Human orientation in libraries A study of University Libraries in Mumbai

Abstract

The broad objective of the study was to assess the navigational aspects from the newlineUniversity Library first time users point of view and evaluate the available guidance newlinetools to facilitate ease of wayfinding and overall usability. newlineLiterature Review revealed that there are a very few studies conducted on freshman or newlinefirst time library user. The available studies mainly focus on library orientation newlineprograms and library tours. Again, the absence of research based studies in the newlinecontext of self-guidance system for freshman in Indian university libraries with focus newlineon creating user friendly libraries through the provision of spatial information guides newlinewith the bent of human orientation in libraries motivated to fill the gap in research. newlineThis study tries to fill the gap. newlineThe study focused on Human Orientation practices followed by university libraries in newlineMumbai. The physical settings of libraries, locations for departments and guidelines newlinethrough appropriate signage, hoardings, displays, day to day library operations and newlineprocesses were taken into consideration to foresee the inconvenience, confusion, newlineuncertainty, and irritation faced by users. The study focussed on the first time visitor newlinestudents specifically first year Postgraduate and first-year M. Phil/Ph. D students and newlinenewly appointed teaching faculties in university libraries in Mumbai. University newlinelibrarians views were also gathered through questionnaire to explore constraints newlinefaced by them while facilitating humanely oriented. newlineThe study is descriptive in nature; hence survey method is used. In order to have a newlinecomprehensive picture of Human Orientation measures followed by university libraries in Mumbai, the mixed method of research with qualitative and quantitative techniques was used for data collection and analysis. newlineThe theory and principles of Human Orientation and Dr. S. R. Ranganathan s facets of knowledge classification, PMEST were applied in this research. Findings and newlineobservations were analysed and recommendations were generated based on the....