A study of classification of Arabic materials in selected university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study addresses the classification challenges faced by academic libraries in Selected university libraries in Kwara State, Nigeria in organising Arabic materials. Traditional systems like Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) and Library of Congress Classification (LCC) are inadequate for accurately categorizing Arabic texts, leading to frequent wrong classification, limited access, and hindrance to research in fields such as Islamic studies. The study’s objectives were to (i) identify specific issues in classifying Arabic materials, (ii) assess the adequacy of current classification schemes, and (iii) propose improvements. A descriptive survey was conducted with librarians in cataloguing roles at three universities, yielding an 80% response rate from 50 copies of questionnaires. Findings highlight major issues, including insufficient librarian training (75%), inadequate classification schemes (62.5%), wrong classification of Islamic subjects (50%), and transliteration challenges (37.5%). DDC and LCC were primarily used, with limited hybrid approaches (12.5%). Recommendations include specialized training, development of localized systems, adoption of hybrid models, inter-library collaboration, and regular evaluation to enhance accessibility and support research.