Preservation And Conservation Practices For Non-Print Materials In University Libraries In North Central Nigeria:- Amaoge Dorathy A

Abstract This study analyzes the preservation and conservation practices for non-print materials in university libraries in North Central Nigeria. It sought to examine the types ofnon-print materials available, the preservation and conservation practices employed, and the perceived preservation and conservation practices that will facilitate use of non-print materials in these universities libraries. Descriptive survey design was used, with a population of 467 library staff. The instrumentfor data collection was structured questionnaire, interview and observation checklist. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that the type ofnon print materialsfound to be available in university libraries are, computers, sei-vers, discs, flash, CD, VCD, DVDs, digital video camera, CD-ROMs, plasma televisions, tape recorders, cassettes, slide and multi-media projector; preservation and consei-vation practices employed in the university libraries are environmental monitoring and control, mass deacidification programme, library security programme, preservation education, disaster/emergency planning, microfilming, digital preservation and refreshing; and the perceived preservation and consei-vation practices that willfacilitate use ofnon-print materials in the surveyed libraries are having a digital preservation policy, recruitment of preservation librarians, collection development policy, provision ofproper storage practices for maintaining the usability of the materials, staff training on preservation and conservation, disaster and emergency planning, proper handling of non-books materials and preservation education for library users and staff among others. This paper concludes that the university libraries must aggressively respond to deteriorating state oftheir non-print collections iftheir mission ofproviding information needs of their patrons is to be met with recommendations that there should be improvedfunding to sustain their acquisition, trainings and consei-vation andpreservation practices