Researcher: ANILINE ADOVISO VIDAL
Course: Master of Arts in Education Major in Library Science
School: The National Teachers College
Subject Area: Library
collection; Library services, Library facilities
Year of Graduation: March
2000
Introduction:
The increasing
demand for higher education during the past few decades has resulted in the
expansion of almost all colleges in the nation into multipurpose institution.
Before one can fairly judge the effectiveness of the school’s program, it is
necessary to examine the existing library resource since the quality of the
library is an indicator for quality education. It is often believed that the best
universities have the beast libraries. Consequently, unless a college or
university continues to maintain its library resources in response to the
present academic and research needs as well as in anticipation of future needs,
such library ceases to be effective in performing its function in the academic
community.
Statement of the
problem:
This study aimed to
assess the existing library resources, facilities and services of the
University of Perpetual Help System Laguna, specifically, it aimed to answer the
following questions:
- What was the profile of the respondents
as regards:
1.1 age,
1.2 sex, 1.3 educational attainment and 1.4 civil status?
- How adequate were the existing library
resources/facilities?
- To what extent was the utilization of the
school’s library services?
- What problems were met by the respondents
in terms of:
4.1. Collection, 4.2. Facilities, 4.3.
Services
5. What recommendations/suggestions were
offered by the respondents to solve the problems in
Terms of:
5.1. Collection, 5.2. Facilities,
5.3. Services
Methodology:
The researcher used
the descriptive method method with the questionnaire as the primary instrument
in gathering the data. It was used to determine the status, to tell “what
exists,” since the main purpose of the study was to make an assessment of the
library resources, facilities and services of the University of Perpetual Help
System Laguna.
Findings:
- On Resources/Facilities – The collections
and facilities were rated as adequate by the students, faculty and
librarians.
- On Extent of Utilization of Library
Services – The three respondents rated the extent of the utilization of
the library services as average in extent, it means that the library
services were utilized and implemented.
- On Problems met – The problems met by the
respondents in terms of collection were the library has few recent
published books, lack of newspapers and magazines, audiovisual materials
are not in the library and vertical file materials are not up-to-date. The
problems met in terms of facilities were lack of airconditioning units and
computers, lack of tables and chairs and the card catalog is not
up-to-date. The problems met in terms of services were the librarians do
not have time to assist the reader, the library rules and regulations are
not well explained, the library do not practice interlibrary loan and lack
of photocopier.
- On the recommendations/suggestions
offered – To solve the problems in terms of collection, the library should
purchase new updated books, subscribe to additional journals and
periodicals, audiovisual materials should be placed in the library, update
the vertical file materials are among the recommendations/suggestions
offered by the respondents. In terms of facilities, the library should
acquire additional airconditioning units and computers, purchase
additional tables and chairs, and update the card catalog. In services,
the librarian should assist the readers in locating information, explain
well the library rules and regulations during the orientation, practice
interlibrary loan, acquire additional photocopier.
Concusions:
Based on the findings of the study,
the following conclusion were drawn: 1) The students and faculty of the UPHSL
are frequent library users and have different library needs and demands. 2) The
current library of UPHSL were perceived by the respondents to be adequate
except for some areas which need to be improved and developed. 3) There were no
significant differences found in the perceptions of the respondents on the present
library resources, facilities and services. 4) A variety of problems met
encountered by the respondents but the situation are still tolerable on the
part of the library users. 5) The UPHSL Library had averagely met the standards
and requirments set by the Commission on Higher Education, and 6) The
indications drawn-up from the study can now serve as a starter to further
improvee the library resources, facilities and services.
Recommendations:
- Library staff – An additional number of
qualified staff who are license should be provided to man the different
service areas and for eventual preparation for training on
computerization. Regular training should be given to the library staff.
Library staff should be consistent in adhering to library rules and
regulations.
- Physical Facilities – To improve
students’ use of materials and service conditions for the readers comfort
should be improved. Additional airconditioning should be installed for
better and conducive sorrounding. The card catalog and vertical file
collections should be updated for the use of the faculty and the students.
- Library collection – A Five Year Library
Collection Development Program should be formulated to acquire more
references, specifically, the recent editions of the curricula and general
references to balance the selection and acquisitions of library materials.
Research advisory service should be provided to expose the students to
more materials needed for research. Audiovisual and the electronic
materials should be available to students and there should be a separate
room to house all these materials. To maintain the quality of the library
collection, a weeding program to discard outdated books and obsolete
materials should be undertaken. Purchase new updated books.
- Library Services – There is a need to
redefine and evaluate the objectives of the library services to give more
emphasis on the importance of the library research and to improve the
students’ use of the library. The circulation and reference service should
be expanded by the provision of many computers for the online public
access catalog (OPAC) for quick and easy access to the library resources
available. Students and faculty should be properly informed on the newly
acquired materials.
