Book Loan Delinquency in Academic Libraries: Students' Reaction

Abstract

This study examined the reaction of students towards book loan delinquency in academic libraries. The objectives were to determine the frequency of use of the reserve collection of an academic library, to find out if there was book loan delinquency, investigate the cause(s), and examine the effects on the students and the library. To elicit the needed information, two sources were used: primary data, that is administration of questionnaires to students and secondary data, that is statistical records of the three recommended textbooks consulted between October and December 2003.Part 1 Pharmacy students were used as respondents. The study established that there was book loan delinquency among students. Insensitivity to other users' need was seen as a major cause; short loan periods, poor economic status of library users and selfishness were other causes adduced for book loan delinquency. Effects on the students were inability to carry out class assignments, incomplete information and poor academic performance. It was suggested that this behavior can be curbed through these measures: extension of loan period, imposition of stiff penalty on defaulters, increase in users' awareness of borrowing rights, acquisition of more copies of recommended texts, introduction of overnight and weekend borrowing as a matter of policy and employment of indigent students to work in the library for some hours in a week. IFE Psychologia Vol.12(2) 2004: 229-236

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