ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to check the implementation of collection development policies and its effects on collection building in Nigerian public library. Four research questions were brought up and analysed for the purpose of this study.Descriptive Survey research design was used for the investigation while the study population comprises of 145 library staff from the Delta State Public Library, Asaba, Delta State. The total enumeration sampling technique was applied to survey the total population which are the 145 library staff in the Delta State public library. Pertinent data from the sample were obtained through direct interaction and distribution of copies of researchers' implementation of collection development policies and its effects on collection building in Nigerian public libraries Questionnaire (ICDPIECBNPLQ). One hundred and forty-five (145) copies of questionnaires were given out and hundred and sixteen (116) copies of questionnaires was collected back from the respondents and found worthy of use and it was analysed using frequency and simple percentage.
The study reveals that acquisition policy, inter-library cooperation policy, weeding policy, collection evaluation policy, reference policy, budgeting policy, plagiarism policy and copyright policy are the collection development policies available in Delta state Public Library. This study reveals that the extent of the implementation of collection development policies on collection building in Delta state Public Library is low. The study revealed that collection development policies prioritizes certain group voices and perspective over others, it promotes colonialism, it reflects the value and priorities of those who create them, it allows the library to maintain and offer quality collection materials and library services, it provides a framework for training and professional development of library staff, it ensures that the library collections are relevant and up to date and it also promotes collaboration and communication within the library. This study reveals that proper utilization and management of finance, availability of adequate infrastructure, adequate human capacity towards implementation of collection development policies in public libraries, proper selection of library information resources, implementing a de-acquisition policy to tackle limited space, implementing a cooperative collection development program where multiple librarians work together and share resources, the use of digital resources are all solutions to the challenges of implementing collection development policies on collection building in Delta state Public library.
Based on the results, it was recommended that collection development policies should be used at all times and properly reviewed regularly, public libraries should endeavour to implement collection development policies well enough to build relevant collection in the library, the positive impact or effects should be seen as a motivation and reason to implement collection development policies in public library, there should be proper training of staff that will develop good collection development policies that best reflects the need of its patrons.
