It was presented at the 9th National Conference on Library & Information Scienece (NACLIS) 2012 on the theme of Empowering Users, Libraries & librarians in the Knowledge Society , organized by SLLA , held on 21 June 2012
1. 9th National Conference on Library & Information Science (NACLIS) 2012
“Empowering Users, Libraries & librarians in the Knowledge Society”
21st June 2012, Organized by SLLA
AN INFORMATION AUDIT AT THE MAIN LIBRARY,
EASTERN UNIVERSITY, SRI LANKA
By:
M. N. Ravikumar,
Senior Assistant Librarian (E-Resources & Services),
Main Library, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
T. Ramanan,
Senior Assistant Librarian (Technical & Clients Services),
Main Library, Eastern University, Sri Lanka.
2. 1. INTRODUCTION
The role of libraries in Universities is to provide information resources and
services to support academic programmes, research and development.
Library Collection should be managed as per the quality standards, and be
continuously evaluated to guarantee the excellence in library services to
its user-community.
In this case, Information Audit can be used to evaluate the collection
quality and user perception.
21-Jun-2012 2NACLIS 2012
3. 1.1 Information Audit – What?
“ A systematic evaluation of information use, resources and flows, with a
verification by reference to both people and existing documents in order to
establish the extent to which they are contributing to an organization’s
objectives” - Association for Information Management in the UK
This is most appropriate definition as it incorporates the critical elements of
'information use' and 'people‘.
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4. 1.1 Information Audit – Why?
IA identifies;
Information that is needed to optimize the achievement of
institutional objectives
As to for whom it is needed ?
How it will be used ?
Its sources?
How it flows through the library?
21-Jun-2012 4NACLIS 2012
5. 1.1 Information Audit – Why?
IA is a management tool which can help an organization to begin:
to understand how its information assets are being put to use
how these can be more effectively harnessed to achieve optimum
productivity and strategic advantage
21-Jun-2012 5NACLIS 2012
6. 1.1 Information Audit – How?
There is no universally accepted model for IA –
dramatically varying structures, natures and
circumstances of the organizations
The ‘Seven stage information audit model’ was
selected for this study.
Developed by Susan Henczel (2001)
Seven stage information audit model21-Jun-2012 6NACLIS 2012
7. 1.2 Objectives
Primary objective of the study is to build and maintain a library collection to
support curriculum, study, teaching, and research needs of students and
faculties.
Specific objectives of the study:
To identify the quality of resources and services rendered by the library,
To find out the deficiencies of existing collection development practice,
To learn the user perspectives on current library services and collection,
To map information flows within the library, and
To find out inefficiencies that enables the identification of where changes
are necessary
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8. 2. METHODOLOGY
The study executed survey methodology that utilized both quantitative and
qualitative methods
The study population - entire user community of the EUSL library, including:
• Faculty representatives (academics), and
• Undergraduates (3rd year and 4th year)
Research Instruments :
• Questionnaire with both closed and open-ended questions
• Focus group interviews – qualitative data
Sample Section - 20% of the total population of each user groups was
taken as into sample
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9. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Library Collections:
Presently it includes 84,930 titles of Text Books and subscribed to 76
scholarly journals (print)
In addition, it holds undergraduates’ dissertations, reports and CD ROM
collection
Currently does not subscribe to any electronic journals or databases, it
receives online databases through INASP (PERII programme)
It is found that the collection has never been subject to weeding, thus the
accommodation of new materials is becoming a major challenge due to
the restricted physical space in the library.
21-Jun-2012 9NACLIS 2012
10. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Purpose of Using the Library:
Majority of the respondents use the library
1. To borrow books
2. To read books
3. To obtain reference information
Most of the academic staff are prefer to read the books in their own places
Purpose of using the library to read journals is comparatively low
21-Jun-2012 10NACLIS 2012
11. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Utilization of Information Sources:
Text books, theses/ dissertations, reports and past-paper collections were
the main resources used by the majority of users.
Lack of interest in and awareness of library collection is the reason for low
level of usage
Students does not have much awareness about exploiting journals either
print or electronic for their referencing
21-Jun-2012 11NACLIS 2012
12. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Adequacy of Information resources:
Text books, dissertations, reports and past-paper collections were rated as
adequate
While online databases, CD ROMs and print journals/magazines were
identified as inadequate
Due to the lack of funds, presently the library does not make subscription to
any electronic journal or databases
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13. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Assessment of Information Services:
Except internet and photo copying facilities, others are rated as ‘good’
At presently library has only two workstations for OPAC/ internet use and
only one photocopy machine for photocopy service are the reason for
dissatisfaction.
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14. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Currency :
From the library’s perspective, out-dated materials are unnecessarily
occupy the space, as a result of which new resources are hard to be
housed.
Weeding practice that has not been implemented in the past due to the
administrative barriers and audit pressure
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15. 3. AUDIT EXPLORATION
Information Flow Map :
It shows how the library gains
information and how the
information is disseminated
by the library to its users
through various information
services
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16. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS
Since the users mainly depends on few library resources and services,
library needs to provide proper awareness about the other resources
specially the use of electronic resources – creating awareness
Library management needs to pay more attention on subscribing electronic
journals and databases – emphasis on electronic resources
Properly develop the CD ROMs collection and make this resource available
to users for lending purpose – availing new information media
Developing e-repositories on past-papers and thesis collections will be
benefited to the user community – e-Repository/ Digital Library services
Provide more workstations with internet connection to users and guide
them to use the library OPAC – more terminals to search
Library should improve the photocopy service by adding more machines at
photocopy counter – improving on reprographic services
21-Jun-2012 16NACLIS 2012
17. References:
Australian Libraries Gateway. (2012). Guidelines for the preparation of a
collection development policy. Retrieved from
http://www.nla.gov.au/libraries/resource/ acliscdp.html.
Booth, A. & Haines, M. (1993) Information audit: Whose line is it any way?.
Health Libraries Review, 10, 224-232. Retrieved from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed
Botha, H & Boon, J.A. (2003) The information audit: Principles and
guidelines. Libri, 53, 23-38. Retrieved from
http://librijournal.org/pdf/2003-1pp23-38.pdf
Buchanan, S. & Gibb, F. (2008). The information audit: methodology
selection. International Journal of Information Management, 28(1), 3-
11, Retrieved from http:// www. sciencedirect.com.
Henzel, S. (2001). The Information Audit: a Practical Guide. Chippenham
Esiltshire: Antany Rone.
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18. References:
Moghaddam, G. G. & Talawar, V.G. (2009) Library consortia in developing
countries: An overview Program: Electronic Library and Information
Systems, 43(1), 94-104. Retrieved from
www.emeraldinsight.com/0033-0337.htm
Orna, E.(1999). Practical Information Policies. Aldershot: Gower.
Ranasinghe, R.H.I.S. (1997). The possibilities of resource sharing among
university libraries in Sri Lanka. Colombo: S. Godage and Brothers.
Swash, G.D. (1997). The Information Audit. Journal of Managerial
Psychology, 12(5), 312-318. doi: 10.1108/02683949710183504
Walke, R. & Wadhwa, N. K. (2010). Collection Development in National
Physical Laboratory Library: A Case Study. In ETTLIS 2nd
International Symposium 2010, Emerging Technologies and Changing
Dimensions of Libraries and Information Services. New Delhi: KBD
Publication, pp. 709 – 714
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