LIMC Services

READER’S / CIRCULATION SERVICES

Readers/circulation services are provided to keep the library patrons in the use of information resources and facilities. It includes services such as lending and retrieving of books, assisting in literature search, locating books, shelving, recalling books that were checked out.

Function

1. To serve promptly and efficiently all library patrons.
2. To substitute when possible, suitable and adequate materials if the desired materials is not available or charged out.
3. To assist students and other library patrons in using the card catalog – OPAC and teach them the importance as the index to the collection of books in the library.
4. To become acquainted with the interests, problems, capacities and needs of the students and faculty.
5. To provide efficient service.

CIRCULATION PROCESS

Circulation is the primary task of the libraries. Its objective is to maximize the utilization of all materials in order to serve a great number of library users. To achieve this, an effective charging system is established.

Activities

1. Require all students who are officially enrolled to present their school ID.
2. Check in and check out books and other information materials.
3. Assist readers in the use of the library catalog –OPAC and print/card, and explain the arrangement of books on the shelves.
4. File and maintain patron’s record.
5. Keep statistical records to provide a basis for understanding, planning and carrying out the circulation job in terms of users’ demand.
6.  Assist/help students/users in the selection of books and other materials for reading.
7. Control the material collection so that the availability of materials to the patron is maximized.
8. Shelf-read books in stacks to ensure proper placement and order in shelving.

CHARGING/ DISCHARGING SERVICES

A library, no matter how it is, must adopt its own system in charging and discharging library materials in order to record and trace the borrowers of the book

Procedure

1. In borrowing a book, one presents his or her school ID to the librarian and asks for the book/s he or she wishes to borrow.
2. The borrower signs the library card and book card attached to the book.
3. The library card and the book card are clipped together and filed in the charging box alphabetically.
4. The staff in charge will log details of the borrowed book/s in the log book.
5. When a book is returned, the book card and the library card are pulled out from the file of loaned-out books. The borrower card will give back to the student with a remark of returned and the date when the book is returned.
6. Put a remarks on a book card when the book is return.
7. Return the book card into the book pocket and return it to the shelves.

REFERENCE BOOK SERVICE

Reference service handles inquiry and assists user in find the information they require, access it, and use it to meet their needs. According to Kumar (2003), reference service helps to establish contact between a user and the right document at the right time, thereby saving the time of the user.

A. Objective of the Reference:
The main objective of reference service is to provide the library patrons access to the information resources. The reference work is directly concerned with assistance to users’ information and in using the resources in their study and research. To achieve this objective, the librarian provides the information promptly and efficiently necessary to satisfy the patron’s request.

Activities

1. Conduct reference interviews to understand and determine the needs of the clientele for quick sighting of information.
2. Give information and answer factual questions.
3. Help the patron find the needed information and provide guidance in the choice of materials.
4. Give formal and informal instruction on the tools of the library catalog – OPAC, indexes and others.
5. Answer reference questions requiring normal and extended searching.
6. Retrieve reference questions handled for possible future solutions.
7. Guide students in their interest with books and teach them how to love books and to make books an important part of their life;
8. Retrieve reference statistics.
9. Maintain information files.

B. Use of OPAC

1. The student types the subject he/she wants to research.
2. Click SEARCH and jot down the information about the book.
3. Don’t click other keys so as not to destroy the system.

LIBRARY ORIENTATION AND INSTRUCTION

Library orientation refers to helping students feel aware of and comfortable with the facilities and the services available, with the location of collections, and with the people who service those collections. At every start of the school year, the library staff, in coordination with the office of the student welfare and services, give orientation to the freshmen and transferees during the general orientation program.

Objectives:

1. To stimulate interest in the use of library information resource.
2. To maximize the use of references and other materials for their research work and study.
3. To help them instill the habit of self-education through books and other materials.

Activities

1. Give class orientation to all new students. This orientation includes the following:
   – introduction of library personnel
   – library sections
   – library services
   – arrangement of books and other materials in the library
   – rules and regulations
   – classification system used
   – library catalog
   – OPAC: its importance and use
2. Bring the students to the library for familiarization of its various sections and resources.

PHOTOCOPYING SERVICES

Policies in Photocopying of Materials:

1. Photocopying of complete books and theses or dissertations is not allowed. Only the abstract of the theses or dissertations may be photocopied.
2. Users are responsible for complying with the copyright act/and intellectual property rights.
3. For materials to be photocopied outside the library, the client should fill out the library card and submit them together with their school ID to the librarian in-charge. (This is only allowed when the photocopy service is not available inside the library).

INTERLIBRARY LOAN/ REFERRAL SERVICES 

Procedure:

1. The student is advised to exhaust first our resources before going out to other libraries.
2. If the references or the materials are not available, the student is advised to fill out a request form for a referral letter.
3. The librarian will issue a referral letter and give instruction or advise the student what to do in other libraries before she signs.

INTERNET SERVICES

This section is equipped with computers to gain access to information on the Internet. Faculty and students can use this section to search for materials available in the library using subscribed and free online databases.

Procedure:

1. Approach the library staff for the availability of computer units.
2. The library follows the “first come, first served” policy.
3. Sign into the Computer Usage Form
4. Proceed the computer unit, the library staff will set the time for you.
5. The library limits the time a client can use the computer to one (1) hour (but can exceed if there are no other users waiting) to maximize its utilization and serve many students.

BULLETIN BOARD DISPLAY

Activities:

1. The librarian makes a complete list of all newly acquired materials.
2. The theme of the display for the bulletin board is determined.
3. The librarian plans the design of the display.
4. The librarian gathers all the needed materials for the display.
5. The librarian prepares and displays the material in the bulletin board.

Priorities and Guidelines in the Display:

• Priority is given to the library who owns the bulletin board.
• Notices and publications will be under the prerogative of the Head Librarian using the best interest to the Gordon College community as his reference point.
  
  The following types of information will not be allowed for display:
  • Posters promoting political parties advocating the election of any candidate or a stand in any issue concerning elections.
  • Notices of merchandise or services for sale
  • Rental announcements
  • The appearance and content of the notice must be acceptable or suitable for display.
  • Generally, notices will not be posted for longer than three (3) weeks