1. Introduction:
Libraries
are developed to meet the information needs of a group of people who are
commonly termed as library users. In
fact, all the staff, collection, services aims to satisfy the users only. As
such, user is the focal point of all information activities at all levels in
any kinds of library. There are various terms like client, patron, reader,
user, customer, inquirer, member, etc., which are used to refer to those who
use a library.
2. Definition: The person, who
is actively seeking access to the data / information / knowledge available in
the libraries and who when successful, obtains and uses the data / information
/ knowledge, is described as a library user.
According to Kenneth Whittaker, a user
may be defined as “a person who uses one or more library’s services at least
once a year.”
3. Types of
Users:
Unlike other system or services, users are human and therefore difficult to
classify. Users can be grouped by the type of activities they perform in the
library. In a university library, users are the students, research scholars,
faculties and the staff. In case of the public library, the users are general
people, students, research scholars, businessmen, and others. It can be assumed
that in the public libraries the users are almost heterogeneous and in academic
and special libraries the users are almost homogeneous in nature. Users can
also be classified according to their age group as children, young adult, and
adult.
The
population in and around a library can be of two types- users and non-users.
a) Non-Users: Those who do not use a library would be
considered non-users.
b) Users: Users refer to those who use the
library resources or availed its services. Generally, users are group into two
categories- Actual user and potential user.
i) Actual User: Actual user
makes use of the library and its resources. He is a person who obtained data,
information or documents from or through libraries and may be understood not
only in terms of what the user requests but also in terms of those forms of
demand that he satisfies directly.
ii) Potential
User: Potential
users means the users for whom the library systems or services where designed
but who for various reasons do not make use of its resources or services.
Potential users may be converted in the course of time into actual or non users
by providing orientation, library extension services and so on.
Dr.
S. R. Ranganathan has grouped user community on the basis of various types of
services enunciated by him. These groups include the following:
a) Fresher: The fresher, or the freshman, is the
new member of the library. He/she should be initiated to the library and
introduced to the world of books, and how to find them depending upon his/her
reading interests.
b) Ordinary Reader: He/she is an
ordinary person with demand for ordinary books, and ordinary services from the
library.
c) Specialist Reader: A specialist
user is one who specializes in a narrow field of a subject. His demand for
books will also be specific and research oriented.
d) General Reader: This is an assorted group of
users which is not included in any of the above user groups.
Werner
Kunz et al, on the basis of user approach to information in libraries,
categorized the users into the following categories.
a) Potential User: It is the one who needs
information but may not be able to express their information requirement
properly, hence it can be provided by specific library services oriented to
her/him.
b) Expected User: It is the one who is known to
have the intention of using certain information services.
c) Actual User: It is the one who has actually
used an information service regardless of whether he/she has derived any
advantage from it or not.
d) Beneficiary User: It is the one
who derives a measurable advantage from the information services provided by
the library.
Kenneth Whittaker categorizes users
as follow:
a) General Readers: They
concentrate on the use of light reading materials available in the Library.
b) Subject Readers: They
concentrate on the use of library materials available on a subject field of
their interest.
c) Special Readers: They are having
special information needs, need some special library services E.g. visually
impaired users.
d) Non-Reading Users: They make use
of library materials, but not reading materials E.g. coming into the library
just to borrow a video or audio cassette.
4. Users Right in the Library: The users have
the following right in the library environment
a) Access to Accurate Information: The government/parent body spends on
libraries so that it adds value to the user. As such, users have the right to
expect that the data / information available in the library have the accuracy.
b) Access to Timely Information: The user has
the right to assume that the information will be delivered in a reasonable time
frame.
c) Access to Adequate Training: There should be
a timely, complete, and interactive level of training that meets the schedule
of the users.
5. Users Obligation in the Library: The users in the
library supposed to follow the following rules
a) Know and Respect Library Rules: The user should
try their best to know the basic rules of the library and are supposed to
follow them.
b) Respect Copyright Laws: The users have to educate themselves about
copyright laws, intellectual property rights, and other limitations on how
information can be used and shared.
c) Report Problems: Report all
issues or problems to the library staff in a timely manner and with proper
decorum.
6. Conclusion: The general categories of users will vary from library to library. In a
public library the users may include professionals, students, housewife,
layman, and businessman and so on. When it comes to information, the right of
the users becomes obligations of the librarians. The library staff should make
time to interact with the users during their visit to the library. This will
allow the library staff to keep up-to-date with the users changing needs.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.

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