A virtual reference service system for Sir Albert Cook Medical Library

Abstract

The project aimed at designing a virtual reference service system at Sir Albert Cook Medical Library. The objectives of the study were to: identify the types of references services and challenges at Sir Albert Cook Medical Library is facing in accessing and utilizing virtual references reference service, identify the requirements for developing a virtual-reference services system at the Sir Albert Cook Medical Library, design and implement a virtual reference service system for Sir Albert Cook Medical Library, test and validate the virtual reference service system for Sir Albert Cook medical library. The sample size composed of 48 respondents, 3 reference librarians , 40 Library patrons and 5 Library staff, during data analysis and presentation data was analyzed using the different data process that enables the researcher to eliminate any erroneous data, ethical considerations which include informed consent, confidentiality, openness, and limitation of the study. The findings also revealed that every user can access the reference section as long as they have paid the 20000Ushs as a library fee. however the reference materials are very old and outdated especially the encyclopedia and dictionaries to match with information needs of the users. The findings further reveals that the current reference module used at Sir Albert Cook Medical Library is so cumbersome where the library patron has to walk physically to the Library Desk. Field findings also suggests that the proposed virtual reference service system is better, can improve on the way reference services are provided to every user however it can work hand in hand with the current module of reference service provision. The project team researchers concludes that the main purpose of a virtual reference service system was to serve global users, those people that cannot come physically to the library, professionals that are always busy in order to make the library reference section accessed 24/7. The research recommended that the management of Sir Albert Cook Medical Library should adopt the proposed virtual reference service system because it does not require a lot of money to operate and the library staff should be trained on how to use the system to be able to meet the needs of the users. The project team researchers provided guidelines to the library staff about the entire set up of the system rights from the login to report and how to get the final output which is a list for registered Library users. The project team researchers recommends that the library users provide and correct information about themselves for the library staff to print out the lists of registered Library users and to be contacted in case of an emergency. The researchers recommends that the library staff xiv should be trained on how to use the proposed system to avoid debugging during the registration process.