AN ASSIGNMENT ON

LIBRARY USER EDUCATION

PREPARED BY
KAWSAR AHMED BARBHUIYA
MLIS FIRST SEMESTER
ROLL NO - 11

SUBMITTED TO
DR. MANOJ KUMAR SINHA

DEPARTMENT OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE

ASSAM UNIVERSITY, SILCHAR - 788011

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 Contents

1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . 1
2. Meaning and definition . . .. . . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . 2
3. Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
4. Aims and objectives . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . 5
5. Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 6

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INTRODUCTION;

Libraries amass vast amount of information, which is available in print form

such as books, journals, reports and now increasingly, in non-print forms such as
CD-ROMs, e-journals, online databases via Internet. Information is the basic product
that librarians handle and the needs to link effectively these huge and costly stores
of information into the requirements of the parent organization curricula are the
philosophical, economic and educational reasons for a user education program.

The Education of user plays a pivotal part and is a major landmark of

Academic College Librarianship. Many colleges offer user education programs
incorporating the objectives and practices specified, and aimed at providing
confidence in approaching study in the widest sense, making a more effective,
efficient student2 during the period of his/her study at college, and making him a
lifelong learner thereafter. The user specific collection and coupled with a solid
background of theory and principles makes the users to adopt themselves easily to
library practices. It is the library collection, which turns the students from classroom
to wider study and to a contemporary society and scholarship.

Library user’s education is closely related to resources available in the library

and off e library. This should be regarded as one of the most important activity of the
modern library. User education has become information literacy because of the
changing agenda in education, and the impact of the hybrid library. This should
include the use of modem methods of information handling - the use of bibliographical
tools serving the production, abstracting and indexing of knowledge. Dr.
Ranganathan emphasized this aspect of library in his Five Laws of Library Science
and the "beehive" activity of the library. Sir Charles Grant Robertson, a former Vice-
Canceller of one of the leading Universities in England, said that "If he e a dictator,
he would reduce the time devoted to lectures to a third of that usually is occupied by
them, and insist on the students spending three hours every day in the library.

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MEANING AND DEFINITION;

The term ‘user education’ has risen from the concept of reference service. The
concept of user education was discussed by the American Library Association at first
conference held at the end of the 19th century. According to Norman Highman, ‘there
are three aspects of user education: firstly, helping them to use the library; secondly,
help them to use the literature; thirdly, using the literature for them’.

The terms ‘user education’, ‘user orientation’, ‘Bibliographic instruction’, and

‘user assistance’ are synonymous and have been often used interchanged. The word
user education is a broader term and encompasses orientation, bibliographic
instruction, and user awareness.

Further, user education is derived as, user education is a combination of two

words, User meaning who use anything and Education meaning systematic training
and instruction. In the context of library, the meaning of user education is systematic
training and instruction to those who use library. At layman level, user education
means, 'Guidance or instruction to the library user for using library resources. The
term user education is further defined to make it very clear. The following definitions
will highlight what user education is: -

1. According to ALA Glossary of Library and Information Science, "User

education encompasses all types of activities, designed to teach us
about library services, facilities and organization of library resources and
search.
2. Nancy Fijallbrant and Ian Malley defined user education as, "User
education is concerned with the whole information and communication
process and one part of this involves the total interaction of the user with
the library. This should be continuous process starting with school and
public libraries and with possibility of extension into academic and
specialized libraries".
3. In the Parry Committee Report 1967, it is mentioned "all students should
be given primary guidance on the layout of the library, its regulations and
procedures. At a later stage, seminars should be held and lectures be
delivered on the use of bibliographical tools and on guidance to the
literature of students own subject".
4. Jacques Toctalian, former Direct of General of Information program of
UNESCO, defined User Education in a generic way to include any effort
or program, which will guide and instruct existing and potential users,
individually or collectively, with the objective of facilitating; the
recognition of their own information needs the formulation of these

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 needs the effective and efficient use of information services and the
assessment of these services.
5. According to Mews, ‘readers instruction’ is taken to mean instructions
given to readers to help them to make the best use of a library,
particularly academic library.

Hence, it is a program designed to teach users the necessary skills to access

the required information independently.

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NEED FOR USER EDUCATION;

The later part of the twentieth century saw the burgeoning of the library as an
access point on information networks. Web based digital resources are becoming
more and more prevalent and encompass more than 'surfing the net'. User education
is becoming increasingly important for the users. Different methods are being tested
as to how to incorporate technology skills into the research process.

Electronic resources and Internet access have made remote access to

information a reality for users. In order to optimally utilize their information sources,
user education program is tantamount in providing information users with the
evaluation tools to function in the electronic age. ‘End user education’ is a new term
used by researchers who rely on technology for accessing information. As remote
users continue to grow as a segment of our academic library community, our
instruction services have to change and accommodate their needs as well. With the
increase in number of databases in various disciplines, the need of user education
has become evident10.

With the tremendous growth of information in various fields of human

endeavour, new methods of bibliographic control, the introduction of new media of
communication and the increasing focus on individual duty require the users of
libraries especially academic libraries to have systematic rather than haphazard
approach to their use. These factors have created confusion and bewildered many
students. The application of new technology in information retrieval requires training
for users. The changing pattern of education has also increased the necessity and
the urgency for user education. Today, most of the libraries are using computers for
information storage and retrieval. The need for Instructing students in the proper use
of library resources and services is a continuous one. Thus, users need assistance
to use library sources at various levels. The need of such programs is:

 To acquaint the user with learning techniques.

 To enhance the academic level of students.
 To make user handle library resources independency.
 To develop awareness among users for maximum utilization of its resources.
 To increase the knowledge of the user about CD-ROM databases, Online
databases etc.
 To increase in the use of resources so that underutilisation of the library
resources can be tapped.

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AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF USER EDUCATION;

The aims and objectives of a user education program are generally laid on
the basis of the concept of user requirements. The general aim as stated in
UNISIST proposals, should be to reach a situation at each stage in the progress
of science and in the development of information technology, when most if not all
scientise recognize their information needs clearly can assess the strength and
weakness of existing and experimental service.

The general objectives of user education program are as follows: -

 General orientation to available facilities and resources

 The teaching of the organization of literature in various disciplines
as well as basic reference tools in each discipline.
 To create an awareness and understanding of the basic relevant
library and information sources and services.
 To bridge the gap between the potential user and the collections
 To enhance user's abilities to select appropriate information sources
and systems for a given information need.
 To offer instruction in the effective and eminent use of the available
library facilities and resources.
 To teach basic skills and strategies required to handle information
in print and electronic form.

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CONCLUSION;

Now the physical form of materials is drastically changed to electronic form

viz. CD-ROM, DVDs, Online databases, etc. thereby reducing the gap between the
information generation and use. To cope up with these libraries have changed their
ways of organizing material and providing services. The impact of information
technology (IT) has changed the way librarians used to think, visualize and act. The
continuous development in the field of IT will continue to influence the library
profession. Therefore, the library professionals have to devise the ways and means
to make the users lifelong learners. Particularly in electronic environment there is dire
need to develop the user education program on the lines of the guidelines and
standards brought out by ACRL, UNISIST etc. at Intonational level. Many of the users
are to a large extent ignorant of the methods of using the current mode in which
information is stored, the nature and type of services available and also the existence
of information sources that may be of relevance. Hence, planning and conducting
user education program not only to provide every reader his/her document but also
to ensure every document its reader.

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