M4L2: Traditional Library Services: Responsive and Anticipatory

NIOS, 12th Standard, Senior Secondary, Library and Information Science, 339, Module 4, Lesson 2, Chapter 13

traditional library services

• library services are also known as reference and information services

• most important activities in a library

• to organise these activities, they are divided into 2 categories: responsive & anticipatory

responsive services

• offered in response to requests from the users to use library tools and facilities 

• also known as passive services

• these services include 

  • assistance in using the library and its tools

  • lending service or circulation service 

  • inter-library loan

  • reference service 

    • short range reference service

    • long-range reference service 

  • literature search 

  • compilation of subject bibliographies 

  • photocopying service

  • referral service 

  • translation service

long range reference service (responsive services)

(responsive services)

• generally provided to specialists for research to deliver a lecture, writing a paper, solving a problem, etc 

• info can be too specialised, can be too recent or too dated, in another language etc

• is very time consuming due to the wide range of sources used 

• need to consult sources that may not be standard reference books 

reference interview (long range reference service)

(long range reference service)

• communicating with the user, helps know the query thoroughly, purpose for seeking info, background of the user, and type of info sources needed

literature search (responsive services)

(responsive services)

• a systematic search for published material on a specific topic 

• searching and locating docs in response to a specific request from a user 

• extensive literature searches are conducted for researchers in different sources like books, periodicals, non-book material, etc 

compilation of a subject bibliography (responsive services)

(responsive services)

• compiled by libraries on the request of users or in anticipation of users’ needs

• can be compiled for special occasions - such as seminars, workshops, lectures, etc 

• provides latest literature and info on the subject

• frequently provided by university and special libraries rather than public library

step 1 - understanding the subject (search process: manual & computerised)

(search process: manual & computerised)

• exact subject is searched and related areas are identified

• utilises subject dictionaries and subject encyclopaedias

• time to personally interact with the user to know the subject scope and purpose of info

step 2 - taking a decision on the scope, coverage, and period (search process: manual & computerised)

(search process: manual & computerised)

• scope → whether the bib should be comprehensive or selective

• coverage → types of docs to be utilised (periodical articles, books, theses, etc)

• period → whether the bib should be current or retrospective 

• all of these features can be ascertained in the reference interviews

step 3 - formulation of the search strategy (search process: manual)

(search process: manual)

• creating a systematic plan for conducting the search

• need to select keywords to represent the subject

• need to identify abstracting and indexing periodicals on the subject

step 4 - searching secondary and primary sources (search process: manual)

(search process: manual)

• indexing and primary periodicals are searched to retrieve relevant items

• primary sources are used to find more recent info

step 5 - preparation of entries (search process: manual)

(search process: manual)

• make an entry for each relevant item 

• each entry has a card and contains enough info to identify the doc

• bib details are written in standard format, national or international standards

step 6 - arrangement of entries (search process: manual)

(search process: manual)

• arranged in a convenient order to allow easy browsing 

• small number of entries → can be arranged alphabetically, author-wise, chronologically, by year of publication, etc 

• large number of entries → can be arranged in classified order or under subject titles

step 7 - preparation of index (search process: manual)

(search process: manual)

• multiple indexes are made to provide multiple means of access to the user

• made based on title, author, subject, etc 

• mainly made for large bibliographies

step 8 - supplying the bibliography (search process: manual)

(search process: manual)

• need to get it typed so it can be delivered as a final product 

• needs to be in the required form and format to the user

step 3 - getting connected to the internet (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• need to have an internet connection 

• need to register with an online search service that provides access to databases

• eg. service providers providing access to databases from different publishers

step 4 - logging on to the search service provided (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• need to know the web address of the search service provider

• to access and search the database, need to enter user’s ID and password

step 5 - selecting the appropriate database (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• most service providers allow user to browse database categories 

• this can be used to select the appropriate database

step 6 - formulating the search expression (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• need to select appropriate terms or phrases to search the database

• can use online thesaurus

step 7 - selecting the appropriate format for display of records (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• after search terms are entered, the records that match are shown 

• can specify whether the full record or brief record is being browsed before selecting

step 8 - reformulating the search expression, if required (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• if results are not satisfactory / applicable, the search statement can be reformed 

• online search is general repetitive 

• user conducts several searches, compares results, and modifies / enters a new  statement for best results

step 9 - selecting the mode of delivery (search process: computerised)

(search process: computerised)

• can save the selected records online

• can download the selected records on the local computer 

• can order offline print outs by mail

anticipatory services

• also known as active services

• since info source grew in volume, diversity, and complexity, researchers couldn’t easily be updated on the latest developments in their field 

• S & T libraries addressed these problems by providing anticipatory services 

• initially services are provided on trial basis and made regular if users need it 

preparation of lists and reading material (anticipatory services)

(anticipatory services)

• lists of textbooks, reference books, journal articles, etc on a specific topic are made in advance

• special lists and annotated bibliographies are made before events such as inter school / college competitions - oratorical contests, debates, etc 

• special lists of literature are prepared for upcoming events and activities

current awareness services (anticipatory services)

(anticipatory services)

• provided in academic and research libraries

• for advanced level students and researchers - to keep them updated on current developments in their discipline

• need to scan newly available docs, select relevant items, record them, and disseminate them regularly

• an ongoing service that allows scholars to monitor new info on a regular basis

accession list (current awareness services)

(current awareness services)

• covers the latest books acquired by the library

• offered commonly in libraries 

• displays latest publications and latest additions periodically (fortnightly / monthly)

content by journal service / table of contents service (current awareness services)

(current awareness services)

• content pages of latest primary research journals are duplicated, arranged, and disseminated 

• keeps users updated on recent articles published in the journals of their interest 

• if requested, photocopies of full text articles are provided after perusing CAS products

selective dissemination of information service -SDI (current awareness services)

(current awareness services)

• personalised current awareness service - computerised service

• provided to individuals or research groups working on the same research project, etc

• based on user’s current research interest and only provides most relevant items 

• able to quickly provide access / notice to the researcher

user profile (SDI service)

(SDI service)

• consists of subject terms, to represent the user’s interest very precisely 

• needed to start SDI service

documents database (SDI service)

(SDI service)

• a file containing recent docs with complete bib details and the terms representing the subject contents of the different docs

matching mechanism (SDI service)

(SDI service)

• periodically (fortnightly / monthly), user profile and docs database are compared by the software 

• whenever a close match is recognised, the details of the record are noted

notification (SDI service)

(SDI service)

• whenever there is a close match, the user is sent a notification from the system 

• the records are added to the documents database for the user

feedback mechanism (SDI service)

(SDI service)

• user assesses the relevance and usefulness of items retrieved by the system and provides feedback

modification of profile (SDI service)

(SDI service)

• feedback from the user is analysed, maybe incorporated

• user profile can be edited for more accurate results if needed

newspaper clipping service (current awareness services)

(current awareness services)

• selected newspapers are scanned everyday and news items are selected, cut, and pasted on plain paper / card 

• each news item is assigned a subject heading or class number to use for organisation 

• clippings are organised by subject headings or class numbers and distributed periodically

indexing and abstracting services (anticipatory services)

(anticipatory services)

• bib entries are prepared, systematically arranged, organised, put out regularly, with indexes

• indexing services index each doc with full bib details so that doc can be identified and traced 

• abstracting services provide a summary of the entire content of the doc so the user can decide if it is applicable to their research

user education (anticipatory services)

(anticipatory services)

• training to use library tools is needed and given in formal and informal methods

• formal courses are offered in research and university libraries to interested people

• courses have to be planned, programmed, and offered with an appropriate syllabus

• instructional material are also made to supplement the training