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EVALUATION OF REFERENCE SERVICES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THREE UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA

Year 2015, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 24 - 29, 28.05.2015

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to evaluate reference services in academic libraries in Nigeria.  In carry out this study, 4 research questions were posed.  The population of the study consisted of 100 students. (60 students from University of Agriculture, Makurdi, 60 students from Benue State University and 40 students from the University of Mkar). One set of data collection instrument Evaluation of Reference Services in Academic Libraries Questionnaire (ERSAQ) was used.  The major findings of the study revealed that reference services provided in the libraries include answering reference queries, provision of referral services and provision digital reference services.  Based on the above findings, the following recommendations are presented: provision of adequate reference materials, regular re-training of reference librarians and provision of current awareness services for the library users.

References

  • Ademodi, D. T. & Adepoju, E. O. (2009). Computer Skill among Librarians in Academic Libraries in Ondo and Ekiti States, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice.
  • Bopp, R. E. & Smith, L. C. (2001). Reference and information services: an introduction (3rd ed.). Englewood: Libraries unlimited.
  • Bunge, C. A. (1999). Reference services. Reference Librarian, 66, 185-199.
  • Bunge, C. A. & Bopp, R. E. (2001).History and varieties of referenceservices. In Bopp, R. E. & Smith, L. C. eds. (2001). Reference and information services: an introduction (3rd ed.). Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.
  • Budd, J. M. (1998). The academic library: its context, its purpose and its operation. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.
  • Burke, L. (2003). The future role of librarians in the virtual library environment. The Australian Library Journal, 51(1), 1-16.
  • Chowdhury, G. G. & Chowdhury, S. (2003). Introduction to digital libraries. London: Facet Publishing.
  • Clarke, S. O. (1999). Fundamentals of library science. Lagos: Functional Publishing.
  • Garuba, A. R. (2007). Impact of automation on library staff: A case study of John Harris Library, University of Benin.
  • Green, S. S. (1876). Personal relations between librarians and readers. American Library Journal, 1, 74-81.
  • Gross, M., McClure, C. R., & Lankes, R. D. (2001). Assessing quality in Digital reference services: overview of key literature on digital reference. Florida: Information Institute.
  • Katz, W. A. (2001). Introduction to reference work 2 vols.- New York : McGraw-Hill Katz, W. A. (2002). Introduction to reference work volume I: basic Information services (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Lankes, R. D. (2000). The foundations of digital reference. In Lankes, R. D. Collins, J. W. and Kasowitz, A. S. (eds.). (2000). Digital reference services in the new millennium: planning, management and evaluation. New York: Neal-Schuman Publications: 1-10.
  • Lancaster, F. (1978). Some adornments and limitations of quantitative procedures Applied to the evaluation of library service, in the Quantitative measurement and Dynamic library service, London: Oxy Press.
  • Lee, K. H. & Teh, K. H. (2000). Evaluation of academic library web sites in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science, 5(2):95-108.
  • Lipow, A. G. (1999). Serving the remote user: reference service in the digital Environment. Retrieved August 20, 2014, from http://www.csu.edu.au/special/online99/proceedings99/200.htm
  • Nwachukwu, V. N. (2004). Computer skill competencies among academic librarians: An imperative for the computerization of Nigerian university libraries. The Nigerian Library Link, 2 (1).
  • Nwalo, K. I. N. (2000). Reference sources and service – Ibadan: Centre for external studies, University of Ibadan. 13-34.
  • Olalokun, S. O. (2003). Practical reference service in libraries: the Nigerian perspectives: Lagos journal of library and information science. Lagos Nigerian Library association, 1, 85-90.
  • Oosterlink, A. & Leuven, K. U. (2002). Knowledge management in post-secondary education: universities. Retrieved July 14, 2014, from http://www.oecd.org/pdf/M00027000/M00027356.pdf
  • Palmer, S. S. (1999). Creating our role as reference librarians of the future: fate or choice. Proceedings of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Ninth National Conference, Chicago.
  • Raghavan, A. (2000). Role of librarians: paradigm shifts – past to present. Proceedings of CONSAL XI, 26-28 April 2000, Singapore.
  • Rothstein, S. (1961). Reference services: the new dimension in librarianship. College and Research Libraries, 22, 11-18.
  • Reitz, J. M. (2004). Dictionary for library and information science. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. Westport, Connecticut. London.
  • Shibanda, G. G. (2000). Managing and strategising Africa's information in global computerization. Library Management, 21(4 & 5).
  • Schement, J. R. (2002). Encyclopedia of communication and information. New York: Gale Group.
  • Tedd, L. A. (2003). Challenges facing information professionals. In Global knowledge renaissance: selected papers from the World Library Summit 2002. Singapore: Times Book International: 119-133.
  • Wasik, J. M. (2004). Building and maintaining digital reference services. Retrieved August 20, 2012, from http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/ref-serv.html
  • Whitlatch, J. B. (2000). Evaluating reference services: a practical guide. Chicago: American Library.
Year 2015, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 24 - 29, 28.05.2015

Abstract

References

  • Ademodi, D. T. & Adepoju, E. O. (2009). Computer Skill among Librarians in Academic Libraries in Ondo and Ekiti States, Nigeria. Library Philosophy and Practice.
  • Bopp, R. E. & Smith, L. C. (2001). Reference and information services: an introduction (3rd ed.). Englewood: Libraries unlimited.
  • Bunge, C. A. (1999). Reference services. Reference Librarian, 66, 185-199.
  • Bunge, C. A. & Bopp, R. E. (2001).History and varieties of referenceservices. In Bopp, R. E. & Smith, L. C. eds. (2001). Reference and information services: an introduction (3rd ed.). Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc.
  • Budd, J. M. (1998). The academic library: its context, its purpose and its operation. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.
  • Burke, L. (2003). The future role of librarians in the virtual library environment. The Australian Library Journal, 51(1), 1-16.
  • Chowdhury, G. G. & Chowdhury, S. (2003). Introduction to digital libraries. London: Facet Publishing.
  • Clarke, S. O. (1999). Fundamentals of library science. Lagos: Functional Publishing.
  • Garuba, A. R. (2007). Impact of automation on library staff: A case study of John Harris Library, University of Benin.
  • Green, S. S. (1876). Personal relations between librarians and readers. American Library Journal, 1, 74-81.
  • Gross, M., McClure, C. R., & Lankes, R. D. (2001). Assessing quality in Digital reference services: overview of key literature on digital reference. Florida: Information Institute.
  • Katz, W. A. (2001). Introduction to reference work 2 vols.- New York : McGraw-Hill Katz, W. A. (2002). Introduction to reference work volume I: basic Information services (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
  • Lankes, R. D. (2000). The foundations of digital reference. In Lankes, R. D. Collins, J. W. and Kasowitz, A. S. (eds.). (2000). Digital reference services in the new millennium: planning, management and evaluation. New York: Neal-Schuman Publications: 1-10.
  • Lancaster, F. (1978). Some adornments and limitations of quantitative procedures Applied to the evaluation of library service, in the Quantitative measurement and Dynamic library service, London: Oxy Press.
  • Lee, K. H. & Teh, K. H. (2000). Evaluation of academic library web sites in Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Library and Information Science, 5(2):95-108.
  • Lipow, A. G. (1999). Serving the remote user: reference service in the digital Environment. Retrieved August 20, 2014, from http://www.csu.edu.au/special/online99/proceedings99/200.htm
  • Nwachukwu, V. N. (2004). Computer skill competencies among academic librarians: An imperative for the computerization of Nigerian university libraries. The Nigerian Library Link, 2 (1).
  • Nwalo, K. I. N. (2000). Reference sources and service – Ibadan: Centre for external studies, University of Ibadan. 13-34.
  • Olalokun, S. O. (2003). Practical reference service in libraries: the Nigerian perspectives: Lagos journal of library and information science. Lagos Nigerian Library association, 1, 85-90.
  • Oosterlink, A. & Leuven, K. U. (2002). Knowledge management in post-secondary education: universities. Retrieved July 14, 2014, from http://www.oecd.org/pdf/M00027000/M00027356.pdf
  • Palmer, S. S. (1999). Creating our role as reference librarians of the future: fate or choice. Proceedings of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Ninth National Conference, Chicago.
  • Raghavan, A. (2000). Role of librarians: paradigm shifts – past to present. Proceedings of CONSAL XI, 26-28 April 2000, Singapore.
  • Rothstein, S. (1961). Reference services: the new dimension in librarianship. College and Research Libraries, 22, 11-18.
  • Reitz, J. M. (2004). Dictionary for library and information science. Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. Westport, Connecticut. London.
  • Shibanda, G. G. (2000). Managing and strategising Africa's information in global computerization. Library Management, 21(4 & 5).
  • Schement, J. R. (2002). Encyclopedia of communication and information. New York: Gale Group.
  • Tedd, L. A. (2003). Challenges facing information professionals. In Global knowledge renaissance: selected papers from the World Library Summit 2002. Singapore: Times Book International: 119-133.
  • Wasik, J. M. (2004). Building and maintaining digital reference services. Retrieved August 20, 2012, from http://www.michaellorenzen.com/eric/ref-serv.html
  • Whitlatch, J. B. (2000). Evaluating reference services: a practical guide. Chicago: American Library.
There are 29 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Journal Section Regular Papers
Authors

Philip Akor

Jibril A. Alhassan This is me

Publication Date May 28, 2015
Published in Issue Year 2015 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Akor, P., & Alhassan, J. A. (2015). EVALUATION OF REFERENCE SERVICES IN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THREE UNIVERSITIES IN NIGERIA. Journal of Balkan Libraries Union, 3(1), 24-29. https://doi.org/10.16918/bluj.68108