ARCHIVAL RECORDS AND MANUSCRIPT COLLECTIONS IN SELECTED POLYTECHNIC LIBRARIES IN THE NORTH-CENTRAL, NIGERIA

BY:

ALIYU, MULIKAT BOLA

NOVEMBER, 2016

 ABSTRACT

The value of records in the area of reference, historical and administrative use in any Nigerian Polytechnic Library cannot be overlooked. It is true that available archival records and manuscripts abound in most Nigerian polytechnic libraries, their scattered nature makes them difficult to be traced when the need for it arises. Records that are considered archival in nature are found to be in different sub-systems of the libraries under research and treated as library materials. The study focuses on the desirability for polytechnic libraries to establish archival sub-systems within their systems so that valuable administrative, research, reference,

historical records and manuscripts of vital values are preserved and disseminated. This approach would bring their maximum utilization by researchers into use. Social survey research method was adopted while the instruments used for data collection were questionnaire, interviews and observation. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentage and tabular presentation. The findings of the study clearly revealed that most Nigerian Polytechnic libraries do not have separate archival units within their systems although archival records and manuscripts are found in these libraries. It was observed that records considered to be archival in nature are located in the various units of the libraries headed by unit heads and treated as library materials. This makes them difficult to be located on request. The study concluded by recommending that the Nigerian polytechnic libraries should establish a separate archival units within their systems so that the utilization of archival records and manuscripts would be enhanced and their selection, acquisition, organization, preservation and dissemination would be brought into focus while the unit will be managed by a professional and experienced archivist. The study proposed a model that is based on ideas expressed by different researcher in the related literature reviewed and the outcome of this research.