A library guide for Muteesa I Royal University library

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to design a library guide for Muteesa I Royal University to help library users find useful information resources with ease. The objectives of the study were to: examine the current status of library services, find out how library resources are managed at Muteesa I Royal University library, find out the challenges of providing library services at Muteesa I Royal University library and compile a library guide for Muteesa I Royal University library. The study was qualitative and targeted a sample size of 40 respondents consisting of library staff, teaching staff and students and engaged only 36 of these successfully through a purposive non probability sampling technique and with aid of Interview, observation and questionnaire methods of data collection. The study found out that; the library provides various library services and majority reported circulation services as the most utilized service and library tour service as the least, the library intends to improve its library services through encouraging user participation. Underutilization of library services was the most reported challenge and lack of communication formed the least. Majority of the respondents reported positive on the design of a library guide at MRU library. The study concluded that; library services provided are user based. Circulation services were the most reported because charging and discharging of resources to users happens more frequently than all other services. The underutilization challenge is attributed the fact that services are not adequately marketed to the users whose passion for the library is poor. The positive response towards the design of a library guide showed the great significance of library guide in a library environment and was attributed to the fact that it would solve problems pertaining access to library services and materials.