The Problems and Prospect of Reference Services in Academic Libraries in Anambra State. A Case Study of Anambra State University, Uli.
Chapter One
Purpose of Study
The purpose of this study is to know the problems and prospect of reference services. Therefore the researcher will be able to find out the following purposes:
- To know if the reference section of the academic library is well organized.
- To know if there reference services are being rendered in line with other reference services in other libraries.
- To identify the strength and weakness of the library’s reference collection because any effective reference service may not be feasible without an appropriate and adequate reference collection.
- To enable the researcher carry out the findings so that to make recommendation for effective reference services in the library.
- To take the library to another level through the reference services.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
“A library when its collection is based on different nature, it serves as a body of different nomenclature to the users”. It has a staff trained in different subject matter; it often rendered services. Because academic libraries deals with general field of study, there is need to keep them up to date with whatever is going on in their field and they must be able to lead for further research. Previously writing on academic libraries were found in temples, educational establishments and universities. The growth of books and journals particularly following the invention of printing has developed into literature flood on all branches of the subject.
Thorton (1963) said “reference work in any library, consists of the exploitation of the stock for the benefit of readers” good reference work is dependant upon a librarian with a knowledge of the literature of the subject solving the readers queries and problems by the most divert method.
To accomplish this, it involves the aid of adequate book selection, catalogue classification, bibliographies, and other reference tools.
Fenton (1969) opined that: “reference work taken as a whole constitutes on extensive complex system in which many of the libraries departments play a part”, it covers the organization of every aspect of he reference service, the setting up of the library centralizes reference collection and services or the analysis of the reference works and periodicals by means of variety of catalogue and files, bibliographic searches and the compilation of bibliographies and indexes.
For the purpose of this study, literature review will be carried out under the following sub-headings;
- Reference material/source
- Staffing of the reference section
- Management of reference section
- Problem facing reference section
- Reference question
CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY
This chapter consist the study, the population of the study, the sample and sampling techniques, research instrument used for data collection and administration of instrument.
Design of the study
The study is a survey because it aimed at discovering all the variables that are important in the history of the study. Emphasis is usually on comprehending why the individual does what she does and how this behavior changes the individual responds to the environment and data is gather about the subject present state by the investigator.
Area of the study
This study covers Anambra State University Uli Campus Library (reference section).
Population of study
The population of this study is made up different users which comprises the students of Uli Campus, who are regular users of the library, senior and junior staff of the school (institution) and the department, and library staff. A total of one hundred and twenty questionnaires were used in each of the populations. Therefore, the total population is 1,100 individuals.
CHAPTER FOUR
Data analysis, Presentation of result and Discussion of findings
In this chapter, the analysis and presentation of the data collected in the course of study are presented in form of tables.
Data collected both through questionnaires distributed to users and some related parts of the interview with the students and library staff were analyzed. In the course of this analysis, percentage and tables are used where necessary for the purpose of clarify.
Mean while the analysis of the data is limited to the questionnaires. The first analysis therefore is on the simple distribution of the questionnaires which cover the question in the questionnaires. This is represented in a tabular form below.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Summary
As it was earlier stated, that the purpose of this study was to find out the problems and prospect of reference services of Anambra State University Uli Campus Library. From the analysis of the data there are major problems that hinder the effectiveness of the reference service of the academic library Uli Campus.
Among these problems as observed by the researcher during the course of his study or research through personal observation, oral later view and administration of questionnaire are, failure to approach the reference librarians for users problems to be solved.
Non availability of suitable staff to assist the users in locating the needed information or record and non availability of appropriate guide to the existing information resources in the library.
Limitation of access to the appropriate document owning to administrative or physical barriers imposed on their use.
The above study shows that the University in looking for a way to combat these problems by employing those strategies aim at library materials availability. These problems if not solved on time will affect the academic performance of the students inefficiently on the part of libraries or staff and poor image of the library should be properly taking care of in an adequate manner.
Conclusion
The analysis of data is already made permits that for the past three section the library have not subscribed to new title due to lack of fund, the library depends only on the free gift from voluntary agencies. The authority should realize the important of periodicals in science and technology and also in other fields. The reference section is housed in the same place with circulation and has the same librarian that is reference/circulation librarian. They have few staff to certain with the volume of work within the library.
The users do not always find the materials need due to there demand and the few once that arrived are always obsolete and there is no inter-library loan existing among the libraries. The development of library is essential to maintain the effective and qualify of services.
Recommendations
The result from the analyzed data made it imported for some recommendations to be made for solving the problems and getting the prospect of reference services in academic libraries. The following recommendations are made.
- The need for increase funding. The funding should be keeping with the N.U.C standard of at least the newly approved 15% of the university current expenditure should be given to the academic library to meet up with her financial obligation.
- The need for improved public relation of the reference librarian and the users. However this social factor could be addressed if only the reference libraries could portray a good public relation attitude with the library patrons. Public is the ant and technique of relating to the public, it is like culture, a way of life.
Therefore, the reference librarian has to have some good qualities to project the good image of the library materials. It is important that a reference librarian must posses a good working attitude towards his chattels and services.
- Opportunities for reference librarians to advance his knowledge. Reference librarian should be given the opportunity to further his training professionally, he need to understand the importance of their services regards to librarianship, the aim objectives and also the technical aspect of their work.
- Automated system of information retrieval: As reference services purely based on supply of detailed information on a limited field. The reference librarian should stop at nothing to satisfy the clientele. Also the attention of the clientele is drowned to the existence of relevant information.
REFERENCES
- Ala, Ruse (2003). Professional Competencies for reference and user services librarians.
- Esharenana, E.A. (2001). Library and Information resources. Benin City: Ethiop Publishing Co-operating.
- Esharenana, E.A. (2001). Foundations of reference services. Benin City: Ethiop Publishing Co-operation.
- Obiora, C.C. (2004). Use of library for knowledge and research. Enugu: Sound and sense limited.
- Ohio Library Council (2005). Ohio reference excellence. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
- Pryterch, R. (2000). Harrod’s Librarians – glossary and reference book. England: Gower.
- Ranum, M. (2003). Reference Policies. Retrieved on May 25, 2011.
