ISSN : 2348-0033 (Online) ISSN : 2249-4944 (Print) IJEAR Vol.

6, Issue 1, Spl-1, Jan-June 2016

User Education in Libraries

Abstrect education on the other hand should consist not only of ‘orientation’
The term ‘User education’ have been often used inter changeable. of the user in the practices methods and situation prevailing within
The activities in these three categories are inter related & influence a specific library system he may be using during his stay within
each other. The aim or orientation programs is to familarise the user a particular institution, but also of the knowledge regarding the
with finding information within a particular library information structure of learned, specialist subject literature, its ramification,
system & to help them through their course. This a short term information resources peculiar to its literature and development,
objective. awareness and understanding of the principles and practices of
User education on the other hand should consist not only of learned communication, patterns of information transfer within
‘orientation’ of user in the practices methods & situations a given subject area from user studies in specific disciplines,
prevailing with in a specific library system he may be using during searching and using information in a way which should enable
his stay within a particular institution, but also of the knowledge them to tackle research problems in any situation.
regarding the structure of learned. Specialist subject literature Librarians and teachers generally agreed that library-user education
its ramification information resources peculiar to its literature is necessary for students at all levels. There may be some difference
& development awareness and understanding of the principles of opinion on the best approach of instruction, and what the goals
and practices of learned communication. Patterns of information of such instruction should be but the need for library use instruction
transfer within a given subject area from user studies in specific in some form or another is not questioned. Librarians, who have
disciplines. Searching & using information in a way which should developed courses of instruction, have usually based the content
enable them to tackle research problems in any situation. on the assumption that introduction is necessary, and that a variety
Libraries, through experiences & observation are pretty certain of library skills needs to be taught and developed by students.
that for the most part library user make ineffective use or misuse Librarians, through experiences and observation are pretty certain
of library resources. When they work without assistance from that for the most part library user make ineffective use or misuse
librarians. In instructing library users it is usually best regardless of library resources, when they work without assistance from
or their level Freshman, doctoral candidates faculty members to librarians. In instructing library users, it is usually best, regardless
start at the fundamentals in library use. or their level-freshman, doctoral candidates, faculty members –
Introducing a user in this situation is a delicate & difficult task to start at the fundamentals in library use. Introducing a user in
particularly when teaching faculty members of the institution are this situation is a delicate and difficult task, particularly when
involved. It is difficult to teach those who assume they don’t need teaching faculty members of the institution are involved. It is
to learn what is being taught. difficult to teach those who assume they don’t need to learn what
We need to consider the behavioral pattern of the user before is being taught.
planning an user instruction programs. They study includes” We need to consider the behavioral pattern of the user before
• The user’s background of the library use planning an user instruction program. They study includes: (1) The
• The user’s self appraisal of their library skills and user’s background of the library use: (2) The user’s self appraisal
knowledge of their library skills and knowledge: (3) the user’s awareness of
• The user’s awareness of library facilities and but not least library facilities, and but not least significant is (4) the attitude
significant of the teaching faculty towards library use and knowledge from
• The attitude of the teaching faculty towards library use and the student’s point of view.
knowledge from the student’s point of view.
• A Confidence bridge will have to be built between the teaching I. Categories of Users
community & the librarian in chalking out programs for the 1. Teachers: The group will include (a)Members of university
greater use of library resources. If education is to be library faculties, scientists, and research workers familiar with
oriented or knowledge based, greater time will have to be bibliographical research (b) Those who know scientific
spend by students in libraries, pursuing relevant materials literature and its scope thoroughly but are unfamiliar with
in addition to classroom teaching. Training of schools bibliographic tools; (c) Young research workers engaged in
students in the use of printed materials and promotion of their first original problems, who have not hand access to a
reading habit by the use of library have now assumed more library for a long time.
importance than ever before with the introduction of audio 2. Students: The group will consist of (1) Post graduate students
visual aids educational TV programs and computer education. (2) Graduate students
A beginning has to be made in the schools in initiating the 3. Non Teaching staff: This group will comprise (1) Laboratory
students in to the arts of using printed materials. technicians (2) other teaching supporting staff
4. The students themselves have been foremost in indicating their
The terms ‘user education’ user orientation’ and ‘user assistance’ demands and observations. In order to enlarge the outlook
have been often used interchangeable. The activities in these and interest In community activities it is also necessary that
three categories are inter related and influence each. The aim or libraries should also cre to provide reading materials for
‘orientation’ programmes is to familarise the users with finding relaxation and recreational reading.
information within a particular library/ information system and to
help them through their course. This is a short term objective. User

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II. Services in Libraries and hence they are generally not consulted, but nibbled at,
Library services in technical libraries are measured to provide only by a few.
complete lack-up-support for the teaching and research. Gradually 2. The literature in most of the disciplines is increasing
the librarian becomes an active member of the research team. exponentially and the user is ignorant of relevant information
In certain libraries, the reference librarian is initially consulted, sources and how to use them effectively.
when a book or article is contemplated, and then expected to 3. The utility of any program will depend on the importance
supply bibliographic references, abstracts, editorial and translation given by the policy makers, planners and administrators at
services, and to be involved with the project until publication. the national and institutional level to library and information
Teaching of bibliography is of great value both to the students, work and to the development of information services in their
who afterwards would become able to use the library with more own organization.
skill and understanding and to the library staff whose time could 4. The text-oriented teaching in schools, colleges and academic
be conserved for higher levels of service. institutions inhibit the students at an early age in their
formative years from effective library use and the grossly
III. Use of the Library inadequate book stock and information resources in the
The user should know all about the library, its location and layout, schools and college libraries have not instilled good reading
system or organization and knowledge but to use ( books, and habits amongst the students. This is continued further in the
information available in them) methods and techniques evolved higher education level also, even if adequate library resources
by libraries and adopted when libraries assume gigantic stature, exist.
on account of knowledge when libraries assume gigantic stature, 5. The stimulus for most user education program is the
on account of knowledge and information explosion, the task information needs of students as perceived by librarians,
becomes quite complex. rather than a detailed understanding of the information
To find a way and locate a book/periodical, information in a library seeking behavior, habits, or individual information problems.
collection of several millions of volumes is indeed a challenges, but The need to apply the findings from various use/user studies
for a sound book classification system being applied for evolving is paramount here.
an orderly helpful arrangement and display of the books. The user 6. Differences in student attitudes and abilities towards and
should know the structure of such a scheme of book classification, information seeking seem to be greatly influenced by past
if he should obtain quickly the best results, e.g., Dewey Decimal experience rather than contact with the library within the
Classification Scheme (10 major classes, followed by 100 sub- institution. This is an area which needs further study.
division of classes). 7. It is realized that development of information skills i.e.,
In order to directly locate desired book (s) among the hundreds of acquiring ability to handle textual, visual and electronic
the same subjects and their facets, the device ‘Catalogue on Cards’ sources, is more important than technology per se.
is compiled. A simple description of the matter and its grouping
and order, and subject analysis done in the process of cataloguing V. Present Situation
will indicate the usefulness of this technique in libraries. A categorization of the users in an academic environment is
For easy expeditious and efficient service mechanical and self obviously necessary designing and developing appropriate
explanatory guide on the book shelves are to be provided in addition training courses to suit different levels, such as schools students,
to usual personal service. Reader Advisory Service – Reference undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and professionals.
Material Circulation of Books, Abstracting, Documentation, Looking at the present education scene, particularly at the school
Translation, Indexing etc. and college levels, and what is envisaged at the beginning of the
twenty first century, with a ‘learned society’, we may ask ourselves
IV. Cooperation between the Libraries and User the fundamental question whether the wide gap between what is
Considering that the demand and supply position in library expected and what is actually happening could be bridged with
services is fairly satisfactory, in order that the library resources and imaginative, practically implementable education programs.
facilities and obtain fruitful results, certain pre-requisite- intimate At present, the students are able to finish their education without
cooperation, understanding, realism on the part of the library and ever visiting the libraries the libraries or using library resources.
the faculty, not excluding students – are absolutely necessary. The It is not fully realized that libraries are an integral and essential
procedure will demand that the use has a fair idea of the material part of the educational system and in the learning process. The
that he requires, for it is only then that the gaps in the library purpose of education is to equip the students with knowledge and
resources could be located and made good. To educate the student, skills. The teaching and instructional methods should lay emphasis
and to some extent the junior or new members of the teaching on wider reading and reference by the student community and
staff in the art of library usage in order that they are helped to more library centered.
assess quickly and precisely, qualitatively and quantitatively, if The importance of library support informal, non formal and
the library collection and services are adequate or otherwise, and distance education programmes has not been fully realized and
suggest improvements, is now well recognized and appreciated by exploited both by the education administrators and academic
that library users, specially in academic and professional libraries community. The tendency of teachers or academicians to look
(medical, engineering, industrial, business, etc.) The librarian down upon or belittle the role of librarians in the learning process
and the faculty, working together, can help create conditions for will have to be removed, if user education programmes re to make
learning library skills motivation and service. headway. A confidence bridge will have to be built between the
teaching community and the librarians in chalking out prorammes
V. Parameters to be Considered for the greater use of library resources. If education is to be library
1. The book and document collection in most of the libraries oriented or knowledge based, greater time will have to be spend
pose as a formidable problem of use to the uninitiated motive by students in libraries, pursuing relevant materials in addition

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to classroom teaching. Training of schools students in the use of

References
[1] Fjallbuant, Nancy and Malley, Ian. Education in libraries.
Ed.4, Buigley, 1984; pp.31-39
[2] Girija Kumar. Development in India. Delhi: Vikas, 1986;
pp.131-7
[3] Kirk, Thomas G., Ed. “Library instruction for librarians”.
Libraries Unlimited. 1989; p.25
[4] Macafferty, Ed. User Education: Towards a better also of
information resources. Aslib, 1977: pp.51-7
[5] Malley, Ian. Basics of information skill teaching. Bingley,
1992; pp.111-7
[6] Rice, James Jr. Teaching library use: A guide for library
instructions. London: Macmillan, 2002; pp.137-148

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