An investigation into the practices of resource sharing among academic libraries in federal universities in South-South Nigeria

Abstract

The study investigated the practice of resource sharing among Academic Libraries in Federal Universities in the South-South Geo-Political zone of Nigeria. The survey research design was employed for the study. The population for the study consists of the federal universities in the zone, except the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun. The questionnaire and interview method, were used to collect data for the study. The findings showed that the only forms of resource sharing practiced amongst the studied libraries are inter-library lending and inter-library study facilities. Communication, financial, infrastructural constraints and absence of full automation were identified as some challenges affecting resource sharing. Recommendations were therefore put forward.

Keywords: resource sharing; inter library loan; library cooperation; library consortium