Vandalism and security problems in academic library: A case study of lagos state polytechnic library, Lagos, Nigeria

The study was designed to survey the vandalism and security problem in academic library of Lagos State Polytechnic Library, Nigeria, with the view to ascertaining the type of security problems, categories of materials that are prone to stealing, the likely reasons for committing such library crime and the security measures put in place to control it. A quantitative research was adopted in the study, and survey as the research method. The study involved a population of fifty (50) library personnel. Data for the study was obtained using questionnaire instrument. The findings of this study revealed that academic libraries experience security problems such as stealing and vandalism of library resources, as well as natural disasters such as flood and fire outbreak. The categories of materials that are prone to stealing include journals, reference materials and recent accessions. The reasons for the theft and vandalism of library resources according to the study include inadequate number of copies, inadequate photocopying services, scarcity of needed materials, shortage of staff and poverty, while the major factors that encourage these problems are poor security systems and the criminal nature of individuals. The study further revealed the fact that there is a poor security management in LASPOTECH academic library, as the security system adopted was inadequate to control and protect the library resources from theft, vandalism and natural disaster such as flood and fire. Base on these findings the study recommends improve security system, preferable modern gadget, measures that will ensure that at least, the bulk of available resources would be preserved if new ones cannot be readily acquired.