INTRODUCTION
On the Common Convention of UNESCO held in Paris on nineteenth November, 1964, it was agreed that “a publication is a periodical if it constituted one situation in a steady collection beneath the identical title” (Norman, 2008). Supporting this notion, a periodical literature is printed at common intervals over an indefinite interval, particular person points within the collection being unnumbered. On this observe, a periodical literature is a publication with a particular title which seems at acknowledged or common intervals with out prior resolution as to when the final situation shall seem. It comprises articles, tales, or different writings by a number of contributors. Periodical literature is utilized in its narrower sense as indicating transactions and percentages of societies, day by day newspapers magazines, scholarly journals, commerce journals, evaluation journals. Like most underdeveloped and creating international locations on the earth insufficient funding of upper schooling libraries in Sierra Leone displays on poorly developed periodical literature assortment and consequently ineffective data service is supplied to the dissatisfaction of customers. Primarily based on the worth for analysis work within the academia, managing periodical literature in increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone ought to be the necessity for a group of normal periodical literature in tutorial libraries is important.
HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN SIERRA LEONE
Sierra Leone operates a 6-3-3-4 system of schooling are subdivided into six(6) years on the main degree, three(3) years on the Junior Secondary degree, three(3) on the Senior Secondary degree, and a minimal of 4(4) years on the tertiary degree. This sub-division permits the implementation of curriculum that takes account of the totally different pupils extra absolutely. The final purpose of schooling coverage in Sierra Leone is to supply each youngster with an schooling which takes absolutely into an account: character growth: his curiosity skill and aptitude; his emotional, psychological and bodily well-being; the manpower wants of the nation; the equal significance of each tutorial and non-academic schooling; the necessity for a literature and numerate populace.; the financial assets of the state, in order that his schooling could be of use to the nation and on the similar time present alternatives for him to achieve success in life.
Increased schooling is post-secondary schooling given in a college, school or polytechnique and is the stage of specialisation. The aims of upper schooling fluctuate based on the establishment and course of research however usually embrace the acquisition bodily and mental abilities essential for the event of each the person and his society. In Sierra Leone, increased instructional establishments kind the premise of instructional development following the completion of secondary schooling. Increased schooling is the best means altering the outlook of individuals by means of the broadening of their horizon. Societal growth to a big extent depends on the human useful resource empowerment and growth. Towards this background, increased instructional establishments play a pivotal position in creating the human useful resource to contribute positively and meaningfully to the socio-economic, political and academic growth of Sierra Leone.
Increased instructional establishments in Sierra Leone are the College of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma College and Njala College that are state owned and College of Makeni and Limkonwong College that are non-public owned. The constituent faculties beneath the College of Sierra Leone embrace Fourah Bay School(FBC), Institute of Public Administration and Administration(IPAM) and School of Drugs and Allied Well being Science(COMAHS); Bo Campus and Njala College. The upper instructional establishments of collegiate standing embrace Milton Margai School of Training and Know-how; Jap Polytechnigue; Bonthe Polytechnique; Freetown Instructor. Port Loko Academics School and these provide programs resulting in the award of diplomas and Certificates. Quite the opposite, the state-owned and personal -owned universities provide Certificates, Diploma, Undergraduate and postgraduate diploma programs in numerous disciplines within the college of their respective establishments. The curricula differs from establishment to establishment and curricula and programmes that require using periodical literature embrace drugs, regulation, engineering, schooling, agriculture, arts and humanities, social sciences, pure and utilized sciences, expertise, administration and administration. To a higher extent, the Central Authorities, by means of subventions funds for increased instructional establishments to boost their smooth-running, although some donor businesses do render monetary help to those establishments along with inner funds generated by them.
HIGHER EDUCATION LIBRARIES IN SIERRA LEONE
Libraries are storage of knowledge and data is such a precious commodity that its immense contribution to nationwide growth can’t be underestimated. Increased schooling libraries are the nerve centres of all tutorial actions. This merely implies that these libraries contribute to the instructing/studying and analysis programmes of the mum or dad establishments by offering the wanted data providers for undergraduate and postgraduate college students, instructing employees, researchers, administrative and technical employees. Efficient tutorial work depends on high quality data service and the library performs a big position on this regard. In accordance with Frederick Ken Nicol data is a crucial supply utilized by organisations to ship acceptable product or providers to clients(2011 p.64). On this vein, increased schooling libraries handle data to satisfactorily meet the necessity of their clientele. Thus, data must be deliberate for in the identical manner that human and monetary assets are deliberate to make sure elevated productiveness and environment friendly service supply. Subsequently, tutorial libraries like all different organisations which have thought out and systematic data planning course of stand out to profit extra these that don’t. Effectively-planned and organised data enhances efficient service supply.
Increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone assist analysis work, neighborhood growth and complement the instructing/studying processes of their respective mum or dad establishments. On this regard, good administration of upper schooling libraries is the organisations and upkeep of a well-balanced and vibrant assortment in guaranteeing that the data wants of customers are satisfactorily met. The totally different collections stocked in these establishments embrace however not restricted to common ebook assortment on all disciplines to mortgage by customers out of the library constructing, specialised assortment, reference assortment and periodical literature and the quantum of their contents relies on the scale of the library and its readership. Creating and sustaining a well-stocked assortment in addition to recruiting and empowering competent and certified employees is basically depending on the monetary power of the library. Subsequently tutorial libraries must be prioritised by their mum or dad our bodies in relation to annual price range approval and allocations for his or her efficient operations.
Managing tutorial libraries could possibly be linked with the providers they provide. Because the operations of educational libraries are gear in direction of the supply of efficient providers, that is solely actualised by buying a number of copies of textbooks, latest journals and assortment of really helpful texts for background studying to develop and organise an instructional library for efficient tutorial work.
PERIODICAL LITERATURE IN HIGHER EDUCATION LIBRARIES AND MANAGEMENT
The availability of upper schooling libraries is important in complementing the instructing/studying course of and for efficient analysis work. On this regard, premium ought to be placed on the administration of periodical literature in increased schooling libraries making an allowance for their significance in offering present and researchable data.
Since periodical literature kinds a part of the gathering of an instructional library, a big proportion of its price range allotted ought to be utilised for the acquisition of present and widespread journals. The periodicals to be acquired ought to be titles really helpful by college members in collaboration with the periodical Librarian throughout disciplines supplied within the establishment resembling Library Quarterly; Journal of Sociology; Chemical, Abstracts; Soils Science Journal; Worldwide Journal of Administration; Medical Science Quarterly. It is very important observe that organising and sustaining periodicals in increased schooling libraries differ from establishment to establishment.
Initially, periodicals had been printed to allow philosophers and Scientist to speak their new concepts and thought to others all in favour of the identical or comparable topics. Right now, periodicals are principal media for publishing unique realized papers and the state-of-the-art evaluations. They’re more and more vital as they are often helpful for each present and retrospective data wanted by teachers.
Lawson(2014) opined that the importance hooked up to periodical literature necessitates the event of a powerful periodical literature assortment as a part of the library inventory. The author of this text, nevertheless revealed that periodicals are of nice significance in increased schooling libraries in that:
- new subjects new discoveries and applied sciences are often launched in articles in periodicals;
- they provide usually the most recent potential data on a given topics;
- they’re typically the purely supply of supplies on new topics;
- they provide a specific article to a reader who has seen it cited in a ebook or one other journal; and
- they supply an outline of the state of a given self-discipline at a specific time.
Additionally periodical article might stay invaluable data sources for a technology or certainly for an extended interval. Periodical articles are often pretty concise, typically very dependable and ceaselessly well-illustrated. A degree to notice is that periodical carry present data on most disciplines.
Additional significance of periodical literature in increased schooling libraries as asserted is that they’re main supply of recent data, whether or not or not it’s the results of analysis, information gadgets, statistical information, announcement, correspondence, commercials a couple of services or no matter. Every sort of periodical is vital to not less than a gaggle of individuals in academia, regarding their work, or leisure actions; some have ephemera existence; others could also be helpful for a few years, even indefinitely. Taking into the consideration the importance of periodical literature in increased schooling libraries, their choice and acquisition both by subscription, donation or alternate ought to be a collaborative effort between the libraries and employees of the assorted faculties and universities.
Periodical literature in increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone embrace journals, indexes, abstracts, magazines, serials and their organisations and administration differs from library to library. Problems with all obtained periodical literature are recorded on a kardex and any lacking situation ought to be claimed from the writer. Earlier than displaying and shelving them, all recorded points are claimed with the ex libri stamp of the library in query. When all the problems to finish a quantity are obtained, they’re then put collectively to be despatched to bindery or conservation unit for both laborious cowl binding or stitching. Customers of periodical literature in these establishments embrace college students, lecturers and researchers. Periodical literatures are for use inside the partitions of the Periodical Division. Nevertheless, customers are allowed to take them out to photocopy the required pages after signing for them. Lecturers are given conception to mortgage them on quick time period foundation and mortgage data are stored to recall overdue points. The upkeep of periodical literature is as significance as the opposite collections of the library.
CHALLENGES
The foremost problem increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone face is funding. These libraries are inadequately funded by their mum or dad our bodies to some extent that the smooth-running of their operations in guaranteeing efficient data service supply is tremendously hampered. For an instructional library to develop and keep a vibrant periodical literature assortment rely upon how properly it’s funded. Assortment growth in increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone has confronted challenges of fulfilling the demand of their clientele with an rising shortage of funds to deal with the excessive value of periodical publications. As the results of the regulation price range allotted to run these libraries, subscribing to the required journal title poses a major problem for the Acquisition Librarian. Some volumes are incomplete; lacking points are laborious to exchange and the acquisition of kardexes on which obtained journal points are recorded just isn’t fairly possible for the reason that library operates inside a restricted monetary assets.
In successfully working increased schooling libraries, each the human and monetary elements ought to be balanced as these two are inseparable in attaining the specified aim of an organisation. Towards this background, faculties and universities in Sierra Leone with the assist of the Ministry of Technical and better Training ought to re-defined their respective libraries in order that premium could possibly be positioned on the subscription of related journal titles in addition to claiming lacking points from publishers and their brokers.
One other problem increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone confronted in managing their periodical literature assortment is that of cupboard space. Most of those libraries apart from Fourah Bay School(FBC) library which has a separate Periodical Division, should not have sufficient house for newly acquired titles. The storage issues these libraries confronted results in the frequent weeding of periodical literature to create house for subsequent points.
The price concerned in conserving and preserving periodical volumes and points is one other problem in managing periodical literature in increased schooling libraries. Unbound, unstitched points could be simply snatched away particularly for these in heavy demand. Finishing the issues are these of heavy use of restricted copies. Opening hours of periodical literature assortment and mortgage system; insufficient employees state of affairs and capability constructing for employees to successfully handle periodical literature assortment which suggests that recruited employees ought to be educated academically and professionally to boost their competence and effectivity; misuse and abuse of periodicals by way of theft mutilation of vital articles thereby depriving different customers and tough dealing with that causes harm which merely means insecurity; digitisation of periodical literature assortment as a manner of modernising it on this data Age whereby data is processed, preserved and retrieve electronically in guaranteeing pace and accuracy; unavailability of on-line copies and photocopiers making an allowance for the rising variety of periodical literature.
Any therapy of assortment growth in increased schooling libraries can’t afford to miss the query of periodicals which could be seen as a problem. As valued sources of latest and dependable data for researchers and teachers, periodicals are of nice significance. The position they play for the development of information to fight illiteracy can’t be underestimated. Periodical literature stays very important sources of knowledge for a generational interval. Increased schooling librarians might not be capable of decide the intrinsic worth of periodicals however ought to know one thing about their worth to the establishment in query and sample of use that are vital standards for judging their worth.
Periodical literature could be of nice significance in increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone and so their efficient administration ought to be of concern to the librarians and college authorities. In creating periodical literature collections in tutorial libraries guarantee balanced assortment of present journal titles in topic areas related to the curriculum, librarian-faculty collaboration is essential. The adequacy of periodical literature assortment rely upon journal titles chosen and purchased to be added to the present inventory to fulfill the wants of the curriculum of the establishment and people of customers. In view of those challenges, the authorities of upper schooling libraries in Sierra Leone ought to see the necessity to solicit satisfactory funds by means of lobbying the Authorities, NGOs, parastatals and philanthropists to render monetary help for the efficient cooperation of their libraries. Advocating by librarians for good price range allocation is sort of in place and the step in the precise path.
CONCLUSION
Increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone must construct and maintained vibrant periodical literature collections however that is depending on how adequately they’re funded by their respective mum or dad establishments. Subsequently, there’s a want for a rise within the price range allocation of those libraries in order that they will obtain their desired targets. A degree-worth noting is that the appointment of certified and competent employees in working the periodical assortment of those libraries ought to be taken into eager consideration as each the human and monetary elements ought to be properly balanced in enhancing efficient service supply. Capability constructing of the recruited employees to a big extent is prime for environment friendly efficiency ensures their upward mobility which is seen as a motivational issue. Employees of the periodical literature assortment ought to be security-conscious to keep away from the misuse and abuse of periodicals. Using periodical ought to be carefully monitored by employees in order that pages aren’t mutilated and closely used points aren’t taken away by customers whereby others are disadvantaged. Photocopying services ought to be supplied inside the library, in order that wanted pages are photocopied by customers on request. The provision of satisfactory funds enhances the digitisation of periodical literature assortment thereby guaranteeing the provision of on-line copies which makes the administration of periodical literature in increased schooling libraries in Sierra Leone advantageous. The librarians of those establishments ought to endeavour to revisit the opening hours of their periodical literature collections as lengthy hours might permit worthwhile use of the time of customers.
REFERENCES
Donaldson, Frank H. (2010). Managing periodicals in tutorial libraries. New York: Prentice Corridor.
Findlay, Jane Rose (2011). How one can develop and run a periodical assortment in a school library? London: ELM Publications.
Lawson, Eric J.(2014). What’s a periodical and its significance for researchers? Cambridge: Cambridge College Press.
Nicol, Frederick Ken(2011). How one can purchase and handle periodical publications in analysis libraries? New York: Educational Press.
Norman, Betty Ann(2008). Using periodicals in school libraries. London: Clive Bingley.