What are the In house activities of a library? Briefly discuss about Acquisition section. What are the barriers/Problems of book aquision in Bangladesh?
Introduction
RThe main aim of library is to ensure
maximum use of its reading materials. This is to be achieved by dividing a library into various sections based on work. This involves the activities of internal organization of a library. Libraries are the storehouses of wisdom and In house activities are the heart of a library.
In house activities:
The former types of work consist of acquiring; processing and preserving the reading material are known as In house activities. In house Activities divided into 4 kinds. This are-
1. Acquisition section,
2. Technical section,
3. Readers’ service section,
4. Maintenance section.
According to question the Acquisition section was discussed in below:
Acquisition Methods
RBy purchasing :
Most librarians try to purchase reading materials for library according to library budget. For this has to maintain some principles before ordering; Such as;
?Which gives maximum discount
?Which gives a speedy service
?Which gives bill of local account
?Which is most prompt in rectify mistakes.
RGift and donation:
No library can increase its collection only through purchasing. For developing library collection gift and donation are most important method.
RExchange/ inter library loan:
Inter library loan means interchanging library materials between two or more libraries.
RInstitutional membership:
Institutional membership is another potential resource in collection building. Often the membership subscription may cover the right to receive their publications either frees of cost or at concessional prices.
RDeposit on copy right law:
Some reading materials are deposited only for national library based on copyright law. Through only national library can get this opportunity law but other libraries can deposit this type of documents on permission of national library.
STEP OF AN ACQUISITION SYSTEM
A good acquisition system comprises (অর্ন্তà¦ুক্ত করা) the following steps:
*Pre- acquisition system:
Before acquiring the materials, some work is to be done. These are:
a) Searching various sources to select items for acquisition.
b) Receiving records of items to be acquired.
*Pre-ordering searching:
After receiving or selecting the probable items for acquisition, it becomes essential to make a pre-order searching in order to avoid duplicate order.
*Selection:
Now appropriate items for acquisition should be selected.
*Preparation of vendor list: It contains-
Ø Vendor’s code number
Ø Vendors’ name
Ø Vendors’ address
Ø Vendors’ telephone number
Ø Vendors’ e-mail address
*Ordering: For this some work has to be done:
a) Creating an order file
b) Preparing order forms in the specified format.
c) Making input of the orders in the order format
d) Making print of the orders in to the vendors
e) Placing the order to the vendors
*Receiving: For receiving material librarian follow some steps. These are -
1. Checking overdue Order
2. Sending reminders.
3. Cancelled order (if not delivered)
4. Reorder to second/3rd/4th vendor until Receiving.
5. Receiving the ordered items after arrival.
*Payment;
a) Preparing payment cheque for the vendor’s
b) Checking the purchase orders and the payment cheque.
c) Supplying the payment cheque to the vendors.
*Accessioned:
*Added some data to the accession register.
*Maintain the accounts and keeping statistics.
*Maintaining the master file of orders and acquisitions.
Book acquisition problems in Bangladesh/ India:
In acquisition section the librarian faces many problems, some of them are mentioned below:
1. Time-Lag:
College, University and research libraries depend heavily on foreign books which generally reach the library sometimes between six month to one year after their selection
2. Book selection materials:
Due to lack of selecting materials Bangladesh, selector can not select appropriate books for library.
3. Delayed payment to foreign publishers:
Majority of importing agencies not paying the bills timely; For this foreign publishers lost their interest in sending books to the country.
4. Language problem:
Most of the people in our country do not understand English. This has a impact on ordering books from foreign countries.
5. Delay in review books:
Reviews generally appear in our country after eight months to one year after the publications of the books.
6. Government publications:
Non-availability of Government documents and latest document is a common problem.
7. Book Vendors:
Choosing the right vendor is a problem. The right vendors can only execute the ordered books expeditiously.
8. High Cost Factor:
The cost of foreign scientific and technical books is so high that even research libraries cannot purchase those books.
9. Frequent Increase in the cost of Publications:
Publishers, especially foreign publishers, frequently revise price of their documents. But booksellers do not stick those prices.
Conclusion: At the end we can say that, Acquisition is the process of acquiring all kinds of library materials maintaining some basic functions like searching, selecting, ordering and receiving those materials. Although there are many obstacles to achieving the books, skilled librarians can solve most of the problems.
