




































    

 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.8, Issue 2; March - April 2023; 

ISSN: 2837-2964 

Impact Factor: 6.67 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

 
 

 

 

12 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

|  https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET 

EXPLORING USER PERCEPTIONS OF BOOK THEFT AND MUTILATION: A CASE STUDY 

Rajesh Kumar Sharma 

Librarian Fatepur High (H.S.) School Pailan College of Management & India Technology, Kolkata, India 

 

ABSTRACT  

Libraries serve as organized repositories of knowledge and resources, offering access to a wide range of 

materials in various formats to a defined community. This paper delves into the concept of libraries, 

emphasizing their role in providing both physical and digital resources to users. Libraries, whether physical 

structures or virtual spaces, house an array of materials, including books, periodicals, digital media, and more, 

catering to diverse information needs. The historical roots of the term "library" can be traced to Latin and 

Greek origins, with derivatives like "bibliothèque" in French, symbolizing the idea of a bookcase and library 

in modern languages. 

One of the challenges libraries face is the intentional damage, defacement, or theft of materials, known as 

mutilation. Mutilation encompasses acts such as tearing covers and pages, cutting out content, and removing 

labels or bookplates, all of which deplete library resources. The motives behind such actions vary, ranging 

from a sense of entitlement to financial reasons or disagreements with the library's collection choices, and 

even malicious intent. 

This paper presents a case study focused on user attitudes toward book theft and mutilation within a 

management college library, shedding light on the perceptions and behaviors surrounding these issues. 

 

Keywords: library, resources, book theft, mutilation, user attitudes, management college. 

 

INTRODUCTION  

“A Library to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas a 

place where history comes to life” (Norman Cousins)  

A library (from French "librairie"; Latin "liber" = book) is an organized collection of resources made 

accessible to a defined community for reference or borrowing. It provides physical or digital access to 

material, and may be a physical building or room, or a virtual space, or both.A library's collection can include 

books, periodicals, newspapers, manuscripts, films, maps, prints, documents, microform, CDs, cassettes, 

videotapes, DVDs, e-books, audiobooks, databases, and other formats. Libraries range in size from a few 

shelves of books to several million items. In Latin and Greek, the idea of bookcase is represented by 

Bibliotheca and Bibliothēkē (Greek: βιβλιοθήκη): derivatives of these mean library in many modern 

languages, e.g. French bibliothèque.5 ODLIS described mutilation as “Damage, defacement, or destruction of 

library materials inflicted intentionally, rather than accidentally, including tearing covers and pages; cutting 

out illustrations or passages of text; and removing labels, bookplates, protective covers, date due slips, etc.--

all actions that drain library resources. The motives for such acts range from an attitude of entitlement, to 

monetary concerns (libraries generally charge for photocopying), to disapproval of the library's collection 

development decisions, and outright malice”. 6 This paper is a case study which examined the Users attitudes 

to book theft and mutilation in management college library.  

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 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.8, Issue 2; March - April 2023; 

ISSN: 2837-2964 

Impact Factor: 6.67 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

 
 

 

 

13 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

|  https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET 

Objective:  

 Distribution of questionnaire  

 Frequency of Library use  

 Purpose of Library visit  

 Chances of being caught  

 Causes of book theft or mutilating Books  

 Opportunity time for stealing and mutilation  

 Method adopted for book theft or mutilating   

 Is library book theft or mutilation normally wrong  

SCOPE AND LIMITATION   

The present study covers the students, Staff and faculty of Library and Documentation Centre,Pailan College 

of Management & Technology. Sector-I Phase-I. Bengal PailanPark.Joka., Kolkata-700104.The college has 

almost 3,000 students. College library has over 16,500 books, Journals and other resource materials. PCMT 

library provide DELNET online journal for user.  

METHODOLOGY USED FOR DATA COLLECTION  

Data on access and utilization of information resources was collected through a questionnaire designed for 

the purpose. The survey method was employed to collect the required data. A detailed questionnaire was 

prepared for this purpose and in order to enhance the validity and reliability of the questionnaire, experts in 

the field of library science, psychology and statistics were consulted and were requested to review the 

questionnaire critically. Questionnaire was revised based on the suggestions. The study was limited to the 

user the library of Pailan College of Management & Technology (PCMT). Total of 160 questionnaires were 

distributed to collect the primary data. 135 Questionnaires were received. Collected data were analyzed.  

DISCUSSION  

Table 1: Distribution of questionnaire  

Particulars  Readers  

Questionnaire distributed  160  

Questionnaire received  135  

Table 2: Frequency of Library use    

Frequency of Library use  

  

No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

Everyday  65  48.14  

Once in a week  35  25.94  

Once in a month  31  22.96  

Infrequently  04  02.96  

Table 2 represents frequency of library use. 65 respondents everyday use library. 35 respondents once in a 

week use library. 31respondents once in a month use library.04 respondents infrequently use library.  

Table 3: Purpose of Library visit  

Purpose of Library visit  No.  of  %  

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 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.8, Issue 2; March - April 2023; 

ISSN: 2837-2964 

Impact Factor: 6.67 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

 
 

 

 

14 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

|  https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET 

  Respondents  

Education  102  75.55  

Entertainment  022  16.29  

Sports  00  00.00  

Other  011  08.16  

Table 3 shows purpose of library visit. 102 respondents visit library for education purpose. 022 respondents 

visit library for entertainment purpose and so on. 4  

Table 4 : Chances of being caught   

Chances of being caught   No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

2 out of 4  25  18.52  

2 out of 20  47  34.82  

2 out of 200  63  46.66  

Table 4 displays chances of being caught. According to 25 respondents, 2 out of 4 chances of being caught.47 

respondents, 2 out of 20 chances of being caught. 63 respondents, 2 out of 200 chances of being caught.1  

Table 5 : Period in which stealing and mutilation are committed  

Period in which stealing and mutilation are 

committed  

  

No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

10.00am-12.30pm  27  20.00  

12.30pm-3.00pm   62  45.92  

03.00pm-5.30pm  46  34.08  

Table 5 discloses that between 12.30am – 3.00pm mostly stealing and mutilation are committed. After that 

stealing and mutilation are committed between 03.00pm-5.30pm and so on.  

Table 6: Causes of book theft or mutilating Books  

Causes of book theft or mutilating Books   No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

The price of the book is very high  24  17.78  

Do  not  have  enough  

facility of Xerox  

25  18.52  

Do not consider the need of others  49  36.29  

Unconsciousness about the importance of 

books  

18  13.34  

Steal or mutilate books as expression of 

hostility toward the library  

19  14.07  

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 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.8, Issue 2; March - April 2023; 

ISSN: 2837-2964 

Impact Factor: 6.67 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

 
 

 

 

15 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

|  https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET 

Table 6 shows that 24 respondents think that the price of the book is very high is the causes of stealing or 

mutilating Books. 25respondents think that do not have enough facility of Xerox is the another causes of 

stealing or mutilating Books.  

Table 7: Preventive measure  

Preventive measure  

  

No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

Provision  of  Xerox  

facilities  

44  32.59  

Cooperative staff   25  18.51  

Create  consciousness among user  30  22.23  

Strong rules about steeling and mutilation and 

throughout checking  

36  26.67  

Table 7 revealed that provision of Xerox facility, Strong rules about steeling and mutilation & throughout 

checking, create consciousness among user and cooperative staff can prevent book theft or mutilating. 2  

Table 8: Method adopted for book theft or mutilating   

Method adopted for book theft or mutilating   

  

No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

Tearing  of  important pages  60  44.46  

Throwing books out of the window  42  31.11  

Removal of due date slip from borrowed book 

to un-borrowed one  

26  19.25  

Other  07  05.18  

Table 8 reveals that 60 respondents identified that tearing of important pages is the main method adopted for 

book theft or mutilating. Beside this removal of due date slip from borrowed book to un-borrowed one is the 

another method of book theft or mutilating and so on.  

Table 9 : Is library book theft or mutilation normally wrong  

Is library book theft or mutilation normally  

wrong  

  

No.  of  

Respondents  

%  

Yes  112  82.96  

No  016  11.85  

No opinion  007  05.19  

Table 9 discloses that most of the Respondents think that library book theft or mutilation normally wrong.  

mailto:topacademicjournals@gmail.com


    

 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.8, Issue 2; March - April 2023; 

ISSN: 2837-2964 

Impact Factor: 6.67 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

 
 

 

 

16 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

|  https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET 

CONCLUSION  

The problem of book theft and mutilation  of documents held in libraries is not new. The first incident of theft 

from a library can be traced back to Persian conquerors removing papyrus rolls from an Egyptian library in 

539 BC. 3 The problem is growing day by day. Ranganathan (1970) through his guiding principles of library 

services contained in his five laws of library science, pointed out the usefulness and importance of the reader 

to any library. Book theft and mutilation  of documents affect the library services. The major findings of this 

study are below-  

 65 respondents everyday use library. 35 respondents once in a week use library. 31respondents once 

in a month use library.04 respondents infrequently use library.  

 102 respondents visit library for education purpose. 022 respondents visit library for entertainment 

purpose and so on.  

 According to 25 respondents, 2 out of 4 chances of being caught. 47 respondents, 2 out of 20 chances 

of being caught. 63 respondents, 2 out of 200 chances of being caught.  

 Between 12.30am – 3.00pm mostly stealing and mutilation are committed. After that stealing and 

mutilation are committed between 03.00pm-5.30pm and so on.  

 24 respondents think that the price of the book is very high is the causes of stealing or mutilating 

Books. 25respondents think that do not have enough facility of Xerox is the another causes of stealing or 

mutilating Books.  

 Provision of Xerox facility, Strong rules about steeling and mutilation & throughout checking, create 

consciousness among user and cooperative staff can prevent book theft or mutilating.  

 60 respondents identified that tearing of important pages is the main method adopted for book theft or 

mutilating. Beside this removal of due date slip from borrowed book to unborrowed one is the another method 

of book theft or mutilating and so on.  

 60 respondents identified that tearing of important pages is the main method adopted for book theft or 

mutilating. Beside this removal of due date slip from borrowed book to unborrowed one is the another method 

of book theft or mutilating and so on.  

 Most of the Respondents think that library book theft or mutilation normally wrong.  

 SUGGESTIONS  

• Proper orientation should be given to users of the libraries.  

• Affected libraries should launch campaign against user delinquency;   Libraries should engage more 

trained security personnel.  

• The photocopying services of the library should be subsidized.   

REFERENCES  

Alafiatoyo, BO. 1987. Students attitudes to book theft mutilation in a university library. v12(1) pp.19-37  

Opaleke, JS, Raja, AA, Folorunsho.2004. Anexamination of mutilation and theft cases in Nigerianacademic 

and publiclibraries. v7 pp. 271-279  

mailto:topacademicjournals@gmail.com


    

 Academic Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology 

Vol.8, Issue 2; March - April 2023; 

ISSN: 2837-2964 

Impact Factor: 6.67 

1252 Columbia Rd NW, Washington DC, United States 

https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET/index; mail: topacademicjournals@gmail.com 

 
 

 

 

17 | A c a d e m i c  J o u r n a l  o f  S c i e n c e ,  E n g i n e e r i n g  a n d  T e c h n o l o g y  

|  https://topjournals.org/index.php/AJSET 

Stewartm, J A. 1999. How much is too much? a case study to determine whether the cost of book loss at the 

geology library at the university of north carolina at chapel hill is greater than the cost of an electronic 

security 

system.https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/record;jsessionid=3884A78A76153C3CD7046649394B89A6?id=uuid 

%3A3a290cec-e285-4061-9d75-2ac9b004ab30 Visited on 23.10.2012  

4.Chandra, S.   2011. Efficient use of departmental libraries with special reference to Narula Institute of 

Technology, India International Journal of Library and Information Science v 3(6), pp. 116-119  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library visited on 23.10.2012  

http://www.abc-clio.com/ODLIS/odlis_p.aspx visited on 23.10.2012  

 

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