ABSTRACT

This project work looked at the Security Problems in Imo State University (IMSU) Library, Owerri. The study was guided by six research questions. The design ofthe study adopted descriptive survey design. The total population of the study was 15079 including 15,000 students and 79staff. A sample of 750 was used for the study. The instrument for data collection is questionnaire. A structured questionnaire titled: Security Problems in Imo State University Library, Questionnaire (SPISULQ). Method of data collection was questionnaires, the researcher administered the questionnaire personally. The method of data analysis used was frequency tables, percentages (%) and mean and standard devistion for the analysis of data collected in order to answer the research questions. The major findings of the study were that security challenges include ripping of pages of books, hiding of books, refusal to return overdue books, drinking and eating in the library, vandalism, defacement of books and mutilation of books, to mention but a few. It further assessed the causes ofsecurity problems in Imo State University, the effects the challenges have on the library, the measures adopted to curb the challenges and problems associated with combating insecurity in the library. The research further identified the possible strategies that should be put in place to improve security, among them staffsecurity training within and outside the library, users should be searched before leaving the library, electronic security system should be introduced, written security policy to be placed on notice boards, > checking users id card before they are allowed access to the library and manual ■ security approach such as monitoring users in the library premises. The results revealed that all items displayed on the questionnaire were accepted with the grand mean of each research question being above the mean value of 2.5. Conclusions were made that there is need for efficient monitoring to reduce the risk oflife and property in the library. The findings major recommendation were that security entrance of the academic library should be managed by well-trained able bodied men and women to save resources from thefts and that the secret pages of book stamped should not be revealed to users by any library staff.