CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1 .1  BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

The quality of service provided by any library will be determined by the richness of its collection. According to oxford advanced learner’s dictionary 8th edition, stock is a supply of something that is available for use. Stock in library terms refers to book and non book materials in a given library.

The term acquisition means different thing to different people. Evans, (2000) defined acquisition as the process of securing materials for the library collection, whether by purchase as gifts or through exchange programs.

Gorman (1998) described acquisition as the procedure which is primarily concerned with ordering, claiming and receipt of materials for the library.

Acquisition according to Bakare (1999) is the means by which books and non book material are collected in a library or group of libraries.

The Librarian Glossary (2001) defined acquisition as the process of acquiring, or the department concerned with acquiring for the library.

Webster part II (1984) defined acquisition as the act of acquiring

According to oxford advanced learner’s dictionary, acquisition is the act of getting something especially knowledge and skills.

Wulfekoetter, (1961): Acquisition is the means by which additions are made to the library; this involves bringing in new materials into the library stock. These materials maybe acquired through direct purchase, gifts, exchanges, donations, inter-library loan cooperation and legal deposit especially if the government designated the library as a legal depository centre.

It is also the process of obtaining library materials, both books and non book materials, which aims at building up a library collection.

Effective acquisition development can only be possible in any library if the functions of that library are quite clear in a policy statement. It has always been impossible for any library to possess every material.

Stock acquisition in Alex Ekwueme library, Federal Polytechnic Oko, involves print and non print material. (Book and non Book materials).

Book acquisition according to Adedibu, L.O (1983) is the procurement of library books whether they are acquired by purchase, gift or through exchange.