Guidelines of stock taking of information materials at YMCA Library

Abstract

The project aimed at designing guidelines for stocktaking for YMCA Comprehensive Institute Library. The study had a number of objectives to find out the existing stocktaking practices at YMCA library, to identify the challenges faced while carrying out stocktaking at YMCA library and to design guidelines of stocktaking of information materials at YMCA library. A case study research design was used and a qualitative research approach adopted in the study. A sample size of 74 respondents was used consisting of both the library staff and students while adopting a qualitative research approach in discussing findings. Library staff included 4 and 70 lecturers and students were involved. Data was collected using questionnaires, interviews and observation. And it was qualitatively analyzed and presented with the help of tables, bar graphs and pie charts. It was established that the students of YMCA inquire mainly academic and government confidential information since their aim is to succeed and fulfill their objective. More to that, the students admitted that they also require information on health, sanitation and above all the current affairs around the world. It was also established that the stocktaking practiced by the YMCA library are putting the collection in correct shelf order, Locating mis-shelved items and correctly re-shelving them, Locating incorrectly labelled items and re-labelling them, Locating previously missing items, Making space on the shelves for future growth of the collection, Adjusting shelves in between putting books onto the shelves and It was established that Poor stocktaking practices, Lack of knowledge on available resources, Acquisition of skills to handle stocktaking tools, Obsolescence technology, network, and dealing with frequent changes in models of resources were the major challenges facing the current stocktaking library staff of the YMCA library. Based on the findings, the study concludes that YMCA library currently uses a manual old and manual practices of stocktaking of its materials. The study also concludes that books are the most borrowed out information materials but however there are a lot of challenges associated with the stocktaking of these materials using the manual methods. Thus, it is expedient to adopt a Guidelines for stocktaking (proposed guidelines) in YMCA library for more efficient and reliable operation of the library in its operations.