Financial Management of Collections in University Libraries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

The main purpose of this study was to examine trends and developments in budgeting and financial management of collections in university libraries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Locally there is limited literature available on the financial management of university libraries in Pakistan. However, previously no study of this nature has been conducted. The present study aimed to close this gap through a sector wide survey through face-to-face interviews in 26 universities of the province of KPK. The fieldwork was conducted by principle author in June, 2015 with the specific objectives of investigating financial management of collections in the university libraries of KPK. The study found that no specific norms are followed by the university administration in allocating budget for libraries. The role of Library and Information Science (LIS) professionals in the financial management of libraries seems to be more of facilitators than decision makers. The overall analysis demonstrates that university libraries in KPK are more vulnerable to changes in future because of their reliance and dependence on expenditure allocations from parent institutions that are heavily dependent on public funding from the government. The study suggests that libraries with meager budget allocations cannot develop collections in line with the changing trends and needs of the users. Apart from it in the face of low budget allocation, there is an apprehension that instead of expanding collections, university libraries have been obsessed to maintain their old collection sizes and if weeding takes place then it would mean that collections have shrunk in size. Therefore, LIS professionals in the university libraries of KPK must be aggressive in forging connections both within their institutions and among their communities at large to recognize that financial management of collections is the only important step for effective collection development which will ultimately bring LIS professionals both satisfaction and rewards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]