Acquiring foreign language materials for Pakistani libraries : a study

This is a study of an aspect of information, book and library development in Pakistan. This is a detailed analysis of constraints encountered by libraries in procurement of materials from abroad. Information on current acquisition practices has been collected through a questionnaire supplemented by personal visits to libraries, plus interviews with those having reputation for being knowledgable on the subject. The published literature on the subject was studied. The country is dependent on import for 90% of its requirements to meet instructional and research needs. The university and special libraries share the major portion of the current acquisition. The acqllisition process is marred by a number of problems, viz. 1) lack of proper management; 2) absence of competent personnel; 3) non-existence of acquisition policy statements; 4) nonavailability of selection aids; 5) ever shrinking library budget; 6) high cost of books; 7) fluctuating rate of the rupee; 8) inflation, etc. Other types of import restrictions include: uncertain import policy, trade embargoes against some countries. fiscal policy and - , hurdles in customs clearance. The following are the major recommendations! 1) creation of independent acquisition department for university libraries; 2) institution of training programmes for acquisition staff; 3) preparation of guidelines for budgetary allocation, distribution and control; 4) formulation of collection development statement; 5) streamlining of book selection procedure; and, 6) removing of import restrictions of all kinds. Direct import by university libraries is recommended. Cooperation in serial acquisition among libraries of similar types is advocated.