The Relationship of the Readers Services and the Reading Interests of the First Year High School Students of Jose Rizal University

Researcher: MERCEDES G. DIZON

Course: Master of Arts in Education Major in Library Science

School: Philippine Normal University

Subject Area: Readers Services

Year of Graduation: 2005

Reading Interests of Pegawi Negeri Officers in Indonesian Civil Service in the Philippines

Researcher: TOETTIE SOEMANTRI SUHARYONO

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines

Subject Area: Reading Interests

Year of Graduation: 1994

Research Problem

The reading interests of the Pegawi Negeri officers and staff of the Indonesian Civil Service in the Philippines was studied. It is aimed to: 1. find out what the Pegawi Negeri officers read; 2. identify the subjects and types of materials they read; 3. identify the sources of materials they read; 4. identify the language preference for materials they read; and 5. identify the factors that influence their reading interests.

Methodology

The reading interests of the Pegawi Negeri officers and staff of the Indonesian Civil Service in the Philippines was the subject of this study. These officers and staff are assigned at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila and the Consulate General in Davao City. Sixty out of 120 respondents comprise the respondents of the study.

The descriptive method of study was used with the questionnaire sought to find out the profile of the respondents, their reading interests and their use of the Embassy Library. Interviews were made to clarify and verify data. The questionnaires were distributed to 120 officers and staff assigned in Manila (77) and Davao City (43). Only sixty questionnaires were returned: forty from Manila and 20 from Davao City.

Findings

The study showed that the officers and staff are predominantly male, within the age group of 41-50 and 50 and above and are mostly in administration. Majority are assigned at the Indonesian Embassy in Manila. Almost all the respondents regard reading as very important to them. They read to gain knowledge and obtain specific information that they need in their work. However, those who do not read prefer to watch TV, play golf, or even sleep rather than read. Almost all the respondents read newspaper from the office and they prefer Kompas and Merdeka newspapers in Bahasa Indonesia and Bahasa Inggris (English Language). A few subscribe to both newspapers and magazines. The subjects of articles in magazines of most interest to the respondents are entertainment and education, followed by sports, home and family, business, economics and politics. Majority of the respondents buy their books while many get them from the Library. For non-fiction books, the respondents prefer those on general knowledge and history, followed by education, religion and hobbies. For fiction books, they like historical fiction, biographical fiction, romances and mysteries. Teachers and parents were found to have influenced the reading of almost all the respondents during their school days. Almost all read books beyond the textbooks. Only a few do not read. The respondents use the Library and Information Center of the Embassy frequently to get information for their work, for their reports and speeches and for their reactions.

Conclusions

The study concludes that the Pegawi Negeri officers and staff are a reading group who regard reading as very important to them. They read to gain knowledge and information that they could use for their work in the Embassy. They buy books and subscribe to magazines and newspapers but majority of them get their newspaper and magazine from the office and the library. Thus, the Embassy and the Library have a strong impact on the reading interests of the respondents. It was also noted that in developing their reading habit at an early age, teachers and parents have a strong influence.

Recommendations

The study recommends that the Embassy and the Library and Information Center initiate programs that would motivate more officers to read and provide more reading materials not only in Bahasa Indonesia but also in the English language and other foreign languages known to respondents that would broaden their views and outlook of the country they are serving, the country to which they are assigned and the world as a whole. The Embassy should also organize intensive courses in the English language or other foreign languages to improve the reading proficiency of the officers and staff. The Indonesian government, through its ministers, should require its officers, who are to be assigned abroad, to make reading a regular part of their job or duties. The acquisition of the published foreign information materials and local reading materials should be addressed to strengthen library collections in the country of assignment which ultimately will encourage these officers to read.

A Survey of Information Needs and Reading Habits and Interests of the Residents of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya: Implications for Information/Lib. Services

Researcher: NIMFA V. TACLIBON

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: Barangay Reading Centers - Nueva Vizcaya

Year of Graduation: 1988

Introduction
It is generally accepted nowadays that information is vital to all kinds of development. Information is essential to individual advancement as well as for national growth. The need for information is felt at all levels of society regardless of an individual's location, social status or educational attainment.

Statement of the Problem
A study was conducted in five barangays in Bambang, Nueva Viscaya to determine the information needs, occupational pattern, reading habits and interests, subject matter and preferences and perceptions of the residents of the plan to put up a reading/ information center in the locality.

Methodology
A 17-item interview schedule was used with 550 respondents consisting of 182 fathers, 184 mothers and 184 children of school-age. The house-hold samples were chosen at random. Each house-holds was compose of a father, mother and a child who is either elementary grade, high school, or college.

Findings
Most of the father respondents (37.36%) were engaged in rice farming followed by skilled workers (21.43%) with remaining 41.21 percent engaged in other jobs. The mother respondents, however, were mostly unemployed (40.22%) or engaged in teaching (22.83%) and business (21.2%). The respondents a fairly high educational attainment; 14091 percent completed elementary, 48.36 percent finished high school and 15.09 percent some college education while 20.18 percent were college graduates.

The leisure activities indicated by the respondents were reading, listening to the radio an d viewing TV, in that order. Reading was an important leisure activity for the parents respondents and children in the surveyed area. Frequency of reading was high, either daily or at list twice during the week. The father and mother respondents had similar subject matter preferences in many respects (including family life, family finance, health and hygiene). Among the children respondents, materials on school subjects were ranked highest.

Conclusions
In general, the respondents relied more on print media such as newspapers, magazines and pamphlets as sources of information rather than on interpersonal communication with local government officials, barangay leaders and technicians. They bought or borrowed most of their reading materials.

The respondents have very positive attitude toward the establishment of information/reading center and anticipate using one frequently as a source of reading materials.

Recommendations
It is recommended that the municipal government of Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya establish a public reading/ information center of the municipality with assistance from the Public Library System of the National Library. There is a need to make accessible print materials in the local languages consistent that inclusion of audio visual resources is also further recommended.

A Survey of the Reading Interests and Habits of Young Adults

Researcher: VESTAL LEE K. GOFORTH

Course: Master of Library Science

School: University of the Philippines, Quezon City

Subject Area: Reading Interests, Reading Habits

Year of Graduation: 1976