Designing a current awareness service system for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Library

Abstract

The study aimed at designing a Current Awareness Service System for Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Library. The objectives of the study were to; establish the Current Awareness Services offered at Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Library, find out the different tools used in delivering current awareness services, identify the challenges in offering Current Awareness Services, establish the strategies of addressing the challenges in offering the Current Awareness Services and design a Current Awareness Service System for Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities Library. The study employed a case study research design while adopting both qualitative and quantitative research approaches in collecting data. Questionnaire, interview, and documentary analysis methods of data collection were used because of the nature of study. Simple random sampling method was used to select the 152 library users and purposive sampling to select the 4 library staff. The study found out that library users visit the library on a daily basis, to get more information in their fields of study, consult about information on the new information materials, and to use computers for research. The study findings showed that librarians rarely display the new arrivals and use emails sent to them notifying about the new updates in the library. The methods used in offering current awareness services to users which include personal visit to the library, communication through word of mouth, library displays and library newsletters. The challenges faced in current awareness services were; delayed display of the new arrivals, irregular CAS delivery by email, absence of internet access to some users, increased costs to the library in providing CAS to users. The study concluded that current awareness services are essential for every user to be aware of new information available in the library. therefore it was needful to design a Current awareness information system for the Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities to disseminate information to the library users about the new arrivals and information in the library. The recommendations for the study were; use of social media networks, use of notice boards, visiting the classes and inform them on the new updates, library visit hours, training of the library staff, and orientation of library users.