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. 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 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 % 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 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 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 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 mailto:topacademicjournals@gmail.com https://cdr.lib.unc.edu/record;jsessionid=3884A78A76153C3CD7046649394B89A6?id=uuid