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Library and its Users
Notes (iii) Actual user: One who has actually used an information service regardless of whether he
derived advantages from it or not.
(iv) The beneficiary user: One who derives measurable advantages from information services.
User groups may be divided in a number of ways. They can be divided as administratively into
internal and external users. Another type of classification of user community on the basis of library
service they make use of is the following.
Self Assessment
Multiple Choice Questions:
3. Information users can be categorised mainly into:
(a) 4 groups (b) 3 groups
(c) Two groups (d) One group.
4. One who needs information which can be provided by specific services is called:
(a) Potential user (b) Expected user
(c) Actual user (d) Beneficiary user.
General readers
This type of user group, for example associated with public libraries, generally use light lending
materials.
Subject Readers
This type of user concentrates their use of library materials on subject field they are working or
specializing.
Special Readers
The users placed in this group are those with special needs, the result of disabilities of one kind or
another physical or mental disability may be distinguished.
Non-Readers Users
These are made up of sub groups who make use of library materials, but not reading materials. A
user coming into the library just to borrow a video or audio cassette is the best example of non-
reading user.
What is information users? Explain the different groups of information users.
Self Assessment
State whether the following statements are true or false:
5. Subject readers concentrates their use of library materials on subject field they are working
or specializing.
6. Special readers are associated with public libraries.
14 LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY
