Guidelines for improving library services at at Joseph' Girls Senior Secondary School Nsambya

Abstract

A study was carried out on improving library services at St. Joseph’s Girl’s Senior Secondary School Nsambya. The objectives of the study were to establish the current status of library services, to find out how library services at St. Joseph’s were managed, to identify the challenges facing library services and to propose best practices for providing library services for the secondary school. A case study research design was used because with it an in-depth study of the case was attainable. Data was collected mainly by use of questionnaires, interviews and observation checklist which helped to obtain information such as the kind of services in the school library and the challenges they face. Data analysis involved editing and scrutiny of the questionnaires to make sure they were reliable and valid. Findings showed that reading space and reference services were the major and most used services offered in the school library text books were available but inadequate for all the school library users. The school library lacked ICT services and the school library users expressed a need for them. Important recommendations included buying and adding more text books and recreational books to the collection. In order to keep up with the changing information and digital world it was also suggested that ICT services be integrated into the library so that they can work along aside the mainly conventional library services like use of borrowing circulation slips, reading only print books and print references like encyclopedias that already exist in the library.