Page 18 - DLIS001_FOUNDATION_OF_LIBRARY_AND_INFORMATION_SCIENCE

Unit 1: Concept of Library Science

To maintain and operate an infrastructure that allows, among other things, suitable study, Notes
documentation, storage, preservation, presentation and research conditions.

Task Critically examine how quality enhances the status and effectiveness of a library
science.

Self Assessment

State whether the following statements are true or false:
13. A library is also the only centre to which, normally all requests for information about the
nation will be addressed only from inside the country.

14. Quantity of service enhances the prestige and usefulness of a library.
15. A country with limited resources and huge collections of its own, recorded knowledge on
all branches of knowledge should build up its library only as a special collection on the
nation.

Case Study Library Visits and Consultation

he primary focus of a library is service. It is widely recognized that service quality
and consumer satisfaction are essential for retaining current consumers and
Tattracting new ones. The traditional method of measuring the quality of an academic
library in quantifiable terms of its collection and use does not offer an indication of the
quality of service, and new ways to measure quality in libraries have emerged during the
past decade. Although every teacher and research scholar now have ready access to online
resources, the role of the traditional documents is still important.

Significant studies have been conducted on the use of libraries by students, research scholars,
and faculty members. Jorosi (2006) looked at information needs and information seeking
behaviours of Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME) managers in Botswana’s
manufacturing industry, using a self-administered questionnaire. The key findings of the
study are that SME managers devote a significant amount of time to active information-
seeking and spend an average of five hours per week seeking information on customer
and competition information.

Bouazza and Mufaraji (2005) looked at school library use by teachers, finding that 36 per
cent use the library Once a week, while and 32 per cent rarely use the library. Similarly,
Shokeen and Kaushik (2002), who looked at the information-seeking behaviour of social
scientists, found that a large majority of respondents visited the library daily and a significant
number twice a week. Singh (2002) conducted a study on faculty members at the University
of Delhi. He found that 36 per cent visit the library to prepare notes for teaching, and that
nearly 60 per cent visit the library two-to-four times a week. Lohar and Kumbar (2002)
found that a majority of respondents visit the library to consult textbooks or reference
books and to read newspapers and popular magazines. Nearly 70 per cent consulted the
library catalogue. A comprehensive study by Rajagopal (1989) found that 80 per cent of

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