The Changing Information Needs Of Patrons And It’S Affect In The Acquisition Of Information Resource Development Policy In Academic Libraries

This research x-ray the Policy in the Information Resource Acquisition in Academic Libraries in Nasarawa State. To carry out the objectives of the study, five research questions were drawn. Survey research method was adopted for the study while structured questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The instruments collected were statistically analyzed using descriptive method. The respondents were asked the following questions: the extent of coverage in the policy, implementation and evaluation of the policy. The findings revealed that only three out of the five academic libraries studied have a written information resource development policy. Also the finding revealed that the Information Resource Development Policy of the Academic libraries in this libraries contain components of  information resource development policy and this components is extensively covered  in the development of their resource.  However, the study further revealed that not all the acquisition librarians are aware of the year of establishment of the policy and how frequently it is revised. It was also discovered that the information resource development policy of the libraries with written policy is fully guided for resource development and the changing information needs of patrons have to some extent affected the implementation of the policy. The authors recommend that standard, written and functional Information Resource Development Policy be put in place to help the library in the selection, acquisition and management of information resource in order to meet the aims and objectives of the libraries and institutions at large.