ABSTRACT

The study examined the management of information resources and security challenges in Federal Polytechnic Library Nekede, Owerri. The specific objectives ofthe study include: to ascertain the extent ofavailability ofinformation resources in the library; identify the types ofsecurity problems prevalent in the Federal Polytechnic Library, Nekede; determine the common causes ofsecurity challenges in the Federal Polytechnic Library, Nekede and identify the strategies to address the security challenges in Federal Polytechnic Library, Nekede. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The target population ofthe study was 29 staff ofFederal Poly library (consisting ofprofessionals, para-professional and support staff). Data were obtained through the use ofa closed ended questionnaire of Likert four point scale. Mean and percentages were used for data analysis. Frequency tables were usedfor data presentation. The findings revealed that the extent ofavailability ofinformation resources in the library under study is high as the highly available information resources in the Federal Polytechnic Library, Nekede include; journals, textbooks, encyclopedia, dictionaries, research reports (project, thesis, dissertation, proceedings manuals, etc), and bulletin/handbooks. The study concluded that the types ofsecurity problems prevalent in the Federal Polytechnic Library, Nekede include; mutilation oflibrary booksfollowed by book theft, loss ofproperty to thieves, and user delinquency. Also, the study equally revealed that the common causes ofsecurity challenges in the Federal Polytechnic Library, Nekede include; high cost of information materials followed by poor library security gadgets, inefficient reprographic machines, inadequate orientation of users on the use of library resources, selfishness of library users and high registration fees. It is recommended that the government andparent institutions of academic libraries should deploy morefunds to the library so as to furnish it with the requisite information resources, security gadgets, books and non-book information resources. Also, the library should provide efficient and subsidized reprographic services so as to assist users to acquire the necessary information materialsfor their studies and research.