Library
October 13, 2022 2022-10-13 21:44Library
The NICTM Main Library is the knowledge warehouse that supplies the information needed for the academic well-being of the academic programs in the polytechnic.
The NICTM Main Library is the central research and information Centre responsible for the information needs and research endeavours of the students, staff, and faculty members in the polytechnic and external researchers. It is the knowledge warehouse that supplies the information needed for the academic well-being of the academic programs in the polytechnic.
As the provider of scholarly information resources to the NICTM community, the library works in synergy with faculty members and students in the discovery, use, and management of information that support their research, teaching, and learning needs.
Over the years, the NICTM Library has developed relevant collections suitable for learning, research and innovations. The Library is staffed with highly skilled manpower, committed to services delivery in line with the objectives of the Institute and global best practices.
With huge investment by the Polytechnic Management and support from the TETFund, the NICTM Library prides itself as one of the most innovative and smart academic libraries in Nigeria. The massive deployment and integration of ICTs into our library services, has positioned us to meet the needs of our community, and partner with users to drive innovation and advance scholarship to address grand challenges in the construction industry, sciences, technology, management and engineering with special reference to the Nigerian Society.
As a Federal Government owned Polytechnic, we embrace diversity of people and ideas, and guards against barriers between information resources and users irrespective of their religion, culture, background, political affiliation, ethnicity etc. We ensure equitable delivery of library and information services that meet international best-practices.
The main library is located in a one-storey gigantic edifice located at the NICTM Permanent Site along Uromi-Ugboha Road, Uromi, Edo State, Nigeria. The Library accommodates over 200 users at a time in the different library sections.
To cater for different categories of users, the Library acquires information materials in both print and electronic formats thereby promoting access and support to our users’ preferred choice of information need. At present, the NICTM Library holds over 50,000 volumes of printed and electronic information resources.
For easy access and retrieval of our resources, the Library of Congress (LC) Classification System was adopted and materials can be called out using our hybrid devices of the library card catalogue or the online public access catalogue (OPAC).
For administrative and operational convenience, the library is divided into Circulation Section, Administration, Acquisition Section, cataloguing section, Classification Section, Periodicals Section, Information Technology/e-library Section, Reference Section, Stack Area, Special collections, School Libraries.
- Administration
The Library is headed by the Institute Librarian, Mr. Isaac E. Anyira. All the library sections are administered from the Institute Librarian’s office. The Library Administration handles internal and external administrative matters of the library including decision making and implementation, planning, policy making, resource management, training, supervision and ensuring general discipline of library staff. The Institute Librarian is responsible to the Rector of the Institute.
The Circulation Section is located at the entrance of the Library and it is divided into:
- Property Counter
- Security Post
- Circulation Counter
- Reception Area
- Property Counter/Cabinets/Lockers
Library users are to drop their properties or personal belongings including handbags, umbrellas, etc. in the property counter and lock them up. They are to keep the key to the particular locker wherein they kept their belongings.
Security Post
Members have to show their membership identity card at the security desk and sign in the gate register at the time of entering the library. Book(s) issued on loan and all permitted materials like note books, files, etc. taken inside the library are to be presented for inspection by the security staff when leaving the library. Members are requested to enter their leaving time in the gate register.
Circulation Counter
Library users are requested to bring their Membership Identity Card anytime they visit the library. Books are issued on loan and received back in this counter. Eligible users are also registered here. The borrowers’ tickets must be produced before users are allowed to borrow library materials. If books borrowed are not returned by the members in time, the overdue charge slip or note are given to the user by the staff in the circulation counter.
Reception Area
The reception area is where visitors to the library are received and attended to. Our library is cautious of our guests as their perception influences our library usage. We have the following facilities in our reception area:
- Reception desk and good space.
- An office chair for the receptionist.
- Chairs for guests, while waiting.
- A table to hold literature, magazines or to provide guests with a place to put their briefcase or laptop while waiting.
- Newspaper display.
- Wall clock.
- The polytechnic’s Calendar.
- Visitor’s book. Etc
- Acquisition Section
Receiving requests from Heads of Departments for new books, duplicate checking, ordering, accessioning of books and processing bills for payment are the main functions of this section. Suggestions and recommendations for the purchase of new books can be submitted to this section. All the books received from vendors/publishers and the donated books are accessioned, stamped in this section before sending them to the cataloguer.
- Cataloguing Section
The bibliographic details like Author, title/ statement of responsibility, edition, place of publication, publisher and date of publication, physical description/collation etc. are prepared by this section. The tools we use in this section include the Library of Congress Lists of Subject Headings, the Anglo American Cataloguing Rule, Resource Description and Access (RDA) etc in this unit.
- Classification Section
The Library of Congress Classification Scheme is used for classifying books according to the subject. Each book is assigned a Call Number which consists of a class number and Book Number. Class Number is assigned to a book according to its subject matter. The Cutter Table tool is used to perform this task. Book Number individualizes a book among others having the same Class Number. The Call Number is written on the spine label of the book. Shelving and Arrangement of catalogues, Card production and Book Finishing are also activities of this section.
- Periodicals Section
Both newspapers and journals currently subscribed or received as gifts are displayed on the shelves in this section. This section has its own stacks and reading areas. A journal or newspaper, on completion of its volume, is processed for binding. After they have been bound, the volume is accessioned and added to the Back-Volume shelf. Necessary reading tables and chairs are provided for reading and reference in this unit.
- Information Technology section/e-library
Automated and Digital Library Services are provided in this section. All sections of the Library are connected through LAN. The library is automated using the Koha Integrated Library Management Software; and Institutional repository using the DSpace software. Maintaining Hardware and Software, Providing Internet Service, E-resources Access Services, OPAC Service, Remote Login Service, Document Delivery Service, the E-Libraries located in various schools, Maintaining Library Databases etc. are some of the activities of this section.
The following Servers are also maintained by this unit:
- Library Management Server
- Web Portal (Library Portal/link)
- Institutional Repository Server
- Reference Section
The library’s reference collection would consist of various encyclopedias, dictionaries, year books, almanacs, atlases, biographies, etc. of the national and international coverage and other reference books. Sufficient reading tables and chairs are provided for use in this section.
- Stack Section
This is one of the most important sections of the Library. Its function is the storage, display and maintenance of books. The section would be arranged in the down floor comprising all shelving areas or areas where applicable.
Books are arranged on the shelves according to the Library of Congress Classification Scheme. Each book is assigned a Class Number and Book Number/Cutter number. Class Number is assigned to a book according to its subject and Book Number individualizes a book among others having the same Class Number. In this arrangement books on the same subject are kept together. Library users would be advised to check the availability of the books through the catalogue. After obtaining relevant information (Call Number) through catalogue, the users can proceed to the respective stack area to take the books of their choice.
- Special Collections Section
Special collections comprise documents that are acquired for special purposes. The documents are available for reference only. They include government and its agencies publications, publications of international organizations, NGOs, Students projects etc.
School Libraries
The Branch Libraries or School Libraries are housed in each School building. They were established to increase student and faculty access to information at school level and to supplement what is available in the Main Library. The School Libraries are well equipped with information resources such as textbooks, journals and modern ICT resources, as well as conducive reading environment and is manned by qualified and experienced library personnel. The E-libraries in the School are also well equipped and networked to enable access to the databases in the e-Library Unit in the Main Library
All users are expected to observe the following rules while using the library services; any violation of these rules will incur appropriate disciplinary action:
- Leave your personal belongings such as handbags, briefcases, etc., outside the library entrance, on your own responsibility. You may use the lockers. The library disclaims any liability for loss or damage.
- Submit any book or object for inspection, when requested by the library staff.
- Do not write, underline or mark any book. Library books are carefully examined on return and the borrower will be held responsible for the damage.
- After reading, leave books on the table or on the book carrels. Please do not shelve the books.
- Complete silence should be observed except for brief and subdued talk with the library staff.
- Drinks and eatables are not allowed in the library.
- Keep your mobile phones off within the library premises.
- Make sure you have provided correct information while filling your library membership
- Report lost books or other materials to the library immediately to stop overdue fines.
- In case of lost Library Card, please immediately report to the circulation staff so that your membership is temporarily blocked to prevent misuse of the Library Card. Once you get a replacement, please inform circulation staff so that your memberships can be re-activated.
- Ask for help from library staff if you are unable to find your required material.
- While returning library books or other materials at the Circulation Desk please ensure that the circulation staff has returned the book(s).
NICTM Library Policies
Library Opening/Closing Policy
Monday – Friday 8:00AM – 5:00PM
Saturday 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Sundays 2:00PM – 4:00PM
Semester Break and Vacation 8:00AM – 4:00PM
Note: Opening and closing time may be adjusted when necessary
Acquisition Policy Statement
The mission of the NICTM Library is to collect materials in all formats in support of the teaching and research programs. Primary emphasis is on acquiring current materials.
Guidelines for Initiating Purchase request
Users should observe the following guidelines for initiating library materials purchase requests:
All library materials purchase requests related to the fields of study in the curriculum or general research of academic departments must be approved by the deans before sending them to the collection development librarian.
The library will encourage the faculty, students, and staff to recommend library materials for purchase, however, the decision to approve or disapprove them will rest with the Librarian and Management.
 Faculty may also recommend titles to be purchased from short course and research funds or to develop their own departmental resource collections from the department funds (if any). Recommendations may be initiated by completing the purchase request form sent from the library or by contacting the collections development librarian.
The collections development librarian will keep track of the collection growth in each subject area based on the collection statistics generated on regular basis or accessions register. If he observes that the collection in any particular area is lagging behind the collections in other areas, he will take his own initiative in selecting materials in that area in consultation with the faculty and the polytechnic librarian.
The general criteria to be used by the selectors for the acquisition of library materials are listed below in priority order:
- Curriculum support. Materials related to the fields of study in the curriculum will form the core of the library collection;
- Research support. Materials related to the research conducted by faculty, researchers and students are to be acquired;
- Collection continuity. Updating of the collection with new titles and editions on a regular basis.
- Reference materials. Bibliographies, catalogs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, indexes and abstracts, directories, and manuals fall under this category.
- Audiovisual media. E-books, CDs, DVDs, videos (preferred medium will be DVD, if available, over videocassettes) and multimedia form a critical resource of a modern library. Microform reproductions will be limited to retrospective materials that are unavailable or very expensive in other media.
Format
In general, the library should acquire materials in what it judges is the most appropriate format(s). Until electronic resources are judged to be completely secure and sustainable, most text-based materials will not be acquired in electronic only format when there is a choice. Some reference materials, however, such as abstracts and indexes, dictionaries and encyclopedias, directories, etc. may, because of their usefulness in this format, be acquired and retained in electronic only format. In addition, back files of periodicals in print format and large sets on microform should be replaced with their electronic version to ease pressure on the critical library space.
Languages
English is the principal language of materials acquired for library use. Other language materials relevant to the Institute’s curriculum will also be acquired when the need arises.
Cost
Cost of materials will also be a deciding factor in acquiring materials. Request for any item costing more than the amount budgeted for it will be discouraged. The Acquisition librarian may contact the requester to inform him about the high cost of the material and to advise him to find an alternative title with a lower cost. If the requester insists on his request, the matter should be referred to the Librarian for action.
Duplication
The acquisition of multiple copies (more than Five) of books or any other library materials should be avoided unless the item is in great demand and acquiring above five copies will help the users in their studies.
Gift and exchange
The library welcomes gratis materials from individuals, government, and private organizations and departments to enhance the collection. However, any materials which are not relevant to the subject profiles or found to be below the accepted minimum academic level will not be added to the collection. The library regards mutually beneficial exchange agreements as an appropriate method of acquiring important materials which fall within the context of its subject profiles
Textbooks
The library maintains a collection of textbooks prescribed in various courses offered in the polytechnic. This collection will be updated each semester. For any questions regarding the list of textbooks to be acquired, the respective departments may be contacted.
Government publications
The library gets official/ government agencies publications free of charge. However, not all of them are received automatically. Considering their academic and research value, efforts should be made to acquire those missing publications through regular follow-ups with the concerned departments. Special collections librarian will be responsible for selecting and acquiring government/official publications of reference nature.
Learned societies’ publications
Because of the research value of the learned societies’ publications, the library will acquire those which fall within our subject profiles through membership of the societies or through ordering individual titles. These publications also include proceedings of numerous conferences organized by the professional organizations and societies.
Theses and dissertations
The library as a policy will collect one hard copy and one soft copy on CD-ROM or flash of all students’ research Project report accepted in various academic departments in the polytechnic to develop institutional repository.
Paperback vs hard cover editions
The library will prefer hard cover editions over paperbacks as they do not get mutilated quickly due to heavy use. However, where hard covers are not available, paper backs will be acquired.
Retention/Withdrawal
Materials which do not support the collections’ stated purposes and objectives may be withdrawn. Materials will be identified for withdrawal as they come to the attention of the library staff in the normal course of their job performance.
Damaged and lost materials
Users will bear the cost of repair of materials damaged or cost of replacement in case such materials cannot be repaired or is lost.
Book Lending Policy
Any eligible academic staff is entitled to borrow a maximum of 3 books at a time and for a period of one month.
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Non-academic staff is entitled to borrow two books for a period of one month.
A student is entitled to borrow two books for a period of two weeks. Fifty naira is charged daily for overdue books ₦50.00. Loans are renewable and it’s subject to ratification.
Reference materials, books that have limited copies, serials, special collections and archival documents are not borrowable.
