M4L1: library and information services for users

NIOS, 12th Standard, Senior Secondary, Library and Information Science, 339, Module 4: Library and Information Services, Lesson 1, Chapter 12

need for information

• people need info for study, research, careers, health care, problem solving, recreation, lifelong learning

• surveys have been taken to identify the info needs of all types of users, mainly 4 types of needs

current information need (need for information)

(need for information)

• when user keep themselves up-to-date with latest updates in a specific subject regularly

exhaustive information need (need for information)

(need for information)

• when a user wants as much info as possible on a topic, generally needed by researchers starting their work

everyday information need (need for information)

(need for information)

• needing a specific fact or data for their day-to-day activities, generally found in reference books

catching up information need (need for information)

(need for information)

• when a user is new or not updated in a topic and needs an account of overall development in a short, compact form

library services

• reference and information services are provided by libraries to meet users’ info needs

• reference and information services can be broadly grouped into responsive info services (passive info services) and anticipatory info services (active info services)

reference services (library services)

(library services)

• traditional service

• focus on providing docs

• user is given material or directions to material

• aims to instruct user

• provided on demand (responsive)

• eg. ready and long range reference, literature search, bib compiling

information services (library services)

(library services)

• focus on providing info

• tries to give user the exact info

• not aiming to instruct user

• provided when expected (anticipatory)

• eg. current awareness services, indexing and abstracting services

basic or essential services

• universal services offered in all libraries, unlike reference and information services

lending or circulation services (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• lending books and other materials to registered members of the library for a specific period of time 

• all types of libraries offer this service

• can be done manually or be computerised

reservation of documents (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• library reserves a book for a user when it is lent out 

• when the book is returned, the user who reserved it is notified and the book is kept aside for them

inter library loan (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• libraries form agreements with each other to share resources on a reciprocal basis

• if another library has the desired book, the user can borrow from the other library through their own library

assistance in the use of library and library tools (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• new users need to be familiarised with the layout, tools and services 

• they need to be taught how to use the tools like OPAC, reference books, etc 

• new users also need to be introduced to location of different materials like newspapers, computers, reference books, etc 

• can use a quick tour of the library to introduce users to basics

• libraries also offer a booklet with library details, collection, facilities, services, etc

reference service (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• personalised service provided when user requests it 

• can be for locating answer to query, literature search for research, compiling a bibliography, etc

• librarian can give info needed or docs that will have the desire info

Ranganathan’s definition of reference service (reference service)

(reference service)

• personal service to each reader in helping them to find documents, answering their interest most pin-pointedly, exhaustively and expenditiously

ready reference service (reference service)

(reference service)

• for fact finding questions like what, why, where, who, when questions

• use standard reference sources like dictionaries, encyclopaedias, yearbooks, almanacs, gazetteers, etc 

• doesn’t take long to find the answer - few minutes to half an hour 

• also known as short range reference service

long range reference service (reference service)

(reference service)

• generally needed by specialists like R&D personnel, professors, business executives, doctors, engineers, etc 

• used for solving a research problem, delivering a lecture, writing a paper, etc 

• can search through printed and electronic sources, organisations and informal sources, etc

• type of info needed can be highly specialised, be a POV on a particular topic, be in foreign language and require translation, etc

reader advisory service (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• providing guidance for reading to users - motivating them to have reading habits

• helps select the right book for educational and recreational purposes 

• generally offered in school and public libraries 

• school children require this service to get introduced to reading and maintain it as a lifelong hobby

user orientation (basic or essential services)

(basic or essential services)

• organised sessions at the beginning of the year to acquaint user with library layout, facilities, and services 

• mostly done by academic libraries

• how to use various facilities and services, rules and regulations of the library, etc 

• generally in the form of lecture by the librarian and then tour of the library

• can also be in a brochure, audio-visual kits, website, etc

need for other desirable services

• 20th century, post WW2 - increase in research activities, published literature in science and technology

• government sponsored research, specifically in space sciences, defence sciences, nuclear sciences, etc 

• the research was interdisciplinary and scattered among different subjects and in various formats  

• latest developments became difficult to track due to the scattered nature of the info

• scientific and technical libraries, info centres, R&D organisations, started collecting, selecting, organising latest published docs in a specific subject and notifying researchers as a regular service

• this anticipatory service led to current awareness and condensation type services being offered

• after introducing those services, demand for other services also increased

  • like reprographic service, document delivery service, translation service, literature search, subject bibliography compiling, referral services, etc 

• advances in tech led to the increase of computers in libraries demand for IT related services

current awareness service (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• offered to users so they can stay updated on the developments in their field, interest, or research area

• need to scan newly available docs in print and non print form, select relevant items, and disseminate to users on a regular basis

• types of services provided are 

  • accession list / current awareness list

  • title announcement service / content-by-journal service

  • selective dissemination of information (SDI)

  • newspaper clipping service

condensation type (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• contents of doc are summarised and provided with bib details 

• users can quickly read this and assess if the doc is relevant to their purpose

• sometimes a well-prepared abstract can substitute the document 

• types of services provided are 

  • abstracting service

  • digest service

literature search and compiling a subject bibliography (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• search for published info on a subject using bib tools for locating as much available material as possible 

• subject bibliography → list of docs on a particular subject 

• helps user know about previously published literature in their topic of interest 

• can be comprehensive or select based on user’s preferences

reprographic service (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• reproducing docs like parts of books, journal articles, etc through photocopying, photography, microfilming, digital imaging

• photocopiers are used often to give copies of docs on demand 

• offered for free or at a nominal price to prevent misuse

document delivery service (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• supplying docs to users on demand regardless of location

• can be original doc, copy in print or non print, etc 

• many libraries and information centres in India offer this service for journal articles, dissertations, reports, etc published anywhere 

• once the request is received, the library traces the location of the item, procures and delivers it to the user

• university libraries under INFLIBNET and info centres like NISCAIR offer this service

translation service (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• translating the contents of a doc from one language to another 

• is a specialised service that needs language experts and subject experts

• most libraries don’t have in-house facility but play an active by providing info on where to get it

• is provided by translation centres, professional associations, government agencies, private agencies, etc

referral service (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• most services are offered using the materials and tools within the library, but sometimes users require more - may be available elsewhere so users are referred to the needed info sources 

• info could be available at different organisations, experts, doc, etc 

• doesn’t provide info or docs needed by users but guides them to the source of what they need

user training (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• training programmers provided by the library for users so they can find and search info by themselves

• can be for user orientation, bibliographic instruction, user education programme, etc

IT related services (other desirable services)

(other desirable services)

• advances in information and communication technology and common use of internet led to the demand of IT related services

online public access catalogue - OPAC (IT related services)

(IT related services)

• a computerised catalogue of library resources available online to the public 

• earlier OPACs were stand-alone catalogues that users used on computers in the library, then most OPACs were made available online

• can be searched from any location at any time

• shows availability of items, current status of individual copes of a title, and reservations

library website (IT related services)

(IT related services)

• generally includes the OPAC or link to OPAC

• users can reserve a book, make suggestions for books to purchase, renew books online, etc

• some libraries provide online access to union catalogue of books, theses, conference proceedings, etc of participating libraries

virtual reference service (IT related services)

(IT related services)

• reference services that can be provided online and users can communicate with librarians

• libraries generally have an FAQ section section with answers on their website as well

computerised circulation service (IT related services)

(IT related services)

• manual circulation service uses card system or register system 

• in computerised system, there is no need for borrower’s cards or tickets, just a unique id number for each user for the software to access the member database 

• also control multiple borrowing facilities

access to e-publications (IT related services)

(IT related services)

• can provide access to electronic publications like full-text ejournals, edatabases, etc

• can also provide access to library’s parent organisation’s epublications like annual reports, research articles, etc 

• most reference books nowadays are available online or on CD-ROM

• libraries can acquire them with multimedia facilities

academic libraries (type of library and the services offered)

(type of library and the services offered)

• comprise of school, college, and university libraries

school libraries (academic libraries)

(academic libraries)

• motivates students to explore reference, fiction, non fiction books for learning & enjoyment

• should provide readers’ advisory services and instruct on how to use library resources

•  teachers should also be encouraged to teach with library resources and receive necessary docs from library 

• children’s standard reference books are dictionaries & encyclopaedias, particularly with simple, easy to read articles, and illustrations

college libraries (academic libraries)

(academic libraries)

• makes special effort to attract college students than just basic library services 

• provides instructions for library use, literature search, compiles bibliographies, etc 

• instructions are generally provided at the beginning of classes and when projects need to be done

• should provide IT related services to attract users

university libraries (academic libraries)

(academic libraries)

• part of the library that supports teaching, research, publication, etc

• provides reference service, current awareness service, indexing and abstracting service, document delivery service, reprography, holds library exhibitions, etc 

• during special occasions like seminars and workshops, subject bibs are compiled

public libraries (type of library and the services offered)

(type of library and the services offered)

• for the public - includes students, housespouses, retired people, etc

• users use public libraries for recreation, info, learning, inspiration, etc 

• should gather info on local institutions, local industries, local history, important personalities in the area, etc 

• children and housespouses in particular need the reader’s advisory service to help select books

special libraries (type of library and the services offered)

(type of library and the services offered)

• specialises in a particular subject, group of subjects, or type of documents 

• some special libraries cater to specific user groups, like children, blind people, patients, etc

• libraries are often attached to R&D organisations - research in a specific discipline 

• provides SDI service, contents-by-journal service, indexing and abstracting service, document delivery service, searching and provision of info from anywhere, translation, etc