The Academic Library and Its Users / Edition 1

by Peter Jordan

Overview

The many recent changes in higher and further education mean that it is more important than ever to analyse the needs of academic library users, and both promote and provide the service they require. This constructive book, pervaded throughout by the impact of IT on the learning environment, surveys the influences on today's academic library, and explains how to increase user satisfaction through quality management. The author focuses particularly on users' behaviour in the library, the problems they cause or encounter, and how libraries cope. The book examines the varying needs of undergraduate and graduate, mature and part-time students, overseas students, franchised students, distance learners and other groups with special needs, explaining ways in which these needs can be identified and the service evaluated. One chapter is devoted to research and researchers' information demands. The particular requirements of subject communities and their consequences for academic libraries are also investigated, as well as the requirements of teaching staff and ways in which the library can work with them. The author emphasizes the importance of user education programmes and explains how to promote the library effectively with limited resources. For librarians, heads of services and senior library managers in further and higher education, and those, such as subject librarians, responsible for specific student groups, this book provides a comprehensive and realistic guide to providing and promoting a quality service. Students of librarianship and information management will gain valuable insight from this book into user analysis and improving the performance of information provision.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780566079399
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	10/14/1998
Pages:	168
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Peter Jordan was Head of Reader Services at Manchester Metropolitan University until 1993 and now lectures on library management. He is the author of many publications on the subject, including Staff Management in Library and Information Work,Third Edition, also published by Gower.

Table of Contents

Contents: The Academic Environment; Quality and the User; Users; Students; Subject Communities; Researchers; User Education; Publicity and Promotion; The Future; Index.

Editorial Reviews

’... a tightly focused, this-is-where-we've-got-to book which any librarian working in this sector would benefit from reading.’ The Library Association Record ’Thoroughly researched and written in a straightforward style.’ Online & CD Rom Review ’The interest and value of this book to those involved in information studies education is great...the existing literature base on the subject of academic libraries will welcome the addition of this work - its multidimensional perspective is truly its strength. Jordan has filled a knowledge gap in the field by providing valuable insights into how the academic library might go about evolving in order to flourish - never take your eyes off the user!’ Education for Information ’Directed for students and new practitioners, the writing has a clear and direct style well supported by references at the end of each chapter. One of the many good qualities of this book is its structure, with headings and sections that enable easy navigation through the text. As a professional working in an academic library, it is refreshing to read a book in which I can recognise the reality of the everyday practice. It is difficult to fault the book on its coverage of the subject...This is an excellent and timely book. I have no doubt that it will become a standard reference for students and new professionals. I would also commend it to colleagues as a useful summary of current thinking.’ Electronic Library ’...very readable book.’ Journal of Librarianship and Information Science

From the Publisher