CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION. The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme. (SIWES) is a skill training programme designed to expose and

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1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION BRIEF HISTORY OF SIWES The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill training programme designed to expose and prepare students of universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education for the industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. The scheme also affords students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing themselves to the needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that are usually not available in their institutions. Before establishment of the scheme, there was a growing concern among our industrialists that graduates of institutions of higher learning lacked adequate practical background studies preparatory for employment industries. Thus the employers were of the opinion that the theoretical education going on in higher institutions was not responsive to the needs of the employers of labour. It is against this background that the rationale for initiating and designing the scheme by the fund during its 1

2 formative years 1973/74 was introduced to acquaint students with the skills of handling employers equipment and machinery. The ITF solely funded the scheme during its formative years. But as the financial involvement became unbearable to the fund, it withdrew from the scheme in The federal government handed over the scheme in 1979 to both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Later, the federal government in November 1984 reverted the management and implementation of the scheme to ITF and it was effectively taken over by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in July 1985 with the funding being solely borne by the federal government. (Culled from Job Specifications on Students Industrial work Experience Scheme). General Objectives of SIWES SIWES is strategized for skill acquisition. It is in fact designed to prepare and expose students of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education to the real-life work situation they would encounter after graduation. 2

3 Therefore, SIWES is key factor required to inject and engender industrialization and economic development in our nation through the induction of scientific and technological skills on students. (Culled from Detailed Manual on SIWES Guidelines and Operations for Tertiary Institutions). Brief Description of Place of Attachment Brief History of Prof. Ben Nwabueze Library The College library is located at the permanent site of the college. It was established in May, 1990 and located on first floor of a lecture hall at the temporary site of the college with a start-up volume of two hundred and fifty (250) books. The library continued to serve to an extent, the interest of its clientele and continued to grow over the years. In 2010, with a bungalow situated in the new permanent site of the college, the college library was moved from temporary to the permanent site. There was no structure raised specially for the library until 2013 when the library complex was completed. On the 22 nd March, 2013, the library complex was commissioned by the then Honorable Minister of Education, 3

4 Prof. Ruquyyatu Ahmed Rufai. The library being the information centre for the college of education, provides extensive materials (books, visuals and audio-visuals) for learning and research which is at the best interest of the students and staff of the college as well as other authorized persons. It provides equally services such as bindery and inter library loan. At present, the library is in its development stage and has such sections as the circulation, technical services, virtual library, COLLEGE serials/reference, LIBRARIAN African and special collection, and the bindery sections. The library staff include the professionals, Para-professionals and non-professionals. TECHNICAL SERVICES PUBLIC SERVICES SERIALS/ REFERENCE SECTION BINDERY AFRICAN/ UNIT SPECIAL COLLECTION VIRTUAL LIBRARY The college library has its opening and closing hours as: Monday to Friday 8:00am 6:00pm HOD HOD HOD Saturdays 9:00am 4:00pm HOD HOD Sundays 2:00pm 6:00pm CIRCULATION JOURNALS, ENCYCLOPEDIAS NEWSPAPER ETC Vacation period 8:00am 4:00pm COMPUTER OPERATOR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART OF PROF. BEN. NWABUEZE LIBRARY GOVERNMENT, NON-GOVERNMENT, RESEARCH COLLEGE PROJECT, PUBLICATIONS IT REPORT, SEMIN 4 ACQUISITION CATALOGUING CLASSIFICATION

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6 I reported for work on 11 th May which was my first day at work. I was introduced to the library staff and they all welcomed me. The library has seven units, as such, my colleagues and I were meant to spend three weeks in each unit apart from the last unit where we spent one month. Therefore, the report unfolds unit by unit in chronological order. Pictures have been attached were necessary to make lucid the nature of duties performed. 6

7 CHAPTER TWO WORK ACTIVITIES VARIOUS UNITS OF OPERATION Technical Services Unit In the first three weeks of my industrial training, I was posted to the technical services unit. I worked in the unit precisely between 16 th May to 3 rd June. The technical services unit is the unit where new books that come into the library arrive and are processed before display for public consumption. The major activities carried out in the unit are acquisition, cataloguing and classification of books. I was taught by the technical services librarian how to perform these activities and I was able to perform these duties under the supervision of the librarian, MR. OKAFOR PETER. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED - I registered twenty new books that were acquired in the technical services unit by writing the author, title and the publisher of each book. 7

8 - I stamped twenty-five books by stamping them with the big stamp on the full title page and then with the small stamp on the secret pages which are every tenth page beginning from page five. It also involves stamping the last page and then the edges of the book. - I accessioned the twenty-five books using the accessioning machine. I did the accessioning by engraving on the full title page of each of the books. The accession number then attaching the year (2016) to it e.g I registered the books that I accessioned in the accession register by entering in the appropriate columns the year of accessioning, accession number, imprint, author and title. - I catalogued the books using the cataloguing slips by writing the name of the author, title, subject, imprint and other bibliographic details and classification schedule. - I gave the books author number using the author table. 8

9 EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIT I learnt how to catalogue edited books. I learnt how to use the cutter tables and assign author numbers to books. I understood better the necessity of secret pages in stamping. I learnt that serials can equally be catalogued like books when issues of a particular volume are complete and collated. PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT TETFund has a certain policy that restricts libraries from processing books bought through the fund for a long time. Most of the books are foreign in nature as such classifying them were somewhat difficult. BINDERY UNIT In the second three weeks of my industrial training, I was posted to the bindery unit. I worked in the unit from 6 th June to 24 th June. The unit takes care of deteriorated library books. The unit equally provides bindery services to the college at large especially during binding of students research projects. I performed successfully the following 9

10 activites under the close supervision of the chief bindery officer. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED - I spiral bound five books. - I unbound five assignments for students with unbinding machine. - I soft bound ten books. - I cut two cardboard sheets for book pockets and index cards. Some materials used for binding books and projects include: strawboards, binding cloth, paper gum, end leave, top bond gum, thread, etc. While some of the equipment include guillotine machine, nipping pressing machine, cutting machine, manual pressing machine, laminating machine, 10

11 manual perforator, clip, trimming jack knife. EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIT I learnt that there are different types of binding such as spiral binding, soft binding, unibinding and hard binding. 11

12 I learnt that soft binding is the type mostly used for library books unless in special cases. I learnt that it is necessary to tear leaves of a book apart so that sowing it will be limited to the spine area. I learnt how to set chess. I learnt how to use the guillotine machine in cutting sheets. PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT Lack of Automation: Most of the activities in the bindery unit ought to be automated such as the use of the chess and hot printing machine. Time Wasting and Energy Consuming: There are no automated machines as such much time and energy was wasted in binding a particular book. Inadequate Power Supply: The hot printing machine needed electrical power supply to print wordings on the back cover otherwise, the alternative would be to use kerosene stove. NEWSPAPER ROOM In the third three weeks, I was posted to the newspaper room. I worked in the room from 27 th June to 22 nd July. The room is an extension of the reference/serials unit. 12

13 The room acquires vanguard and Daily Sun Newspapers on daily basis while magazines are occasionally acquired. The newspapers are displayed on the racks with the most current coming first. The room equally prepares index cards for articles that are relevant to education, health, religion, culture etc. in the newspapers and magazines. At the end of every month, old collections are tied together and labeled. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED - I indexed some newspaper and magazine articles. - I displayed newspapers on the newspaper rack. - I arranged accumulated newspapers and tied them according to months. - I helped some researchers to find information in the newspapers and magazines. 13

14 EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIT I learnt how to index newspaper and magazine articles. I learnt how to display newspapers on the newspaper rack. I learnt about feature articles in newspapers. PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT There is no cabinet box for storage of index cards. Newspapers are not bound as such preservation becomes difficult. Sometimes, the newspapers arrive the room late. I learnt how to subscribe for newspapers and magazines. 14

15 REFERENCE UNIT I worked in the reference unit between 25 th July and 26 th August. This is the unit of the library that houses all the journals, conference proceedings, dictionaries, encyclopedia and other reference materials such as WHO is WHO in Africa, WHO is WHO in Nigeria etc. The unit also offers special reference services for instance when a patron wants to know when Nnamdi Azikiwe Died, they can easily get the answer from the reference unit. The unit also prepares index cards to journal articles. I performed successfully the following duties under the close supervision of the reference librarian, Mrs ANYAOGU JOY. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED I stamped twenty five journals with the librarie s ownership stamp. I registered the journal in the journal register. I accessioned the twenty-five journals in line with the accession register requirement. I indexed all the articles in the twenty-five journals. I helped students to find appropriate materials for their research. EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIT 15

16 I learnt how to index journal articles. I learnt how to use index to encyclopedia to locate information in encyclopedia. I learnt the essence of pamphlet boxes and the use od kardex card PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT Tetfund policy of inspecting books bought through their funds before being displayed for public consumption makes an unimaginable number of journals to be stocked in bags rather than shelves. It is always difficult to locate a particular journal as journals do not have call number unlike books. Most students are uninformed or are uninterested about the services of the unit. SPECIAL COLLECTION/AFRICANA UNIT In the fifth three weeks of my Industrial Training, I was posted to the special collection unit. I worked in the unit from 29 th August to 16 th September. The unit is charged with the responsibility of collecting students research projects, stamping them, registering them and shelving them. The unit equally houses seminar report, I.T. Report, government and non government publications, text from colleges of education, NCCE and NUC publications, books from FAO, 16

17 world bank, WHO, UNESCO, UNICEF and pamphlets. These books are special type of publications that are not found in the market rather they are acquired from the institutions or organizations that publish them. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED - I stamped some research projects. - I registered some research projects. - I shelved the research projects. - I helped some students to find research projects of their choice. EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIT I learnt how to acquire special publications. I learnt the necessity of stocking projects in the library. I learnt that special publications can equally be accessioned. PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT There is no identification system for individual research projects unlike books. The library does not allow research projects to be photocopied but school of education requests photocopies of title page which forces the library breach her law. 17

18 Student feel offended when they are told that projects cannot be photocopied. VIRTUAL LIBRARY UNIT I worked in the virtual library from 19 th September to 7 th October. This unit is a web based, digitalized and electronic library in that it houses all information resources in a digitized manner. The virtual library has e.g. e-granary that houses all the information resources of Iowa State University, New York including their books, journals, projects, theses and can be accessed by other computers connected to the server through local area network. The unit equally has applications such as vista in their computer systems for use by users who do not have computers. The virtual library equally provides free WI-FI services within the library complex. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED - I helped students to find information resources on the internet. - I helped students to connect their private computers to WI-FI. 18

19 - I checked library cards at the front of the visual library to ensure that all the users were registered users of the library. - I help students to locate information resources in the internet. 19

20 - I helped students to connect their computer to Wi-Fi 20

21 EXPERIENCE IN THE UNIT I learnt about e-granary and how it works. I learnt how to access the resource of other libraries online. I learnt to type fast with computer through practice with mavis beacon application in the computer. I learnt how to create a blog. PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT. The e-granary subscription expires after five years, the last subscription has expired and another subscription has not been done, as a result the e-granary is not functional. Most of the students who visit the visual library only come to exploit free Wi-Fi service to chat on social media; such as facebook, whatsapp, instagram, watch online football, listen to online music which are out of 21

22 the educational circle which is the major purpose of establishing the visual library. Most of the students lack awareness about the services of the visual library (free Wi-Fi service). The information resources of the main library are not digitized which is a minus in the efficiency of the visual library. CIRCULATION UNIT This is the first port of call in the college library. I worked in this unit from 10 th Oct to 11 th Nov. It is located downstairs and it is the very first unit every user meets while entering the library. This is the central eye of the library as a result of the fact that students are registered to use the library at the circulation unit by issuance of library cards and equally cleared from the library and at the same unit by issuance of clearance forms. The library catalogue and reading rooms equally fall under this unit which also collects past questions,organizes them according to departments and soft binds them for students use. The unit charges and discharges books and equally keeps book on reserve. NATURE OF DUTIES PERFORMED 22

23 - I helped students to locate books on the shelves using the catalogue. - I issued library cards to students. - I charged and discharged some books. - I kept some books on reserve. - I sorted second semester past question into departments and organized them for binding. EXPERIENCE IN UNIT - I learnt how to issue library cards. - I learnt how to charge and discharge books using the Browne charging system. - I learnt how to locate books on the shelve using the catalogue. - I learnt how to keep books on reserve. PROBLEMS IN THE UNIT - Students do not use the catalogue resulting to unimaginable disarrangement of books. - Most students lack the skill of locating information materials in the library yet they fail to make consultation. - There is no organized system for collecting the exam past questions. Hence the library staff have to take pains to move from examination hall to another gathering the past examination papers. SPECIAL PROJECT CARRIED OUT I produced A WALLPAPER CATALOGUE of the library. This came to be out of my observation that almost all the 23

24 library users do not consult the catalogue to find their desired books. This particular phenomenon is a threat to the relevance of the library because it is the catalogue that connects the library users and the books on the shelve. It was equally part of my observation that users dread the card catalogue due to the skills required in using it ranging from understanding complex filling system, pulling of the drawers and subject heading issues. This was what led to my idea of producing a catalogue that will ameliorate all these technicalities and ease access to books which I named A WALLPAPER CATALOGUE. This is because, it is to be hung on the wall. The project was welcomed by the college librarian who later directed that it should be long beside the card catalogue cabinet. In addition, I have published a soft copy of the wallpaper catalogue on my blog facetacademics.wordpress.com for online access. 24

25 CHAPTER THREE Relationship with Management and Staff during Attachment 25

26 The relationship I had with the management and staff of Prof. Ben Nwabueze Library was mutual, this is obvious from the beginning of the attachment when I was introduced to all the library staff and they welcomed me. The staff of the library were not harsh, they were not too authoritative and were ready to hearken to my problems, instruct, teach and correct whenever possible. In other words, they were friendly and jovial and this gave me the courage to navigate through the facilities, paraphernalia of the library learning, imbibing, discovering problems and even deliberating solutions to the problems. The college librarian on his own side was more of a teacher as he was always available to attend to questions, direct and correct. I must remark that it is his approachable but tactical and diplomatic nature of him that gave me the courage to suggest my special project to him after which he consented. If he was something more or less than that, I would have lost courage. 26

27 CHAPTER FOUR FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS I was able to discover the following during the period of my industrial training: Tetfund policy of inspecting information materials bought through their fund before use disturbs the flow of information as it takes up to three or even four years before they conduct the inspection. Students clearance system in the library is too loose in that even students who do not have library cards are cleared without any penalty. Reference and serials units are merged as one unit which may not enable the reference unit to play its role as the location is not suitable to play maximum reference role. There is no permanent storage system for index cards in the newspaper room. Complete volumes of serials are supposed to be collated and bound as books but it is not done. Newspapers are not equally bound for preservation. There is no fine for overdue books. E-granary is not functional due to lack of subscription. There is no photocopying machine for reprography. Library cards are not checked at the entrance of the visual library to identify registered users. 27

28 In most cases the library staff are always in hurry to close even before the official time. Most of the students who come to the virtual library come to chat on social media such as facebook or even charge their electrical gadgets and appliances instead of educational activities. Suggestions following: Against the above findings, I therefore suggest the Tetfund should revise their policy or make inspection faster. There should be more advert on the services of the library especially the virtual library. A catalogue cabinet should be constructed for storage of index cards in the newspaper. Complete volume of serials should be bound and catalogued to ease access to them. Reference unit should be separated from the serials unit bearing in mind the duties and to avoid confusing users. The library staff should be made to exhaust the working hour 8am 6pm rather than persuading readers to leave the library before time. PERSONAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED 28

29 The major problems that I encountered was transportation as I had to transport myself to the library on daily basis which worsened when students went on vacation hence, I had to use commercial motorcycle riders instead of the shuttle bus. The period during which students were on vacation was almost hell as the library was dry in terms of patrons and as such boring. 29

30 CHAPTER FIVE SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION My industrial training at Prof. Ben Nwabueze library Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze which I started on 11 th May and ended on 11 th November was a wonderful experience. I had four supervisors one from Unizik, two were institutional based and the last is ITF. This report has taken to encompass a comprehensive report of the training across the seven units, my special project, relationship with management and staff, findings and suggestions, summary and conclusion etc. A definition of technical terms has been given to aid non-librarians while reading the report. In conclusion, the SIWES programme has proved invaluable as I know that I am not going back to the classroom the same. 30