Applied Bibliometrics and Cooperative Acquisition as Tools for Selecting Journals and Sharing in Nigerian Fisheries Libraries

Abstract

One hundred and eight journal titles in ranked order were identified as been used by Nigerian fisheries scientists. These were grouped into four zones. The first of 7 titles (6.5%), the second with 11 titles (10.5%), the third with 26 titles (24%) and the fourth with 64 titles (59.0%), contributing 46.6%, 17.7%, 18.8% and 16.9% respectively to the total information needs of the scientists. The cost of acquisition of the first twenty- five titles on the list is put at N2.4 million (US$ 25000). However, evidence from budgetary allocation shows that none of the fisheries libraries had ever received N.5 million (US$ 5000) for capital expenditure. A theoretical approach using bibliometrics for judicious selection combined with a well -articulated Cooperative acquisition has been proposed as tools to solving the problem inhibiting journal acquisition in Nigerian fisheries libraries.


(African Journal of Library, Archives and Information Science: 2002 11 (1): 39-48)