Examining the status of clients benefiting from reference services and its future

Subject Areas : Journal of Knowledge Studies

معصومه احمدلو ¹ ( teacher, Education Department, District One, Arak, Iran )
asgar akbari ² ( مدیر کتابخانه )

Received: 2024-07-26 Accepted : 2024-08-12 Published : 2024-09-29

Keywords: public libraries, reference sources, reference services, Benefit from services,

Abstract :

Introduction: Training and consulting on how to retrieve information sources from the duties of the reference department in order to establish interaction between patrons and libraries. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of reference services in the benefit of patrons and its future in public libraries. Methods: The research was conducted with a descriptive-survey method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The statistical population of the research was members of public libraries, 224 of whom participated in the research. Findings: The findings of the research showed that patrons of public libraries benefit from current information, reference services, consultation, reference desk, user training, resource preparation, and reference librarian, in order from the lowest to the highest level of reference services. Also, regarding the reference sources, in order from the least to the most, they benefit from geographical sources, yearbooks, indexes, abstracts, encyclopedias, bibliographies, and biographies. Conclusion:Reference services, whether physical or virtual, play a key role in the interaction between users and libraries. Benefiting from reference services will not only increase users' satisfaction with the library, but will also increase the provision of quality services in line with the needs of patrons, improve the user experience and review the role of reference in libraries.

References:

اشرفی‌ریزی حسن (1400). بقای خدمات مرجع کتابخانه‌های سلامت: چارچوب مفهومی پیشنهادی (بیان دیدگاه). مدیریت اطلاعات سلامت، 18 (5): 240-237. http://dx.doi.org/10.22122/him.v18i5.4454
بیگدلی زاهد (1381). پیدایش و گسترش خدمات مرجع در کتابخانه‌ها. فصلنامه علوم تربیتی و روانشناسی، 3(1،2): 135-145.file:///C:/Users/COMPUTER%20SHAHR/Downloads/52313800208.pdf
تاج‌الدینی اورانوس، امیرتیموری محبوبی (1396). پارادایم نظری وفاداری کاربران کتابخانه‌های عمومی. کتابخانه و اطلاع‌رسانی، 20 (3): 121-142. https://ensani.ir/file/download/article/1615017410-10373-99-176.pdf
محمدی مهدی، خداداد شهری نیره، زارعی عیسی (1395). بررسی وضعیت و خدمات میز مرجع مجازی در کتابخانه‌های دانشگاه‌های دولتی ایران. فصلنامه دانش‌شناسی، 9(33): 75- 86. https://ensani.ir/file/download/article/64803ce409489-10672-1400-175.pdf

Ali H. Challenges and opportunities in the management of collection development policy in libraries. Journal of Library and Information Science 2020; 18. https://www.mbjlisonline.org/index.php/jlis/article/view/5/3
Anand, CM. (2020). Library and Information Science. Department of Library Science, University of Delhi.
Anghelescu HGB. (2008). Serviciile de referinta: Cheia succesului unei biblioteci. [Reference Services: Key to Library Success]. Chisinau: Universitatea Libera Internationala din Moldova, 56-60. http://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/slisfrp/146
Ayanlola AL. (2017). Reference services provision in Nigeria. International Journal of Libraries and Information Studies, 7(3): 37–35. https://www.ijlis.org/articles/reference-services-provision-in-the-libraries-of-nigeria.pdf
Bakare OD, Bakare BM. (2021). Global technological trend for service delivery in Nigerian academic. Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/fimspub/358/
Bukar I, Kimani GW, Namande W. (2022). User Information Needs and Reference Services Satisfaction at Selected Federal Universities Libraries in North-Eastern Nigeria, International Journal of Library and Information Science Studies, 8(3): 24-33. https://doi.org/10.37745/ijliss.15/vol8n32433
Crowley GH, Gilreath CL. (2002). Probing user perceptions of service quality: using focus groups to enhance quantitative surveys. Performance Measurement and Metrics, 3(2): 78-84. https://doi.org/10.1108/14678040210429973
Dang T. (2018). Evaluating the use and level of user’s satisfaction with the digital library at Federal University Dustin-ma Katsina, Faculty of Education Journal, Federal University Dustin-ma, 1. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332119040
Egunjobi RA, Ogunniyi SO, Ajakaye JE. (2022). "Challenges and Prospects of Reference Services in Federal University Libraries in South-West, Nigeria". Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). 7155. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/7155
Kadir MRA, Hussin N. (2018). Information Needs and Information Seeking Behavior: A Case Study on Students in Private University Library. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 7: 2226- 6348. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v7-i3/4361
Kekana MD, Kheswa SE. (2020). The gap between user perceptions and expectations of students at the main library of the University of KwaZulu-Natal: Pietermaritzburg Campus. South African Journal of Information Management, 22(1): 1104. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajim
Khan NA, Ashraf KM. (2012). Digital Reference Service: Concept, Development and Models. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313236213
Nwosu CJ, Obiano DC. (2021). Challenges of virtual library services in academic libraries of federal universities in South-Eastern Nigeria. Research Journal of Library and Information Science, 5(1): 13–21. https://doi.org/10.22259/2637-5915.0501003
Okoli UC, Ukwedeh DO, Idah JA. (2021). digital reference services in academic libraries in Nigeria: effectiveness and roles in the new normal. Journal of applied Information Science and Technology, 14(1). https://jaistonline.org/14vol1/23.pdf
Oliver RL. (1999). Whence customer loyalty? Journal of marketing, 63: 33-44. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00222429990634s105
Onifade FN, Sowole AO. (2011). “Reference Services in a University Library: Awareness and Perception of Undergraduate Students”. PNLA Quarterly, 75: 3. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228485797
Thorpe C. (2017). Engaging with Our Communities: Future Trends and Opportunities for Reference Services, Journal of the Australian Library and Information Association, 66(4): 406-415. DOI:10.1080/24750158.2017.1359993
Younus M, Nadeem AH. (2021). Effectiveness of digital reference services in university libraries in Punjab, Pakistan: users’ perceptions. Library Philosophy and Practice. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/libphilprac/5545