Perceptions and Attitude of Students in Relation to Vandalism in University Libraries in South-South Zone of Nigeria

Review Of The Literature

Various writers have expressed their view on what contributes to the cause of different forms of abuse in the library. However, many researchers bases their argument on economic depress and security as the main cause of abuse of library materials. These include Ajegbomogun (2004), Agboola (2001), Afolabi (1993), Akinfolarin (1992), and Bello (1997) among others. Others authors reveal that theft is motivated by societal problems. Verner (1983) listed a series of factors that contribute to library malpractices which include in adequate services staff at night and during the weekends, lack of multiple copies of library materials in high demand and inadequate photocopying facilities. Any shift from this, may cause a negative impact on users’ disposition to library materials. According to Goldstein (1996) identified three central concepts of vandalism: Intentionality, destructiveness and property ownership. Therefore, Vandalism is intentional act of destruction or defacement of property not one’s own.

Goldstein (1996), Cohen (1989), Lincolin (1996), and Cornog and Perper (1996) recognized six categories of Vandalism, many of which are common in libraries which include:

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  Acquisitive Vandalism, this involves acts done to obtain property or money. Example of acquisitive vandalism that may occur in libraries include damages to parking meters, public telephones, vending machines and photocopiers.

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  Tactical vandalism: it includes act done to accomplish goals other than monetary gain, such as defacement of material by a student to prevent the use of that material by fellow student

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  Ideological Vandalism: which is an act done in promotion of a social, political or other cause such as the placement of KKK stickers within materials in a library.

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  Vindictive Vandalism: involves acts to gain revenge.

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  Play vandalism, it include acts of destruction or disfigurement in the course of play, such as a group of students who decide to play target practice with library windows

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  Malicious vandalism, these acts express rage or frustration such as library might encounter includes the clogging of toilets or sinks, setting off five alarms or sprinkler systems or urinating in public areas.

The issues of Vandalism in library has been well flogged in the professional literature, but very little has been done on perception and attitude of students to vandalism in university libraries in south-south zone of Nigeria.