The is identified as services given to individual or group of individuals which relate to the use of the library and its collection. User’s service are popularly given through the following.
A. Library orientation – This has already become an integral part of school activities in relation to the use of books and the library. The aim is to acquaint students with their library and everything about it. The students are taught among other things the use of the card catalog, rules and regulations, etc.
B. Access to Library materials and facilities – Books and other library materials are organized to provide library users easy access to the different collections of the library. Indexes, guides, bibliographies, abstracts, etc. should be prepared to enable students to have maximum use of library materials. Attention should be given to the library facilities to make the library a conductive place for study and research.
C. Referral service – There are instances when some needed reference materials are not available in the library. The researcher is referred to other libraries. This is where the library consortium becomes very effective.
D Library publicity. It is obligation of the library to make known to library users the resources and services in the library. Library publicity plays its role in this aspects of library work.
E Photocopying service – Copying machines should be available. These help prevent vandalism in the library. With these machines, library users can easily acquire research materials.
G Library hours – The librarians should look into the possibility of offering extended library hours to give ample time to researchers to accomplish their task.
Schedule of library services should be arranged in such a way as to accommodate them during their free time.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Definition: The term bibliography has been defined in “a list of books”. But some authorities consider this as a critical and historical study of printed books. Other definitions have been given the most generally use definition is that “it is concerned with materials. The term bibliography comes from the Greek words biblion which means books and graphein which mean to write.
SYSTEMATIC ENUMERATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY
Search for information may necessitate the use of bibliographies. When the use of bibliographies comes, the librarian is referring to the use of SYSTEMATICE ENUMERATIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY that is the list of printed or nonprinted materials. This bibliography comes in different form namely:
1. Universal Bibliography – This form does not limit itself to time, place, language, subject or form.
2. National Bibliography – This form is confined to materials published in a country.
Division of national bibliography:
a. Time – This refers to works already published, works being published and works to be published.
b. Form – In terms of bibliographical form these are:
1.) collection of works, monographs, components (e.g. essays, periodical articles, poems, etc.)
2.) physical form; books, database, recordings, pamphlets, microfilm.
3.) Published and unpublished works e.g. manuscripts, dissertations, theses.
3. Trade Bibliography – The main emphasis is on purchasing data.
4. Subject6 Bibliography – This is intended for researchers in special areas.
5. Guides to reference materials – These are lists which are prepared by the library for special purpose like the “best” and “recommended” lists for specific groups e.g. children and young adults, students, etc.
6. Analytical and Textual Bibliography – Analytical bibliography is more concerned with the physical aspects of a book. Textual bibliography with contents of the book. In other words, textual bibliography is concerned with the text as the author meant it to be.
Elements of effective bibliography 1. Completeness
2. Access to a part 3. Various Forms
4. Identification and verification 5. Location
6. Selection
Points for evaluating a bibliography:
1. Purpose – The title of the bibliography should clearly specify the subject that is covered by it. The preface or the introduction reveal the objectives of the work.
2. Scope – This emphasizes the coverage of the work.
3. Methodology – The compiler should examine all materials listed in the
bibliography. All items should follow standard bibliographic style and should reflect the basic elements of bibliographic entry.
4. Organization – To have easy access to the work, it is necessary to organize it.
There should be a clear cut way to use the data where information can be retrieved right away. There should be clear explanation on how to use the bibliography.
5. Annotations and abstracts – If descriptions, explanations or comments accompany the bibliographical entry, these should be clear and informative.
6. Bibliographic Form – This is a standard entry with the information one needs to identify and locate them.
7. Current – Recency is a factor to consider here. But where there is a need to list retrospective work it may not be a point to consider.
8. Accuracy – This is the name of the game in bibliographic citations.
Arrangements should be made where there is a need for further corrections.
9. Format – Find out if the bibliography is available in print, on CD-ROM, online, etc.
Uses of Bibliographies
1. They locate materials on subject in question.
2. They provide a means of verifying such items as authors name, complete title of works, place of publication, publisher, date of publication, edition, and number of pages.
3. If they are annotated, they indicate the scope of the subject and the manner in which it is treated; if annotation is critical/evaluative, it comments upon the usefulness of the publication.
4. They point out material, including parts of book which cannot be analyzed in the card catalog.
5. They group works according to form, location, and period.