UNETHICAL PRACTICES IN LIBRARY: A SURVEY IN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES IN HYDERABAD

Abstract

A survey has been done in University Libraries in Hyderabad to find out the status of security systems being adopted in university libraries. This paper finds out library unethical practices, which are being practiced by the users in the university libraries, the different causes for the unethical practices. It also finds out, which libraries are more vulnerable to library unethical practices amongst print materials in general, serials or periodical collection, reference collection, and reserve collection. The paper depicts possible preventive measures such as checking ID cards, security approach, electronic security system, etc to control unethical practices in the university libraries. The study also reveals whether the Library Security Management (LSM) committee or team chaired by senior personnel in the library exists to make decisions about security-related matters such as theft, mutilation to guide the security personnel for safeguarding the university library assets. The study discovers whether library security personnel include female security person to handle female users who come to the university libraries. The study unearths whether library staff properly trained to record and report unethical practices in the university libraries for strengthening the library security.