Page 175 - DLIS003_LIBRARY ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

Library Administration and Management

Notes

Case Study Issues of Book Acquisition in University Library:
Pakistan

cquiring information resources is a core activity of libraries. University libraries
all over the world still acquire and maintain massive book collections while
A managing other formats. Despite prophecies of vanishing print collections and
emergence of the digital paradigm, printed books still have a central role in library
collections and publishing industry (Kanwal 2005; Carr 2007).

Until 2005, collections in Pakistan’s University Libraries (UL) mainly consisted of books
(foreign), when the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan provided access to
thousands of digital databases (Government of Pakistan and Higher Education
Commission). A doctoral study found that in Pakistan, university libraries annual collection
funds are mostly spent on new books and serial publications (Ameen 2005a). These funds
have increased each year under the present regime; however, the book market has never
been capable of efficiently supplying the imported current and research material for
libraries. This researcher’s experience as university librarian, as faculty member, and a
review of literature establishes that university libraries face serious problems in the
acquisition of books and journals. Despite the gradual adoption of information and
communication technologies, libraries still find it hard to acquire current books through
vendors or direct purchase, which makes it difficult to meet clients’ needs quickly, efficiently,
and economically.
There is a need to explore the basic issues in the acquisition of books through purchase in
the emerging paradigm. The study explores these issues with reference to major university
libraries in Pakistan.

Issues in Book Purchase
Type of Collection
The collections in the libraries who responded to the survey consist largely of print and
are mostly American or British books and journals acquired from the local market. The
timely acquisition of current publications has had been a serious problem. University
libraries must depend on imported foreign publications to build collections. The data
from this study demonstrates that the situation for collections and acquisitions is still
nearly the same as reported by Haider.

Buying Market
Libraries were asked about the approximate average of acquisitions from local vendors
and direct from foreign publishers/vendors. The responses of 27 libraries in Figure 1
show that still there is no significant change in the acquisition pattern, since 18 (67%)
libraries still buy 100% of books from the local market and do not use online sources.

Contd...

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