Readers’ Services

Readers’ Services Division

This division establishes direct contact with the Library users. It takes custody of materials that have been processed in the Technical Services Division and makes them available to users in an organized and controlled system. The division is usually headed by a Deputy University Librarian. The division coordinates the activities of the sections under it.

Circulation Section:

This is one of the public relations sections of the Library. The head of the section is usually Circulation Librarian. The Circulation Section has the responsibilities to:

• register new Library users;
• charge books out to users;
• discharge returned books;
• keep statistics and generate reports of Library users and Library materials consulted;
• display and shelve new books;
• re-shelve used books;
• conduct shelf-reading;
• maintain books on the open shelves; and
• maintain books on reserved and other closed access shelves and keep records of usage.

Reference Section:

This section is headed by a Reference Librarian. Reference materials are meant for consultation only and are therefore not to be borrowed or taken out of the library. Like the Circulation Section, this section is also a public relations section of the Library. Therefore, the Reference Section:

• provides answers to Reference queries;
• maintains Reference collection on closed shelves;
• provides answers to directional and non-directional queries;
• processes inter-library requests;
• teaches clientele how to use special Reference materials; and
• maintains statistics and generates reports of Reference materials consulted.

Documents Section

The Documents Section houses government publications and other publications emanating from corporate bodies. The section is headed by a Librarian, with functions which include:

• harvesting of documents from government agencies and corporate bodies;
• classifying the harvested publications;
• maintaining the records of documents in the section;
• ensuring that documents are made available to users on request; and
• keeping statistics and generating reports of documents consulted.

Documents can only be consulted in this section except for the purpose of photocopying. However, permission must be sought from the Librarian in charge of the section before such documents can be taken out of the purpose of photocopying.

Bindery Section

The services of the Bindery Section include:

• general book binding for the Library, other departments and offices of the University, Institutes and individuals of the University community and outside;
• cutting of the catalogue cards, for both the Library and its clientele’s use;
• training of students of Library and Information Science on Industrial Training (IT) under the SIWES programme, to update their practical knowledge in the area of book-binding and preservation;
• lamination of papers and documents like certificates and identity cards for the individuals within the university community and beyond; and
• other essential and emergency services, as may be assigned to the Head of the Section, by the University Librarian, like the binding of accreditation papers and other services.