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Unit 4: Library Orientation

Self Assessment Notes

Fill in the blanks:
1. The user education consists of two elements namely: ............ and ............. .
2. Orientation means alignment of oneself to ............... or ................. .
3. Poeple entering in library for the first time commonly feel ............ and ............ .

4.2 Basics of Library Orientation

Library orientation or user orientation towards the library has to do with adjusting the new library
user to the library.

4.2.1 Aims of Library Orientation

Important aims of library orientation are:
• to ensure that library users can make use of library resources and services, adequately and to
their own satisfaction
• to help library users to feel at home in the library and trust the competency of the library staff
• to enable library users to become skilled at finding information and thus foster feelings of
confidence and independence.

Library Orientation
Library orientation is of particular value to users who are coming to the library for the first time.
People entering an unfamiliar environment, like a library, commonly experience disorientation and
stress. Libraries intimidate people through their complexity, their huge volume of books and other
library material, and their unfamiliar tools and equipment.
This strangeness is one of the reasons why we as library workers should try our best to make new
library users feel comfortable and welcome at the library. Our attitude and behaviour should tell
library users that they are welcome at the library and that we are interested in them and want to be
of help.
It is very important that new library users should know where to go to find more information, if
necessary. They must know that they can always rely on the library workers to do their best to meet
the information needs of library users.

Good library signage systems can make it easier for library staff who have to help
users to find their way and gain access to the different collections and sections of
the library.

Library Signage
A good library guidance system helps to give a library a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and promote
its image as a well-organized, efficient place. The underlying principle of a good library signage
system is that it introduces people to the plan and functions of the library, and helps them to create a
mental map of where they are in the library in relation to where they want to go.

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