Challenges and prospects for cataloguing and classification in academic libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria: a case study

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the challenges and prospects of cataloguing and classification in academic libraries in Kwara State that focus on the Kwara State University Library.The study adopted the descriptive survey design. The study population consists of 50 practicing librarians who attended the Nigerian Library Association Annual Workshop, 2020 held at the State LibraryIlorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. A questionnaire entitled “Cataloguing challenges and prospects and a classification questionnaire containing closed elements was used to collect data for the study. The results revealed insufficient staffing, lack of modern tools, difficulties in cataloguing and classification backlogs, insufficient motivation, etc., as there are some challenges facing the technical departments of the studied academic library. The study also reveals, as an indication of a brighter future or good prospects for the technical divisions in the library studied, the increased advocacy for library automation, training opportunities available outside the country, introduction of an information management system, rapid transition from the manual method to the computerized method, etc. Based on the results, some recommendations were made.