The Challenges and Prospects of Cataloguing and Classification in Academic Libraries in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The study aimed to investigate the challenges and prospects of cataloguing and classification in academic libraries in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design. The population of the study was made up of 66 practicing librarians who attended the Nigerian Library Association, Bayelsa State chapter 2018 annual conference held in Yenagoa. Questionnaire entitled “Challenges and Prospects of Cataloguing and Classification Questionnaire (CPCCQ)” that contained close-ended items was used to collect data for the study. The findings revealed, inadequate staff, lack of up-to-date tools, difficulties of cataloguing and classifying of backlogged, inadequate motivation, etc. as some challenges militating against the technical sections of the academic libraries studied. The study also reveals, increase advocacy for library automation, available training opportunities outside the State, the introduction of information management system, accelerated movement from manual to computerized method, etc as indication of brighter future or good prospect for the technical sections of the libraries studied. Base on the findings some recommendations were made.