Page 139 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Foundation of Library and Information Science

Notes Members of the various academic and executive bodies of the university;
The university management involved in its major task of managing of a large scale
institution of higher learning and research;

Scholars in general, who get special privileges of using the university library; and
Others
Thus, it can be seen, that the university libraries have a big responsibility and a very important
role to play not only in shaping students for higher learning and research, but also in providing
a variety of services to meet other demands.

7.4.4 Development of the Collection

A major responsibility of the university library is to build up a sound collection of documents
and other non-print materials, carefully geared to the academic needs of students, teachers,
researchers and others involved in academic pursuits. While it is difficult to define the best
collection or measure it, the actual and potential needs of users have to be assessed at appropriate
periodic intervals. User study techniques and methods have been developing in the last two or
three decades. Some of the methods now being adopted are citation analysis for the selection
and acquisition of current journals, analysis of library records on the use of the library, direct
contact with users to obtain valid information on their information gathering habits and similar
other types of studies that would give an insight into getting proper guidelines for acquisition.
The collection has to be built on the basis of expert advice. This is normally achieved by
constituting book selection committees, in which faculty members, who have intimate contact
with literature and current publishing, are usually represented. These book selection committees
should meet as often as is necessary to ensure that the best items go into the collection. The
routine work of scanning selection sources, identifying items of interest and quality, getting
them approved by appropriate authorities should be systematically and smoothly performed
during an academic year.
As the library is meeting the requirements of research of a large number of specialised projects,
it is necessary to acquire relevant documents such as government and official publications
which include various types of reports; conference proceedings, thesis and dissertations, patents
and standards and similar others. Besides print material, non-print materials such as microforms,
audio-visual kits, films, tape-slide kits, computer-based instructional materials, video-cassettes
and such others should also be acquired. In summary, the responsibilities of building up a
worthwhile collection in a university library is a highly skilled, scholarly and professional
work. Indeed the university library is rated high or low by the quality of collection it builds.

7.4.5 Services

The university library should offer a number of library, documentation and information services.
Among others, the services may include the following:

Library Services

Lending,
Information and Reference,

Reading Room,

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