Abstract
The purpose of this study is to investigate the contributions of public libraries to the satisfaction of the intellectual needs of rural inhabitants in West Bengal, India. The study applied a quantitative survey method with the help of a well-structured questionnaire. Questionnaires were distributed among to the users (students, officers/professionals, self-employed individuals, businessmen, jobseekers, retired persons, and housewives) of 45 rural public libraries in five selected districts of West Bengal. The study found that the largest group of respondents belonged to the students and jobseekers categories, who visit the rural public libraries for seeking academic and job-related information. Many students from humble backgrounds were solely dependent on public libraries because they have procured some textbooks from middle school up to graduation level. Jobseekers were mostly consulting the Career Guidance Section of the library to prepare for various competitive exams. The study also revealed that public libraries have been trying to satisfy the intellectual and informational needs of the rural inhabitants by providing various services and facilities. Respondents have further reported that public libraries should adopt modern technologies and provide ICT-based library services as well. The outcome of this study would help to develop and upgrade the public library collection, services, and facilities in developing countries in a way that reflects patrons’ stated needs.
Acknowledgement
The authors are very thankful to Dr. Mohd Yasir Arafat (Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh) for helping us in the application of statistical formulae. The authors are grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions which led us to an improvement. Last, but most important of all, we also thank to the librarians of all 45 rural libraries in West Bengal for their support in the collection of necessary data.
1. Demographic information.
A. Gender:
Male | Female |
B. Age group:
Less than 15 | 15–20 | 21–25 | 26–30 | ||||
31–40 | 41–50 | More than 50 |
C. Please mention your category among the following:
Students | Officers/Professionals | Self-employed | Retired | ||||
Business | Searching for job | Housewife |
D. Please mention your qualification:
5th to 10th | 11th to 12th | Graduation | |||
Masters | Professional courses | Others__________________ |
2. How frequently do you visit the public library?
Almost every day | Once a week | Once a month | |||
As needed | Rarely |
3. For what purposes do you visit the public library? (multiple answers)
Newspapers and magazines reading | To borrow and return books | ||
Exam preparation | Preparing for competitive exams | ||
Seeking knowledge | To spend leisure time | ||
To attend library programs | A quiet place to read | ||
Any other purposes |
4. Which of the following information do you often need (multiple answers)?
Job related information | |
Textbooks | |
Information related to the competitive examinations | |
Agricultural information | |
Health related information | |
Religious information | |
Political information | |
Travel information | |
Sports related information | |
Arts and literature | |
Historical information | |
Socio-cultural information | |
Entertainment | |
Panjika (fixing dates and times) | |
Research related information | |
Others |
5. How do you retrieve the information resources from the library? (multiple answers)
Consult library card catalogue | With the help of library staff | ||
With the help of peers | With the help of bibliographic details | ||
Others________________________________ |
6. How would you rate the availability of library collection?
Library collection | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book collection | |||||
Subscribed newspapers | |||||
Subscribed magazines | |||||
Report collections |
-
Remark: 1 = Highly dissatisfied; 2 = Dissatisfied; 3 = Partially satisfied; 4 = Satisfied; 5 = Highly satisfied.
7. How would you rate the library services mentioned below?
Library Services | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Book lending services | |||||
Reference services | |||||
Reading room services | |||||
Bibliographic services | |||||
Community information services | |||||
Referral services | |||||
Extension activities |
-
Remark: 1 = Highly dissatisfied; 2 = Dissatisfied; 3 = Partially satisfied; 4 = Satisfied; 5 = Highly satisfied.
8. Please rate your satisfaction level regarding the following aspects.
Library infrastructure | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Location of the library | |||||
Library building | |||||
Cleanliness | |||||
Arrangement of books on the shelves | |||||
Seating arrangement | |||||
Library working hours | |||||
Library environment | |||||
Washroom and parking facilities |
-
Remark: 1 = Highly dissatisfied; 2 = Dissatisfied; 3 = Partially satisfied; 4 = Satisfied; 5 = Highly satisfied.
9. What types of socio-cultural activities do you expect from the public library?
– Organizing cultural program | |
– Organizing information literacy program | |
– Organizing book exhibition | |
– Celebrating important days | |
– Organizing seminar/workshops on different current issues | |
– Organizing women’s welfare and health development programs | |
– Creating a separate children and career guidance section | |
– Organizing awareness programs on different diseases | |
– Organizing career counselling programs |
10. What are your suggestions for the development of the rural library services and facilities?
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Appendix II
West Bengal population by age group (2011).
Age group | Male | Female | Total |
---|---|---|---|
0–4 | 3,743,862 | 3,589,281 | 7,333,143 |
5–9 | 4,216,763 | 4,031,046 | 8,247,809 |
10–14 | 4,677,506 | 4,479,017 | 9,156,523 |
15–19 | 4,702,325 | 4,355,706 | 9,058,031 |
20–24 | 4,422,630 | 4,335,692 | 8,758,322 |
25–29 | 4,044,904 | 3,953,005 | 7,997,909 |
30–34 | 3,464,659 | 3,376,931 | 6,841,590 |
35–39 | 3,523,361 | 3,489,285 | 7,012,646 |
40–44 | 3,219,604 | 2,933,456 | 6,153,060 |
45–49 | 2,814,212 | 2,521,507 | 5,335,719 |
50–54 | 2,317,232 | 1,940,648 | 4,257,880 |
55–59 | 1,746,903 | 1,521,747 | 3,268,650 |
60–64 | 1,406,401 | 1,339,053 | 2,745,454 |
65–69 | 991,280 | 991,713 | 1,982,993 |
70–74 | 686,881 | 703,726 | 1,390,607 |
75–79 | 360,216 | 379,551 | 739,767 |
80–84 | 207,192 | 238,611 | 445,803 |
Age not stated | 63,752 | 48,699 | 112,451 |
Total | 46,809,027 | 44,467,088 | 91,276,115 |
-
Source: Office of the Registrar General, West Bengal (2011).
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