases within a few weeks.

 

Conclusion

We have tried in this course of lectures to tell you all about your University Library and to show you how to use the materials and facilities in this Library to get information within the Library or from any other plae where that information exists. It is hoped that you will master this skill to get all necessary information not just for the present, but also throughout your life.

While you are at this University the Library staff are available at all times to assist you in achieveing this goal. Therefore, use the staff to the maximum.

 

 

UNIVERSITY OF JOS LIBRARY

 

USE OF LIBRARY G.S.T. 101

LECTURE 2

CIRCULATION SERVICES AND COOPERATION WITH OTHER LIBRARIES

These services are handled by the Circulation Section already described bdriefly in the first lecture under the organization of the library.

In this lecture Circulation services are developed under three headings – membership, loans and reserved collection and library regulations are highlighted with emphasis on care and use of books. Thereafter cooperation with other libraries is described.

  1. Circulation Services

As is normal in all organizations there must be regulations to ensure proper functioning and to give equal opportunity to all members. The is exactly what the Library does. It has its regulations which guide ;users in the proper use of its materials and facilities.

All registered users of Jos University Library obtain a copy of "Know Your Library" in which the regulations are embodies.

"Know Your Library" covers varied topics like –

Membership, clearance, borrowing privileges, normal loan period, reserve loan period, use of various materials, opening hours etc.

  1. Membership – This has to be stipulated since the University Library cannot cater for the entire public. It exists mainly for the University Community-staff, students, and "other associate members. There is registration for new users validation of borrowing cards for old users and clearance for those who are leaving the University.
  2. Loans – This refers to procedures for borrowing and returning books, records of loans aand reservation of books.
    1. Borrowing privileges
    2. Normal loan period
    3. Reservation of Books – This is a service that users should pay particular attention to as it assists them to obtain the use of books already on loan to other users. It should not be confused with the Reserved Collection.
  1. Reserved Collection refers to Library materials that are much in demand and are reserved or kjept separate in the Circulation Section away from books on the open shelves. This allows them to be available to all users and their use is controlled.

Reserve Loan Period – A shorter time limit for use is needed because Reserved items are in great demand.

Opening Hours – The Library ;is open for a definite number of hours and those are made known for the benefit of users.

  1. Care and Use of Books

Use of various materials – Users are urged to treat all materials with care becaause the materials belong to everyone and should be well kept for future use.

    1. Physical Handling of Library Materials. Careful handling of Library materials is necessary for their iphysical durability. The neat appearance of a book also attracts the user.

      2. Turning over the pages of a books hould be done without folding the covers to avaoid creating a tattered,"dog-cared" or torn edge. There should be no writing on or defraying any part of library materials.

    2. Non-Borrowable Materials. Some materials cannot be borrowed because they are the only copies available e.g. Seriuals, Theses, or reference books which are used only for specific purposes i.e. bits of information.

      3. Among non-borrowable books are also rare books and very expensive ones of which only one copy may be in the Library’s collection.

      Documents and special collections kept in the Documents Section are also non-borrowable and are therefore only consulted in that Section. Reserved materials as described in the earlier part of the lecture are non-borrowable but are consulted within the Library.

    3. Photocopying: To facilitate the care and use of Library materials photocopying services are provided. This allows users who are not borrowing an item make a copy (for a fee) of any material required for personal use.

      4. This is particularly necessary ;with Serials which are not borrowable but are heavily consulted for up to date information.

    4. Binding: This is another service that facilitates longer ;use of Library materials. Paper back items can be reinforced, damaged books are repaired, loose serials are bound together usually after a year’s subscription has been received. Users should note therefore that selfish behaviour should not be practiced. Such acts like book mutilation or book theft attract very strong punitive measures including expulsion from the University.

You are reminded that regulations are made to assist users and you are advised to abide by them to achieve smiooth and effective running of the Library.

C. Cooperation with Other Libraries

In spite of microforms, compact discs and compact shelf storage, it is imposible for any Library to own every printed document that its users need. Therefore interlibrary cooperation continues to operate on community, local, regional, national and international levels. The exchange between Libraries of materials or copies of materials is referred to as interlibrary loan.

  1. Libraries Within Nigeria: Within Jos and its environs, there are a few Libraries with which the University Library cooperates regularly either to borrow or lend books – National Museum Library, Education Resource Centre, Hillcrest School, National Veterinary Research Institute Library, Vom, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies Library Kuru.

    2. To go further a field at the regional level, the nearest conventional university library is Kashim Ibrahim at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. It is understandable that the younger deceloping libraries need to use the older ones were than vice versa. Following this trend Jos University Library has received much cooperation from Kashim Ibrahim Library.

    The nearest Science and Technology University Library is Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Library Bauchi with which there is also much interlibrary cooperation.

    An interlibrary service that existed was the weekly land courier from Jos to Kashim Ibrahim Library when lecturers and postgraduate students who wished to physically consult materials at ABU were taken there for a day. The service of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for interlibrary cooperation within the country has also been utilized.

    It should be noted that it is still only books that are loaned. Should materials from Serials be required, photocopies are supplied. All these are provided for a fee to cover the cost of materials and handling.

    On the national level, all the University Libraries had been planning an inter-university Libraries land courier service but it has not come off the ground. However like Jos and ABU, some others had been running their individual courier service. Enquiries about interlibrary loans to other libraries within Nigeria are made by telephone, radio, fax or electronic mail (e-mail) where this computer service exists. This last is being made available in the Federal Universities through the National Universities Commission network (NuNet) and being cheaper than fax message, will be miore frequently used.

  2. Libraries Outside Nigeria: This cooperation amiong libraries transcends national boundaries. At the international level therefore Jos University Library can tap various sources of information. Not only can books and photocopied serial articles be procured, but also because of developments in modern information technology, access to electronic data-bases abroad is available.

 

These databases caan be accessed directly through the Internet but Jos University does not yet have such connectivity. However, copies of some databases are availabnle in the library on CD-ROMs (Cpmpact disks read only memory). By this means users can make literature searches for references through many years of several abstracting journals.

If the references selected are not available locally, the request for a photocopy is sent abroad to another library and the information can be received sometimes within a few days. Fax or electronic mail (e-mail). Again because of the cheaper cost, the mail is more frequently used to send the request while the photocopy is returned by ;mails courier.

Payment for such request can be made with coupons which are bough in advance – British Lending Library coupons for requests from Britain and UNESCO coupons for some others.

Alternately, an exchange arrangement may be made to supply the other library with some lecal materials.

 

Conclusion

We have tried in this set of lectures to tell you all about your University Library and to show you how to use the materials and facilities in this library to get information within the Library or from any other place where that information exists. It is hoped that you will master this skill to get all necessary information not just for the present, but also throughout your life.

While you are at this University, the Library staff are available at all times to assist you in achieving this goal. Therefore, use the staff to the maximum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

UNIVERSIITY OF JOS LIBRARY

USE OF THE LIBRARY G.S. 001

 

LECTURE 3

ORGANIZATION OF LIBRARY RESOURCES

 

This lecture covers three main topics:

  1. Classification – the way in which hooks, serials and other library materials are

    2. Arranged in the Library.

  2. The Catalogue – The record kept of most materials (excluding serials) held

    3. in the Library.

  3. The Serials list – The record kept of the Serials held in the Library.
  1. CLASSIFICATION

In most libraries books are arranged so that all those on one subject may be found together. This helps the users to locate books quickly and easily and enables them to browse among the books in the subject area in which they are interested.

 

In order to group similar books together, libraries use what is called a CLASSIFICATION SCHEME.

DEFINITION:

A classification scheme provides for the systematic arrangement of books and other library materials so that those on the same subject are brought together.

Over the years, a number of classification schemes have been developed for use in libraries but there are only a very few used widely today. In Nigeria, as in most English speaking countries, the university or national libraries are:

    1. The Dewey Decimal classification system
    2. The Library of Congress classification system.

In both of these schemes, there is a small number of main classes e.g. history, siocial sciences, languages and literature, science, technology etc. Each of these general subject areas is subdivided into more specific topics which can themselves be further subdivided e.g.

 

 

 

 

 

 

S C I E N C E

 

Mathematics Physics Botany Zoology etc

 

Chemistry

Physical Chemistry Organic Chemistry Inorganic Chemistry

 

Each of the main classes and each of the subdivisions within the classes is given a symbol so that all the books on a particular subject may be marked with this symbol. The symbols used may be either letters or numbers or a combination of both, and are referred to as CLASS MARKS (sometimes CLASS NUMBERS). So, for example, in the Library of Congress Scheme which this Library uses, history is given the symbol (or classmark) D, African history is denoted by DT and the history of particular countries by a combination of letters and numbers e.g. Nigerian history DT 1313-DT 1439 (according to the modified scheme in use here). Note that the letters are assigned arbitrarily i.e they are not initials of the subjects that they represent, e.g. H - Social Sciences, Q - Science etc.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION

This was developed at the end of the last century by the most important library of the United States - the Library of Congress. At the time, the library held over 12 million volumes so the scheme they devised was very detailed. The classification is continually being revised and expanded to cope with new areas of knowledge.

The main classes of this scheme are shown in Know Your Library 32-33 denoted by a single letter. Principal subdivisions are denoted by an added letter e.g.

P - Languages and literature

PN - Literature (general)

PR - English literature

PS - American literature

Further subdivision is by the use of numbers e.g.

PN 1031- Poetry (general)

PN 1514- Sonnets

PR 1631- Drama (general)

PN 1989 - Ballet

We follow this scheme strictly but with one exception. African history, DT, was found not to be detailed enough for our purpose, so we use a modified schedule developed within Nigeria at Ahmadu Bellor University.

CALLMARKS AND SHELF ORDER

Earlier, mention was made of classmarks as sysmbols denoting a specific topic within classification scheme. However, there may be a large number of books on the same topic and we need to distinguish between them in some way, so we add an AUTHOR NUMBER to the classmark. This is composed of the first letter of the author's surname, plus some numbers which are assigned according to tables that we have in the Library. For example, Calculus has the classmark QA 303. Suppose we have two books on caloulus

FADELL, E.R. Calculus and

 

SAWYER, W.W. What is Calculus.

The first will be located at QA303.F27 and the second at QA303.S2. The classmark plus author number is referred to as the CALLMARK (or CALL NUMBER). Sometimes the Callmark may also include a third part - the LOCATION MARK). In Jos University Library, all materials not located in the main sequence of books in the Reading Room are indicated by location marks. (see Know Your Library p.9)

 

Location marks currently in use (page 15)

REF - Reference books in the Reference Room

2 - Non-borrowable books in the Lending Section

3 - Serials (in print format)

6 - Benue, Bauchi and Plateau State collection

7 - Government Publications

8 - These (in book format).

Books are arranged on the shelves in order according to the callmark. One point to note is that numbers following the point are read as decimals.

Thus:-

PN86 comes before PN86

.K57

 

B. THE CATALOGUE

I have described how books are arranged in a library, but it still remains to consider how to locate them.

Many people, just look along the shelves where they expect books in that subject to be found. Although browsing is a good way to get to know the range of books a library has on a particular subject area, it is a very inefficient way of trying to locate a particular book. For instance, the bookj may be on loan, being used in the Library or even be shelved in another section such as the Reference Room. In addition, if the book deals with more than one subject it can only stand on one shelf e.g. a book dealing with both polictics and economics may be shelved within the politics section and so if you are browing in the economics section you will not find it.

Instead, you should consult the record of all the books held in the library which is known as the CATALOGUE.

 

DEFINITION

A catalogue is a systematic arrangement of items in an alphabetical or other logical order including brief descriptive information such as price, size, colour etc. For example, many firms produce lists or catalogues of the items that they sell. In the case of a library, however, it is a list of books (and other materials) held in the library and including such information as author, title, publisher, date of publication etc and where the book is located in the library.

 

 

JOS UNIVERSITY LIBRARY CATALOGUE

In this library we use a card catalogue. This consists of 3 x 5 inch cards filed alphabetically in drawers. It is easily updated by the insertion of a card in the appropriate place for a new book.

Both the Main Library and the Branch Library have their own catalogue listing the books held in that Library. In addition, the catalogue in the Main Library lists the books held in the Branch Library (by first author and title only). These cards are stamped "Science and Medical Libdrary" to notify users that the books are shelved in the other library.

At the mioment, the catalogue in the Branch Library still lacks many of the catalogue cards representing books acquired prior to March 1978. We are in the process of transferring the cards for these books from the Main Library catalogue to the Branch Library catalogue. All of the mathematics physics, chemistry, zoology, medicine, agriculture, technology and geography books are not yet included. In the meantime if you cannot find what you are looking for, report this to the staff at the Circulation Desk in the Brach Library who, if necessary can refer your query to the Main Library.

In both of the University of Jos Libraries the catalogue is split into two sections;

    1. Author/Title
    2. Subject

The author/title section may be used to answer the following questions:

    1. Is a particular book (author and/or title known) in the Library?
    2. What books by this author does the Library have?

The subject section may be used to answer the following type of query. What books does the Library have on this subject?

In Know Your Library p. 35, 36, 37, you will see examiples of catalogue cards. Most books will be represented by at least three cards – author, title and subject. I now want to explain a little more about these three types of card.

AUTHOR CARDS:

To find a book by author e.g. Wole Soyinka – look under his surname i.e. SOYINKA, Wole. The catalogue lists those of his books which the Library owns, each represented by a separate card. If the library has more than one book by an author, the author cards are filed aliphabetically by the title. Note that an author does not have to be a person, it could be an organization, institution etc. In this case, look under the first word of the name.

NIGERIA Union of Teachers

AMERICAN Chemical Society

If a book is written by two or three people, a card will be made for each of them and you can locate the book by looking up any of the authors’ names.

 

At the bottom of the author card there is usually a list of the other catalogue cards representing that book which is known as the tracings. (In the case where a book ios written by many different people the TRACINGS are usually on the title card). In the example given in Know Your Library we see that there are two subject cards (NIGERIA-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS) and NIGERIA-POLITICS and GOVERNMENT) and a title card made for that book.

One way of finding if the Library has books on a subject in which you are interested, and for which you already know the author or title of one book in the Library on that subject, is by ; using the subject tracings. Looking in the subject catalogue under the subject headings given in the tracings you will find the other books in the Library on the same topic.

TITLE CARDS

Often people remember the title of a book rather than the author. When looking for a card, if the title begins with an article (A, an or the) ignore the article and look under the next work.

 

A World of African song (filed under ‘w’)

The growth of sociability (filed under ‘g’)

Please note that the author and title cards are interfiled in the author/title catalogue. e.g.

EAST,

Eastern India

EASTMAN, John

 

You should also read the section on the author/title catalogue in Know Your Library, pages 11 – 12.

SUBJECT CARDS

Often you will need materials on a subject without knowing any authors or titles to consult. In this case look up the ;subject in the subject catalogue. The careds for all the bnooks on a particular subject are filed together and then arranged aliphabetically by the author’s name (or title if there is no author). A book covering a number of subjects will be represented by several subject cards as appropriate.

If you are looking for a subject but cannot find if listed in the catalogue, do not assume that the Library has no books of interest to you. Instead think of another word or phrase that means the same (or something similar) as your subject.

e.g. If your subject was human rights" you would find nothing listed under this in the subject catalogue but you would find relevant books listed under "Civil rights".

Note that some phrases used as subject headings are inverted (.e. turned back to front) so that instead of "higher education" you will find "education, higher" and instead of "organic chemistry" you will find "chemistry, organic"). The specific headings used in the subject catalogue are determined with the aid of the Library of Congress, List of subject headings. This list consists of two large red volumes ewhich are located on top of the subject catalogue. Instructions on using this list have been attached to the first page of each volume. So if you are unable to think of alternative words or iphrases to check in the subject catalogue, then you can use this list to assist you.

Other points to remember when using the subject catalogue are:-

 

    1. First look up the specific subject heading that best defines your topic. For example, if your topic is air pollution, look up AIR POLLUTION RATHER THAN POLLUTION.
    2. Then if you do not find any books listed under the specific subject heading, look under a more general subject heading for books which may include a section on your topic e.g. if nothing is listed under SALES TAX loop up TAXATION.

You should also read the section on the subject catalogue in Know Your Library, pages 12 – 13.

 

ALPHABETICAL ARRANGEMENT IN THE CATALOGUE

The entries in the catalogue are arranged in a strict aliphabetical sequence according to a set of rules published by the American Library Association. You do not need to Know much detail about these rules but you should study and remember the points given on pages 10 and 11 of Know Your Library. It is important that you understand what is meant by ‘word by word" filing, which is the system in use in UBNIJOS Library, so that you can easily find what you are looking for in the catalogue.

THE SERIALS LIST

The catalogue just been described. For Serials (journals, magazines etc) there is a separate list. Currently, here at the University our serials are listed alphabetically by title on special stands called "strip dexes". These frames containing one narrow strip for each title are now located on the card catalog in the Main Library. From time to time the frames are photocopied to provide "printed" lists for the Serials Room and the Branch Library. When you look up a particular serial title, you will find a holdings statement and a call-mark for locating the serial. The holdings statement gives a brief indication of the particular issues available in the Library. For example, a statement such as:

V. 6 (1960) – 10(1964), 15(1969)-

Means we have V.

Means we have V.6 which was issued in 1960, V.7, 8, 9 + 10. We do not have, V.11, 12, 13, or 14 but we do have all volumes from number 15 to the present one issued in 1979. An asterisk before the title indicates some missing volumes or issues. For complete holdings information, ask for help in the Serials Department. There, a record of each serial issue as received is kept in a special file know as a "Kardex".

The call-mark for serials issued more often than once a year, i.e. magazines and journals, begins with a (3), the location mark for the separate serials collections, housed in the Serials Room of the Main Library and in the north? Portion of the Branch Library. After the (3) are the 1 or 2 letters of the appropriate Library of Congress Class followed by the first 3 letters of the first word of the title of the serial. Hence, the call-mark for Africana Journal is (3) DT Afr while that of Newsweek is (3) AP New.

On the Serials shelves, journals and magazines are, of course, arranged alphabetically by these call-marks. Where callmarks of 2 journals are identical, they are arranged alphabetically by journal title. In practice this means for example, that all mathematics journals, which are classed in QA, stand on the shelves in alphabetical order by title, after all general science journals classed in Q and before all astronomy journals classed in QB. I have repeatedly stated that journals are listed alphabetically by title but there are a few exceptions. In cases where the title is journal of ….., Transactions of ….. followed by the name of an organization, the journal is listed by the nake of the organization i.e. Journal of the American Medical Association is listed as American Medical Association. Journal (3)R. Ame and Bulletin of the Society for African church history as Society for African church history. Bulletin. 3/BR/Soc.

 

LAC Nov. 79

 

 

 

 

UNIVERSIITY OF JOS LIBRARY

USE OF THE LIBRARY G.S. 001

 

 

LECTURE 4

 

 

REFERENCE SERVICE AND REFERENCE WORK

 

A Reference Service:

    1. Can be defined as direct aid given to Library users who need particular information.
    2. FOUR OBJECTIVES OF REFERENCE SERVICE
    1. To provide answers to inquiries requiring specific information.
    2. To guide students in how to use the Library in connection with their studies.
    3. To locate materials for users whenever these materials may be in the Library.
    4. To make available materials not in the Library through inter-library loan.

Our goal is to give personal guidance in the use of Library resources. The materials used to carry out these functions are many and varied. they include encyclopaedias, Dictionaries, Handbooks, almanacs, newspapers, atleases, directories, indexes, abstracts, national, trade and subject bibliographies, guide to subject literature. guides to library resources etc.

 

    1. IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING LIBRARY MATERIALS
    2. RECORDS FOR FINDING LIBRARY MATERIALS

 

    1. Card Catalogue - for books and non-book materials.
    2. Serials stripdex for serials
    3. Call-marks and Call numbers

B. i. REFERENCE WORK: Is one which is designed by its arrangement and treatment to be consulted for definite items of information; in other words, a reference work is not meant to be read from cover to cover like you would read a regular story book or textbook. Reference works are usually non-circulating collections, assembled at all times, to serve the needs of the library community as quick sources of information, e.g. Encyclopaedia Britannica.

BASIC QUALITIES OF REFERENCE WORK

1. A collection of information organized for quick and convenient use.

  1. Arrangement follows some consistent plan e.g. alphabetical like an encyclopaedia, tabular form l like statistics.
  2. Concentrates on facts. It is constructed for the reader who has definite questions.
  1. SOME TYPES OF REFERENCE WORKS
  1. Dictionaries are books that deal primarily with all aspects of words - from proper definitions, to spellings, meanings and pronounciations. Arrangements is usually alphabetical, and there are various types of languages.

GENERAL DICTIONARY:

  1. An example of a General Dictionary is the Oxford English Dictionary. This perhaps is one of the most scholarly, and the most important dictionary of the English language. The Oxford English Dictionary was first published from 1885-1928 as A New Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles, in 10 volumes. The present edition in 13 volumes was issued in 1933. The O.E.D. gives a complete history of words in use for the past seven hundred years. For each word, it show when, how, and in what form it comes into the language, and changes since then in spelling, usage and meaning. Various abridgements have been made of the O.E.D. The most important being the shorter Oxford English Dictionary, some of these are available in the Library.

OTHER IMPORTANT DICTIONARIES ARE:

Webster Third New International Dictionary, Published in 1966, it is the third edition of the famous Dictionary first published in 1909. Webster also has many abridged versions. The most important of which are, Webster new twentiesth century Dictionary and Webster's seventh, New collegiate Dictionary.

    1. LANGUAGE DICTIONADRIES

These are of two types

    1. The standard Dictionary of the language e.g. Oxford English Dictionary., French Dictionary.
    2.  
    3. The bilingual dictionary e.g Cassell’s German and English Dictionary by Karl Brench and Harraps New Shorter French and English Diction. English and French.

This attemipts to explain the meaning of a foreign word by giving a substitute word in another language. These are most useful for someone learning new language or someone who needs to translate a letter or document written in a foreign language.

    1. Subject Dictionaries

These are dictionaries which provide keys to terms of special subject of profession:

    • Dictionary of Comparative Religion
    • Dictionary of Islam
    • Dictionary of Archaeology
    • Webster’s Geographical Dictionary
    • A Dictionary of Science (penguine) or
    • Medical Dictionary, Dictionary of Physics

We have all the access above in the Library.

    1. Synonyms – Thesaurus: e.g. Websters’ Collegiate Thesaurus

      2. Thesaurus is consulted when a user is seeking for a more appropriate term that the one he has in mind. Arranged alphabetically. It lists more than 100,000 synonyms, idiomatic iphrases, related and contrasted words.

    2. DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS

Penguine Dictionary of quotations – J.M. Cotton. A Dictionary of famous quotations by Riobin Hyman intended for anyone looking for specific quotations – English, few are included from French, German, Greek and Italian.

    1. ENCYCLO9PAEDIAS

Encyclopaedia is from the Greek word "comiplete Education". These may be defined as works containing informational articles on a subject in every field of knowledge. They are usually arranged in alphabetical order: you can consult the appropriate encyclopaedia when you want an answer to specific questions about a topic e.g. all about Universities, Education, Music, etc. Examples are Encyclopaedia Britannica – in the Reference Section of our Library – 24 volumes.

    1. GENERAL ENCYCLOPAEDIAS

THE BRITANNICA BOOK OF THE YEAR

1938 to date has remained an excellent annual supplement recording the latest develo9pments. The date on the cover and on the title page refers to the date of publication; the contents of the book refer to the immediate, past year. Thus, the 1976 Britannica Book of the Year recounts the events of 1975. There is a special supplement

 

Annual Register of World Events

A handy review of events of the past year. Wide in scope. Arrangement is by subject but basked by detailed index and list of contents.

Nigerian Yearbook – is a handy compedium ipublished by the Daily Times. Information provided includes politics and government, finance, trade, commerce, diplomatic relations, etc. Occasional issues carry brief biographical sketches of prominent Nigerians. There are counterparts of the Nigeria Yearbook in many African countries.

HANDBOOKS

A handbook is a reference book of collection facts and figures on one or many subjects assembled for ready ;use, in response to popular interest or to a specific need for concise, handy, information.

Thusfor such questions that are characterised by the short specific answers which require the exact wording of a rule, ciontent of a law, location of a wuotation or its author, the melting point of a metallic alloy, details about the first airplane, handbooks are the appropriate reference works. Examiples:

Cueiouairy Handbooks

    1. Kane, J.N. Famous first facts; a record of first happenings, discoveries and inventions in the United States N.Y. Wilson.
    2. Guinness Book of World Records – Annual 1962 –

 

Tells about extremes and record performances in the world, e.g. the Tallest man, the shortest, fattest, fastest runner, the tallest building, the largest city etc.

    1. DIRECTORIES

A directory is a list of persons or organizations, systematically arranged, usually in alphabetical or classified order, giving address, affiliations etc for individuals and addresses, officers, functions and similar data for organizdations (A.L.A. Glossary of Library Terms)

Organizations here include:

    1. Learned Societies
    2. Professional and trade associations
    3. Institutions – educational, welfare, artistic – including Colleges, Universities, Librarians, Museums observatories.
    4. Firms, commercial and industrial
    5. Clubs, lodges, fraternities
    6. Political groups.

There are many examiples of directories.

 

Industrial Directory of Nigeria

This directory contains iprincipally names, addresses and products or service of all industrial establishments which are known to be engaged in mining and manufacturing (including processing and repair work) in Nigeria and employing not less than 10 persons.

 

ll. The World of Learning 1947 – Liondon, Europa Publications (Annual) A directory of Unitersities, colleeges, libraries, learned societies, museums, art galleries and research institutes in more than 1590 countries, proceeded by a section on international scientific educational and cultural organization .

Directory of British Scientists – Liondon, Den

Has entries for over 45,000 scientists given their names and adddress, telephone number, academic career and qualifications, present post, publications. It also has a list of scientific societies and their journals, research establishments.

    1. Plateau State of Nigerian Office Directory Jos Area

GAZETTEERS AND ATLASES

The gazetteer is a dictionary of places. It is a very valuable reference work which could be used to find information about the location of a place, its correct pronounciation, and in many cases, a brief history. Gazetteers no matter how old, remain useful. There are three popular gazetteers which will be available in almost any library:

    1. Chamber’s World Gazetteer

      2. (small 7992 pages) wot9j e,[jasos pm the Brit9ish Isles.

    2. Columbia Lippincott Gazetteer of the World. Over 2,000 pages.

      3. Columbia Liuppincott Gazetteer of the World.

      Contains some `130,000 names and given locations, variant spellings, cultural history, and other pertinent facts. Entries cover political divisions and geographical features.

    3. INDEXES – Social Sciences Index; Humanities Index, Education Index

 

ABSTRACTS – PAIS, Psychological, Sociological.

    1. Inter-Library Loan

      2. Another important function of reference service is assisting in locating and securing material which is not available in our Library. The need for such a service has grown from the inevitable fact that no university library, no matter how rich, can supply all the research needs of its patrons. Inter-Library loans serices thus supplement the collective for research materials. Interlibrary loan does stipulates that responsibilityu for materials borrowed rests on the borrowing library and not on the individual borrower.

    2. Photo-copying Services

The invention of the photocopy machine has had a great impact on libraries. Copy service is now available in practically every university library. By this service, the library user can reproduce copies of documents rapidly in lieu of manual transcription. The library also uses copy service to help preserve its own materials to save space, and to improve efficiency generally. Photocopy services are available in our library. The fee is 20k per page and we are bound by the copyright law which st9ipulates that libraries should reproduce materials for research purposes only.