Die benutting van 'n onderwyskollegebiblioteek vir opleidingsdoeleindes : 'n teoreties-empiriese gebruikerstudie
Abstract
THE UTILISATION OF A COLLEGE OF EDUCATION LIBRARY FOR TRAINING PURPOSES: A THEORETICAL-EMPIRICAL USER STUDY: At certain colleges of education in the Transvaal the utilisation of college libraries has been a cause of concern since 1986. Lending statistics of libraries at three colleges of education indicate a decline in library utilisation since 1986. During the 1980's all college libraries were transformed into media centres. Capital outlays were made by government to establish these modem college libraries. It was therefore of importance to ascertain why college library utilisation had declined since 1986. The research was initiated in 1988 with an empirical study at the Onderwyskollege Pretoria, this college being the largest in the country. In 1995 a follow-up survey was conducted at the same college to determine whether the utilisation of the library had improved or had deteriorated any further. This research comprises a theoretical and an empirical study. The theoretical part examines factors that could influence the utilisation of college libraries, such as the changes in the country and in education, rationalisation and the amalgamation of and closing down of certain colleges of education. Note is taken of the situation in foreign countries and of user studies conducted there. The historical development of Transvaal colleges of education and their libraries, the role of college libraries in the initial training of teachers; the services rendered by college libraries and methods of retrieval and utilisation of library
collections are examined inter alia, as well as the use of curricular media. The empirical part of the research reports the results obtained from questionnaire responses by lecturers and students during the surveys conducted in 1988 and 1995 respectively. The results of these surveys are compared and more detailed analyses are made of results obtained from lecturers in different departments and from students in various year groups and doing different courses, so as to reflect a wide variety of opinion. The results obtained show favourable utilisation of the college library at the Onderwyskollege Pretoria, especially in respect of use by students doing the Junior Primary course and, to a lesser degree, by students doing the Senior Primary and Technical courses. The follow-up survey of 1995 also indicates a marked improvement in library utilisation by both lecturers and students. Since 1990 subject integration has become part of the training policy at this college and has resulted in largely improved utilisation of curricular media. In the course of this research one distinct problem that hampers library use has emerged and requires urgent attention, namely the insufficiency of the library collection of the Onderwyskollege Pretoria. Three aspects in this regard were identified, viz. a) the collection is inadequate in certain respects; b) there are specific deficiencies in the available media; c) the collection is not readily available. It is recommended that a) a College Ubrary Committee, as a committee of the College Board, be established; b) a co-operation agreement be entered into with nearby tertiary libraries to share collections; c) further research be undertaken in respect of the computerisation of the library as well as the utilisation of electronic information sources.