Library Technical Services
Summary:
The technical services of a library are responsible for the activities that take place behind the scenes, which ultimately lead to the loaning of library materials to the public. These activities include ordering, classifying, cataloguing, preparing materials for the library shelves, inventory management and weeding. The primary objective of the technical section of a library is to acquire, catalogue, and process collections of library materials, including both print and electronic formats. This is done to cater to the research, teaching, and learning requirements of the university community and other patrons of the library. The technical services also ensure that the library has access to up-to-date selection and order tools, such as publishers’ catalogues and trade bibliographies, that are appropriate to the library’s needs. By performing these functions, technical services help to ensure that library materials are available and accessible to the public.
Excerpt:
Library Technical Services
LIS 322: TECHNICAL SERVICES IN LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION CENTRES
COURSE OUTLINE
A. Purpose and Functions of the Technical Section of the Library
B. Scope of the Technical Section
C. Meaning and methods of acquisition of library materials
- Processes Involved in the Acquisition of Library Materials Through Purchasing Method
- Acquisition of E-resources in the library
- Arrival/Receipt of New Library Materials
- Challenges at the point of receiving the materials
D. Cataloguing and Classification of library materials
- Types of Catalogue Cards and classification schemes
- Procedures in Cataloguing and Classification
- Online Cataloguing
- Filing Systems in the library
E. Control of Serial materials in the library
F. Vertical file and indexing of newspapers in the library
G. Circulation of Library materials
H. Charging and Discharging systems in the library
I. Care of Library Resources
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A. DEFINITIONS, PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS OF THE TECHNICAL SECTION OF THE LIBRARY
Introduction
Conventionally, the library has its etymology from the Latin word, ‘LIBER’, meaning book. Hence a library has been professionally defined as “An organized collection of books and other information materials kept for reading, study and reference. The term ‘organization’ differentiates between a library and any other type of information materials collection. The Library Glossary is more explicit in its definition of a library as a place where information is acquired, stored, processed, organized, retrieved and disseminated to a potential user when the need arises.
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