Utilization of Collections and Services by The Users of Allama Shibli Nomani Library, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.) INDIA: A Case Study
Utilization of Collections and Services by The Users of Allama Shibli Nomani Library, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.) INDIA: A Case Study
Utilization of Collections and Services by The Users of Allama Shibli Nomani Library, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.) INDIA: A Case Study
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Utilization of Collections and Services by the Users of Allama Shibli Nomani Library,
Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.) INDIA: A Case Study
Akhtar Hussain¹, Uzma Muzeeb²
ABSTRACT
The study examines the utilization of collections and services by the users of Allama Shibli
Nomani Library Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.) in India. A well structured
questionnaire was distributed among library users during the academic session 2010-2011, to
find out the utilization of collections and services of the said library. The present study
demonstrates and elaborates the various aspects of the utilization of collections and services such
as Purpose of use, Physical facilities, Services and collections of the documents. The study also
highlights the uses of library services, document location, stages of library automation,
satisfaction level of the users and over all evaluation of the library. Findings and suggestions has
been given to make the services more beneficial for the academic community of Allama Shibli
Nomani Library Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.) in India.
Keywords: User Studies, Document collections, Information Service, Darul Uloom Nadwatul
Ulama, Lucknow, India.
INTRODUCTION
Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama is an international institute of Islamic learning at Lucknow, India,
which draws large number of Muslim students from all over the country. Nadwa's objective was
reaching a middle path between classical Islam and modernity. It was founded at Kanpur in 1894
in the first annual convention of Nadwatul Ulema (Organisation of Scholars) by Muhammad Ali
Mongiri, Ashraf Ali Thanwi, Mahmud-ul-Hasan and Maulana Shibli Nomani with an idea to
counter the challenge of western education. The institution was intended to be a modified version
of Deoband. The foundation stone was laid by Sir. John Briscott Hewitt, Lt. Governor of India
on November 28, 1906. The choice of the name Nadwa got inspiration from a hall in Mecca,
where nobles used to assemble to deliberate. Nadwa was eventually shifted to Lucknow in 1898
Research Scapes / Volume-I, Issue- II, April-June-2012/ ISSN:2277-7806
(from Kanpur) and updated the Islamic curricula with modern sciences, vocational training etc.
(Wikipedia, 2011).[1]
As far as about Allama Shibli Nomani Library is concerned. In 1894, after laying the
foundation of Nadwatul Ulama, when the founders presented a new and modern school of
thought to get the education, training, arts and learning prevailed among the people ,there was in
the same time a thought of establishing a library was in the minds of broad minded scholars
which contained a collection of essential printed books, along with the eminent and rare
manuscripts and the most distinguished feature which was supposed to be an attractive quality of
the library was that it should not be confined to a particular school of thought and instead it could
be utilized by everyone who wished to gain the maximum of it. The appeals and articles of
Allama Shibli and Maulana Azad published in the news papers and journals of that time very
clearly expose that the establishment of this library and its important factor was not
supplementary rather it was a very important factor of the objectives and aims of this movement.
LITERATURE REVIEW
In brief this article reviews a few studies conducted abroad as well as in India on utilization of
collections and services in chronological order.
Idrees (2011) focused that the major findings of the study are standard classification
systems lack proper space for materials on Islam for two reasons: less awareness on the part of
devisers of the depth and variety of Islamic topics; and their bias and lack of interest in Islam.
Different indigenous classification systems and expansions have been developed, using either the
original notation or alternative notations. Some systems have been developed without following
any standards or logic. This study has revealed a need for empirical study of libraries with rich
collections on Islam in order to gain a better understanding of the problem and find an optimal
solution.
Hasim and Salman (2010) From the results there is sustainability of internet usage among
Malay youth. As far as factors that have positive effects on sustainability of internet usage is
concerned, the results of the study showed that interpersonal and social network and perceived
and realized benefits have significant positive effects on sustainability of internet usage by
Malay youth. The results also showed that issues relating to security concerns and interruptions
have significant negative effect on the sustainability of internet usage by Malay youth.
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Users
No. of respondents
Percentage
Name of (n=450)
course Equivalent
Alia Sania 10th 120 26.67
Alia Rabia 12th 105 22.22
Under
Almiyat 90 20.00
Graduation(UGs)
Fazilat Post Graduation(PGs) 75 17.78
Takmil Research Scholar(RS) 50 13.33
Total 450 100.00
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Volume-I, Issue- II, April-June-2012/ ISSN:2277-7806
7806
The above table shows that 26.67% of the total population under study consists of 10th, 22.22%
12th, 20% Undergraduates, 17.78% Postgraduates and 13% Research Scholars. The size of the
sample chosen for study is quite large so that the formalities of finding can be facilitated.
Table 2: Frequency of Visit to the Library
The above table shows that 46.89% of the users visit the library ‘almost daily’, while 24.60%
visit it twice a week. There are 12.05% of users who weekly visit the library followed by 8.63%
of user who visit fortnightly. Only a small percentage of users i.
i.e.
e. 5.67% and 2.16% are visiting
monthly as well rarely.
Percentage of users
10th 12th UGs PGs RS
26 16 18 18 10 8 4
20 12 9.33
20 18.67 17.33 2.67
22.22 11.11 14.44 13.33 3.33
18.89 16.67
14.29 16.19 20.95 18.1 12.38 3.81
14.29
20.83 25 16.67 12.5 8.33 12.5 4.17
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The figure 1 shows that an average percentage of users i.e., 20% users are not using due to
inconvenient of library hours, while 19.88% users are not using the library due to shortage of
time. Followed by 17.08% users are not using due to required books are not available, 15.76%
library environment is not congenial,12.57% Unhelpful attitude of staff,11.11% Class lectures
and notes are sufficient and 3.60% users are do not using the library frequently (Daily or twice a
week),due to others reasons.
Percentage of users
Average
Purpose
10 th
12 th
UGs PGs RS % age
The above table shows that maximum percentage of 10th, 12th, Undergraduates, and
Postgraduates of the student visit the Library to study the course material, while Research
Scholars go to the Library to consult the research material and for preparation of class lectures.
This table further reveals that 32.19% of the respondents use the library, for borrow and return
the books, followed by 19.54% respondents to read newspapers/magazines, further followed by
14.36% to consult reference books. 14.29% and 9.28% of the respondent also admitted that they
use the library for reading the subject books and to complete class room assignments. Only
7.88% and 2.46% users go to the Library to prepare for next class and other purposes.
Percentage of users
Average
Facilities 10th 12th UGs PGs RS % age
Working hours 48.33 38.10 38.89 33.33 30 37.73
No. of seats 20.83 23.81 24.44 28.00 22 23.82
Environment 14.17 20.00 17.78 20.00 20 18.39
General facilities(air,
16.67 18.10 18.89 18.67 28 20.07
light, water)
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
The table shows that the 37.73% adequate library working hours facilitate the use of the
resources of the Library, whereas 23.82% users are satisfied with the numbers of seat available
in the library. Followed by 18.39% users are satisfied with the inductive library environment.
While 20.07% users are satisfied with the general library facilities i.e. air, light, water etc
Table 5: Use of the documents
Percentage of users
Documents Average
10th 12th UGs PGs RS % age
General books 30.83 33.33 30.00 26.67 24 28.97
Text books 19.17 23.81 17.78 18.67 22 20.29
Reference books 16.67 20.00 17.78 17.33 16 17.56
Periodicals 12.50 14.29 12.22 18.67 10 13.54
General magazines 9.17 3.81 10.00 10.67 8 8.33
Newspapers 7.50 1.90 5.56 5.33 10 6.06
Microfilms/microfiches 2.50 1.90 3.33 1.33 4 2.61
Maps/charts/diagrams,etc. 1.67 0.95 3.33 1.33 6 2.66
Total 100 100 100 100 100 100
The information given in the above table depicts that 28.97% of the respondents use general
books out of 33.33% 12th, 30.83% 10th, 30% Undergraduates courses, 26.67% Postgraduates,
24% Research Scholar. It is single largest groups. While 23.81% 12th,22% Research Scholar
,19.17% 10th, 18.67% Postgraduates and 17.78% Undergraduates are uses of documents as text
books, as their second preference. The uses of other type of document in order of average
percentage of preferences are reference books 17.56%, Periodicals (13.54%), general magazine
(8.33%), Newspapers (6.06%), Maps/charts/diagrams,etc.2.66% and Microfilms/microfiches
2.61%.
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The above table represents that majority of the users (33.95%) use the catalogue for the location
of documents in the Allama Shibli Nomani Library, Lucknow, followed by 26.69% respondents
who use of the documents by assistance of library staff. 16.36% respondents also admitted that
they use resources by searching themselves, while 13.25% respondents locate the document by
taking the help of friends/colleagues. There are a small numbers of documents 9.75% uses for
others options.
Table 7: Use of Services
Percentage of users
Average
Documents
10 th
12 th
UGs PGs RS % age
Users’ awareness about the library services is prerequisite for proper utilization of the library and
its resources. Therefore the responses of the users in this regard have been analysed in the above
table. The table indicates that an average percentage i.e., majority of users of all college libraries
such as 26.90% used lending service, 15.10% users used reservation service, 14.36% users used
reference service, 11.65% users used bibliographical service, 10.15% users used bibliographical
service, 9.39% users used document tracing, 4.86% users used Book Bank service,8.33% users
used subsidized rate book facility, and 6.16% users used photocopying service. There were a
small percentage of users i.e., 3.25% used others service.
Percentage of users
Computer facilities Average
10th 12th UGs PGs RS % age
Fully automated 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0.00
Partially automated 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0 0.00
Beginning stage 83.33 95.24 88.89 93.33 90 90.16
Not started 16.67 4.76 11.11 6.67 10 9.84
Total 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100 100.00
The above table represents that majority of the users have response (90.16%) stage of library
automation as a beginning stage while 9.84% users have given response stage of library
automation as a not started. in the Allama Shibli Nomani Library, Lucknow.
Table 9: Satisfaction with Library Staff
The above table shows that maximum average percentages of users 31.44% have most helpful,
while 23.53% of users have helpful and 18.14% have undecided. Followed by 15.16% users who
have less satisfied with the staff, while 11.73% users have not at all helpful.
It is important to find out the image of the Library in general. It includes all aspects such as
buildings, physical facilities, services collections, etc. The above table shows that maximum
percentages of users have satisfied with the physical facilities of the library, while 26.77%of
users have satisfied with the documents collection of the library and 20.77% as library services.
Followed by 14.02 % users who have satisfied with the attitude of staff whereas 1.32% who have
satisfied with the Library automation.
1. Thus, it clearly shows that 92.17% of the users are regular visitors of the Library, while
the remaining 7.83% are not regular visitors of the library.
2. It is clear from analysis that 34.44% Undergraduate Students consult to borrow and return
the books, while 33.33% 12th standard users consult library for above said purpose.
3. It is found that 20% users are not using due to inconvenient of library hours.
4. Therefore, it is clear that majority of users are satisfied with the working hours of the
library staff.
5. Therefore, it is clearly indicates that majority of users (i.e., 33.95%) of all college
libraries were consulting the library catalogues for borrow the documents in the library.
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6. It is found that majority of users of all college libraries such as 26.90% used lending
service, after that 15.10% users used reservation service.
7. As a result, majority of users respondent that library automation as a beginning stage.
8. shows that maximum percentages of users have satisfied with the physical facilities of the
library
CONCLUSION
The study has to focuses the utilization of collections and services by the users of Allama
Shibli Nomani Library, Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama, Lucknow (U.P.). Though the users under
study use of collection and services. It was found that a majority of the users used general books,
text books and reference books for the study .It was also found that majority of users used
circulation, reservation and reference services. To build onto this study for further improvement
of services to meet students’ information needs, a study may carried out to measure the impact
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of instruction on the use of library resources and services on students’ performance in their
studies.
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Library: a survey”. In Bandyopadhya SS et.al. Eds. Proceedings of National Conference
on Information Management in Digital Libraries (NCIMDiL-2006).Central Library I.I.T.,
Kharagpur,pp. 643-646.
5. Mehran Nejati, Mostafa Nejati, (2008) "Service quality at University of Tehran Central
Library", Library Management, Vol. 29 No. 6/7, pp.571 – 582.
6. Mohd Safar Hasim, Ali Salman, (2010) "Factors affecting sustainability of internet usage
among youth", Electronic Library, The, Vol. 28 No. 2, pp.300 – 313.
7. Muhammad Tahir, Khalid Mahmood, Farzana Shafique, (2009) "How humanists use
libraries: A survey of arts and humanities faculty at University of the Punjab, Lahore,
Pakistan", Library Review, Vol. 58 No. 8, pp.581 – 592.