BOOK THEFT AND MUTILATION: CASE STUDIES OF ANTI-LIBRARY HABITS IN AN ACADEMIC LIBRARY IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Book theft and mutilation are prevalent issues in Nigerian academic libraries, significantly hindering library development and academic pursuits. Many librarians acknowledge it as a common problem but often fail to seek solutions. This article highlights specific instances of book theft and mutilation, the methods employed by culprits, and the involvement of library staff, drawing from experiences in an academic library. The analysis includes statistics on affected book materials and pages. The author warns of the dire consequences for libraries and their services if these anti-social behaviors are not addressed, comparing the harm to a "silent killer" that threatens essential library collections, akin to natural disasters mentioned by Richmond (1975).