ABSTRACT

The survival of a library depends to a large extent on how secured its collections are. Security of collections constitutes a critical challenge facing academic libraries in Nigeria. It is against this background that this study investigated the coping with the security challenges in Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and Babcock University, Ilishan, libraries in Ogun-State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population of the study comprised 30 library staff and 100 registered library users in three selected academic libraries in Ogun State while the sample size consisted of all the30 library staff and 100 of the registered users to make a total of 130 respondents.  Questionnaire and interview with the Librarians of the selected academic libraries were the  instruments used  for data collection. Data were analysed using frequency distribution and percentages. The study established that the most prevalent security chalenges in the libraries included stealing/theft of library materials, non-return of borrowed books, using fake ID cards to borrow books and book mutilation. It also established  that inadequate  funding,  shortage  of staff/personnel, limited/insufficient library resources for users and lack of proper orientation  to users  on  the  use  of  library resources are some  of  the challenges  confronting  security challenges  in  the  libraries.  Based  on the findings, recommendations were made towards improving security challenges in the libraries. Some of them are: proper checking of bags and staff going round, more fund to library management, provision of electronic security systems.