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Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal, 35. URL: www.iclc.us/cliej/cl35naqvi.pdf

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Current Awareness Services: A Case Study of the CBHTS Nasinu Library at

Fiji National University

Tanveer Haider Naqvi

Fiji National University

Fiji

[email protected]

ABSTRACT: Due to the ever-changing information world, different

approaches and new tools emerge all the time. It i s necessary to be

selective, both for library staff themselves and for helping users. This

survey was conducted to seek users’ input concerning the awareness and

use of current awareness (CA) services in the College of Business,

Hospitality & Tourism Studies (CBHTS) Nasinu Library of Fiji National

University. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed randomly

among the students and staff of CBHTS. 100 (67%) questionnaires were

completed and returned. The findings of the study reveal that the

majority of the students and staff came to know about CA services

through the library website, e-mail, and library tour. Notifications of

new books and periodicals through e-mail are most popular. CA services

are popular among the staff and students. A number of suggestions were

also made regarding how to improve the existing CA services and to

develop new ones.

I. Introduction

Both the current and future needs of library users should always be kept in mind in order to assist

them to achieve excellence in their academic pursuits. In this light, library plays a pivotal role as

a gateway to information resources, a center for creation and recreation of academic activities,

the fulcrum of academic life, and the engine of learning that fuels the academic institution. There

is not only the need to gear up the old ones but also to initiate the new services with the

assistance of the latest information technology so that the total library operations and services

can be enhanced.

The term commonly used to describe the process of keeping up to date is current awareness

(Prytherch, 1987).

Skolnik (1977) described “a current awareness bulletin started in 1929 for chemists and

researchers at the Hercules Corporation and moved to a computer system in the 1960s”. Such

early CA services were usually “librarian-generated bulletins distributed in house to researchers

in corporate, university, or government research centers as a means for keeping up with the

mailto:[email protected]


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vastly expanding post-World War II research output” (Kolder & Simpkins, 1967; Menzel, 1964;

Skolnik, 1977; Strauss et al., 1964).

CA services are also known as “selective dissemination of information” (Connor, 1967; Hensley,

1963; Kolder & Simpkins, 1967), “Current Contents” (Current contents list, 2003), and “alerting

services” (Leatherman & Eckel, 2012).

Strauss and others (1972) defined CA as:

the establishment of a system for reviewing publications immediately upon

receipt, selecting information pertinent to the programme of the organization

served, and recording individual items to be brought to the attention of those

persons whose work they are related to. It involves a combination of processes

including the selection of pertinent information from periodicals, books,

pamphlets, patents and reports, in fact, anything of serious content that is received

(p. 373).

The International Encyclopedia of Information and Library Science (2003) also defined a current

awareness service as one “notifying current documents to users of libraries and information

services” (Current awareness, 2003).

Today, CA services alert scholars, researchers, and health care practitioners to recently published

literature in their fields of specialization (Johnson et.al., 2009). Librarians who provide these

services use various methods to keep current with academic and professional literature. It can be

provided in many ways such as:

By telephone. This medium is best to keep abreast current developments. However, it is

not in fashion in the Fiji National University (FNU) library.

Display. In FNU library, it is used to keep the user community aware about the new

arrivals.

Routing of periodicals. This method is workable in FNU library.

List of latest additions. FNU library sends out lists of new additions consisting of newly

acquired books, theses, patents, reports, proceedings, pamphlets, AV-resources, etc.

through e-mail.

List of latest periodical received. On a monthly basis, FNU library informs their users

through e-mail about the periodicals received.

Topical bibliographical on demand. A list of bibliographical references will be compiled

on a given subject using the available electronic and online databases and sent to the

concerned user through e-mail.

Contents page service. FNU library is planning to send out the content pages of monthly

received print periodicals as a common list through e-mail to FNU community.

News clipping service. Libraries provide newspaper or news clipping service to their

users.

Electronic mail and bulletin board services (BBS). E-mail and Bulletin Board Service are

also ways to deliver CA service to individuals.


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Library bulletins and newsletters. FNU library planned to distribute its own timely

bulletins and newsletters, which will be comprised of information like new developments

in libraries, new events like conferences/seminars/workshop, book exhibition or fair,

meetings, visitors, etc.

Abstract bulletin. Suitable abstracts are selected and published exclusively for FUN users

based on journals subscribed to or based on commercially subscribed abstracting services

like Physics Abstract, Chemical Abstracts, Biological Abstracts, etc.

List of microform documents. To provide pinpointed information to the users based on

microform literature, many special libraries create a separate list of microform

documents.

Commercial current content service. Thomson Reuters Healthcare & Science is a leader

in publishing “Current Content Service.” This weekly service is issued in 7 series,

namely, Life Sciences, Agriculture Biology and Environmental Sciences, Social and

Behavioral Sciences, Physical Chemical and Earth Sciences, Engineering Computing and

Technology, Clinical Medicine, Arts and Humanities.

II. Literature Review

It is important to keep up with the ever-changing information world. Libraries are serving

patrons from diverse groups with different needs. Librarians need to help patrons find the

services that best meet their needs. Although CA services have come a long way in just a few

years, information overload is still a major concern. “Alerting services are very appealing but can

easily end up inundating users with far too much information” (Barr, 2006).

Siriwardena (2005) investigated the present status of CA services in special libraries and

university libraries in Sri Lanka. The findings show that informal and traditional methods were

used to provide CA services to their users.

Singh (1999) conducted a comparative study of reader services provided by IIT libraries of India

and found that CA service existed in all the IIT libraries.

Umbur (2008) stated that CA service was the most used information service to support the

research activities.

Okafor and Ukwoma (2007) found that academics in science and engineering in Southern

Nigeria do not frequently use CA services, consult with librarians or visit exhibitions to gain

information in the library.

McKimmie (1994) concluded from his findings that “the users were satisfied with the service;

the majority of citations received were considered relevant; 35% of the users needed revision of

their profiles; and few faculty members took advantage of the document delivery service”.

Sharma et al. (2008) listed the reasons of “growing dissatisfaction of the users arising from non-

availability of needed documents and lack of provision of services could be boiled down to some

extent, by rendering at least CAS or current contents or information about latest addition to

users”.


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Diaron (2003) showed that bulletin boards play an important role in extending the level of CA

services and that “Methods of current awareness services are not widely read nor scanned by

library users”.

Shafique (2009) found that the new library services that can enhance the access to library

resources were: SDI in relevant research areas, CA service, document delivery, blog

development, and e-mail alerts.

Adebayo (2009) opined that more dynamic, challenging, and practical user-friendly services

such as CA services and SDI should be given priority.

III. Scope of the Study

There are altogether three universities in Fiji: University of South Pacific, University of Fiji, and

Fiji National University.

Fiji National University (FUN) consists of five colleges and one center. The College of Business,

Hospitality & Tourism Studies (CBHTS) Nasinu Library was selected for the current study.

IV. Objectives of the Study

The current survey was conducted to identify the acceptance of CA services in the College of

Business, Hospitality & Tourism Studies (CBHTS) Nasinu Library of Fiji National University,

including how the services are used and what degrees of users’ satisfaction are. To be more

specific, it attempted to achieve the following objectives:

to find out the availability of CA services at CBHTS Nasinu library

to ascertain the awareness and utilization of existing CA services

to determine the purpose of CA services used by students and staff

to know the most frequently used CA services by students and staff

to assess the level of users’ satisfaction

to recommend appropriate solutions to keep students and staff aware of the latest addition

of resources in the library

Personal characters have not been considered in the scope of this survey. Only the users’

approaches to use the CA services have been inquired and tested in light of the above mentioned

objectives.

V. Research Methodology

A total of 150 copies of a questionnaire were distributed randomly among the students and staff

of CBHTS. 100 completed copies were returned. The responses received were presented in the

form of tables and analyzed by using a simple method of calculation.


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VI. Data Analysis and Findings

The data collected in the responses received through the questionnaire is analyzed and

interpreted.

1. Status of respondents

All the respondents have been classified in two categories as shown in Table 1. It is observed

that out of 100 respondents, 80 (80%) were students and 20 (20%) respondents were staff.

Table 1. Status of respondents

Status Respondents

Numbers %

Students 80 80

Staff 20 20

Total 100 100

2. Respondents’ age groups

Table 2 shows that out of 80 students, 60 (75.00%) were in the 21-30 age group and 20 (25.00%)

students were in the 16-20 age group while 20 (100%) staff were in the 31-45 age group.

Table 2. Respondents’ age group

Age Groups No. of Respondents

Students % Staff % Total %

16-20 20 25 0 0 20 20

21-30 60 75 0 0 60 60

31-45 0 0 20 100 20 20

45-60 0 0 0 0 0 0

3. Frequency of visit to the library

Table 3 shows that out of 80 students, 70 (87.50%) visited the library on a daily basis, followed

by 10 (12.50%) occasionally while 10 (50%) staff visited the library 2-3 times a week, followed

by 5 (25%) staff on a daily basis and 5 (25%) once a fortnight.

Table 3. Frequency of visit to the library

Frequency No. of Respondents


Daily 70 87.5 5 25 75 75

2-3 times a week 0 0 10 50 10 10

Weekly 0 0 0 0 0 0

Once a fortnight 0 0 5 25 5 5


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Occasionally 10 12.5 0 0 10 10

Never 0 0 0 0 0 0

4. Purpose of visit to the library

Table 4 shows that 80 (100%) students and 10 (50%) staff visited the library for all the purposes

as stated in the table below while 5 (25%) staff to access the available information to update

knowledge and 5 (25%) staff to borrow books.

Table 4. Purpose of visit to the library

Purposes No. of Respondents


To access the

available

information to

update knowledge

0 0 5 25 5 5

To consults all

facets of

information

0 0 0 0 0 0

To borrow books 0 0 5 25 5 5

To use the

computers for

research-data

processing

0 0 0 0 0 0

For all of the

above purpose

80 100 10 50 90 90

Note: Multiple answers were permitted.

5. Awareness about CA services

Table 5 shows that 70 (87.50%) students and 15 (75%) staff were aware of the CA services

provided by the library.

Table 5. Awareness of CA services

Options No. of Respondents


Yes 70 87.50 15 75.00 85 85.00

No 10 12.50 5 25.00 15 15.00

6. Sources of awareness about CA services

Table 6 shows that 70 (100%) students learned about the CA service through the library website,

followed by 60 (85.71%) through the library tour during the orientation, 50 (71.43%) through

email, and 5 (7.14%) through print resources and that 15 (100%) staff knew the CA service


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through the library website, 15 (100%) through email, 15 (100%) through the library tour during

the orientation, and 10 (66.67%) through print resources.

Table 6. Sources of awareness about CA services

Learning

Options

No. of Respondents


Through library

website

70 100 15 100 85 100

Through e-mail 50 71.43 15 100 65 76.47

Through print

resources

5 7.14 10 66.67 15 17.65

Through your

colleagues

0 0 0 0 0 0

Through library

tour during

orientation

60 85.71 15 100 75 88.24


7. Use of CA services

Table 7 shows that 70 (87.50%) students and 15 (75%) staff used the CA service provided by the

library.

Table 7. Use of CA services

Options No. of Respondents


Yes 70 87.5 15 75 85 85

No 10 12.5 5 25 15 15

8. Types of CA services used

Table 8a shows that the majority of students (60, 75%) used the “Display of latest books through

mail” and the “Display of latest periodicals through mail” respectively. In addition, 35 (43.75%)

used the “Routing of current periodicals”. On the other hand, 50 (62.5%) students never used the

“Current addition information from publishers via alert service if they registered”. And 35

(43.75%) students never used the “Routing of current periodicals”.

Table 8a. Types of CA services used by students

Types of CA Services Students

MU % U % SU % RU % NU %

Display of latest books

through mail

60 75 10 12.5 0 0 0 0 0 0


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Display of latest

periodicals through mail

60 75 10 12.5 0 0 0 0 0 0

Routing of current

periodicals

35 43.75 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 43.75

Current addition

information from

publishers via alert

service if registered

10 12.5 10 12.5 0 0 0 0 50 62.5

Notes: MU = Most Used, U = Used, SU = Somewhat Used,

RU = Rarely Used, NU = Never Used)

Table 8b shows that the majority of staff (15, 75%) used the “Display of latest books through

mail” and the “Display of latest periodicals through mail”. In addition, 10 (50%) staff used the

“Current addition information from publishers via alert service”. The “Routing of current

periodicals” was also used by all the staff.

Table 8b. Types of CA services used by staff

Types of CA Services Staff

MU % U % SU % RU % NU %


through mail

15 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Display of latest


15 75 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Routing of current

periodicals

0 0 15 75 0 0 0 0 0 0

Current addition

information from



10 50 5 25 0 0 0 0 0 0

Notes: MU = Most Used, U = Used, SU = Somewhat Used,

RU = Rarely Used, NU = Never Used)

9. Reasons for not using CA services

Table 9 shows that 10 (12.5%) students did not use the CA services because of “Late processing”

and 5 (25%) staff did not use the CA services “Due to time lag”.

Table 9. Reasons for not using CA services

Reasons No. of Respondents


Due to time lag 0 0 5 25 5 25

Late processing 10 12.5 0 0 10 12.5


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10. Purpose of using CA services

Table 10 shows that 40 (50%) students used the CA services for their “Study”, 20 (25%) for

“Research work”, and 20 (25%) for “Project work” and that 10 (50%) staff used the CA services

for their “Research work” and 7 (35.00%) for their “Study”.

Table 10. Purpose of using CA Services

Purpose No. of Respondents


Research work 20 25 10 50 30 30

Project work 20 25 0 0 20 20

Study 40 50 7 35 47 47

Personal work 0 0 0 0 0 0


11. Satisfaction with CA services

Table 11a shows that 60 (75%) students were strongly satisfied with the “Display of latest books

through mail” and the “Display of latest periodicals through mail” provided by the library. In

addition, 20 (25%) students were satisfied with the “Current addition of information from

publishers via alert service”. On the other hand, 80 (100%) students were dissatisfied with the

“Routing of current periodicals” and 50 (62.50%) were dissatisfied with the “Current addition of

information from publishers via alert service”.

Table 11a. Satisfaction level of students

Satisfaction Students

SS % S % SwS % N % DS %

Display of latest books through

mail

60 75.00 10 12.50 10 12.50 0 0 0 0

Display of latest periodicals

through mail

60 75.00 5 6.25 5 6.25 10 12.5 0 0

Routing of current periodicals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 100

Current addition information

from publishers via alert service

if registered

10 12.50 20 25.00 0 0 0 0 50 62.5

Notes: SS = Strongly Satisfied, S = Satisfied, SwS = Somewhat Satisfied,

N = Neutral, DS = Dissatisfied)

Table 11b shows that 18 (90%) staff were strongly satisfied with the “Display of latest books

through mail” and 15 (75%) with the “Display of latest periodicals through mail”. In addition, 10

(50%) staff were strongly satisfied with the “Routing of current periodicals” and the “Current

addition of information from publishers via alert service”. 5 (25%) of staff were satisfied with

the “Display of latest periodicals through mail”, the “Routing of current periodicals”, and the


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“Current addition of information from publishers via alert service”. On the other hand, 5 (25%)

staff were dissatisfied with the “Routing of current periodicals” and the “Current addition of

information from publishers via alert service”.

Table 11b. Satisfaction level of staff

Satisfaction Staff

SS % S % SwS % N % DS %


through mail

18 90 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0

Display of latest


15 75 5 25 0 0 0 0 0 0

Routing of current

periodicals

10 50 5 25 0 0 0 0 5 25

Current addition

information from



10 50 5 25 0 0 0 0 5 25

Notes: SS = Strongly Satisfied, S = Satisfied, SwS = Somewhat Satisfied,

N = Neutral, DS = Dissatisfied)

VII. Conclusion

The findings of the study reveal that the majority of the students and staff in the College of

Business, Hospitality & Tourism Studies (CBHTS) Nasinu Library of Fiji National University

came to know about CA services through the library website, e-mail notifications, and the library

tour. The display of latest books and periodicals through mail was the most popular CA services

among the staff and students. However, a number of suggestions were also received to further

improve CA services.

CA services need more publicity and awareness. Bulletin board service should be introduced to

distribute to library users news of interest, calendar of events, summary of recent events,

annotated lists of new books, table of contents, and abstracts of newly acquired library materials.

Library newsletter should be published to keep users up to date.

Comprehensive orientation on CA services should be provided to library users in terms of its

functions and significance on their field of work, learning endeavor, research, and other fields of

interests.

Library need to develop new methods such as document delivery service (DDS), really simple

syndication (RSS), etc., in order to be more responsive to the needs of the profession.

Librarians should be more active and dedicated to provide information to users.


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Finally, user education program must be conducted regularly to train users on how to use

different types of CA services so as to put the valid library resources to optimal use.

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Author:

Tanveer Haider Naqvi, Deputy University Librarian, Fiji National University, Fiji Islands.

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Submitted to CLIEJ on 21 April 2013.

Copyright © 2013 Tanveer Haider Naqvi

Naqvi, Tanveer Haider. (2013). Current awareness services: A case study of the CBHTS Nasinu

Library at Fiji National University. Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,

35. URL: http://www.iclc.us/cliej/cl35naqvi.pdf



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Current Awareness Services: A Case Study of the CBHTS ... · Current Awareness Services: A Case Study of the CBHTS Nasinu Library at Fiji National University ... Technology, Clinical