An evaluation of periodicals subscription and related problems at the federal polytechnic, library Ede, Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract

In this study, an attempt is made to describe the importance of periodicals among the various sources of information. Brief introduction of the federal polytechnic library and its periodical unit is given. The annual expenditure made in the last six (6) years is  mentioned, after ascertaining the variation in the number of periodicals subscribed,  proper problems are identified in respect of subscription of Nigerian and foreign  periodicals. Difficulties in the maintenance and smooth functioning of the periodical unit of the library are identified. Effective and efficient consortium is suggested in view of information explosion, adoption of modern information and communication technology is suggested as a suitable solution. For timely and efficient services it is suggested that the library should have a modern bindery and reprography unit. Resources sharing  regarding exchange of contents pages of periodical with standard libraries is suggested as suitable in the cross road of rising costs of information resources and inelastic budget.

Keywords: periodicals, periodical subscription, library, researchers