DELINQUENCY OF INFORMATION RESOURCES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARY: A STUDY OF LEGACY UNIVERSITY LIBRARY, THE GAMBIA

Abstract

The research is based on delinquencies of clients for information resources in Legacy University. Delinquencies of information resources has been identified as one of the major blocks against the progress of library resources in academic libraries. The research, therefore, aims to ascertain the causes of delinquency in Legacy University library, The Gambia, the effect of delinquency in Legacy University library The Gambia, the measures adopted to prevent the acts of delinquency in Legacy University library The Gambia. Three research questions were raised and three objectives guided the study. To undertake this investigation, Survey method was adopted and the population comprises of students, academic and non - academic staff of the library. There was no sample because the population was too small for the study. Questionnaire were administered to students, academic and non-academic staff of the university and their responses were collated and analyzed using table, frequency and percentage. The study concluded that what motivates the development of a Society is the ability to get the right information at the right time and one of the agencies in this drive is the library. However, the effective services of the library depends very strongly on the availability of needed information resources, therefore information resources must be protected from thieves and mutilators. The study recommends the need to educate library clients, periodic library orientation, conferences, as a necessity to acquaint clients the importance of books and its aftermath mutilation effects to the library services and the need to install CCTV in Libraries to check delinquency.