After investigating service requirements in basic natural science disciplines in Wuhan University, China, we analyzed the characteristics according to the survey results, then provided the service strategy suitable for the science subject service. Five colleges in Wuhan University, including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, resources and environment were investigated. The questionnaire included, the frequency of science readers visiting the library or the department reference room, characteristics of literature resources demanded by the science readers, major types of resources used in the library and the department reference room, satisfaction rate in subject resources, how the science readers regarding the subject librarian‘s job, the effective communication way in subject librarians and science readers, and science reader‘s expectation to the department reference room.
Questionnaires were issued in two ways: First, the librarians sent the Questionnaire to teachers and students, 217 valid questionnaires were obtained; the second was random in the reading room and other places to look for relevant graduate and undergraduate students, 109 valid questionnaires were received. Five Respondents averaged in each college.
In all, 326 valid questionnaires were obtained and analyzed. We proposed that in science subject service, first, we should carry out targeted services according to the user demands, user psychology, user experience, pay attention to the user‘s real and potential needs, and avoid “supply and demand imbalance” or “surplus”. Then we should think how to guarantee the science disciplines‘ subject service. The cooperation ability, the personal knowledge management, and search capabilities of the subject librarians are important. It should form a service team including preliminary subject librarians, service-oriented librarians, and research subject librarians. At last, we should explore the training pattern and contents suitable for the science users, focus on training teachers‘ information retrieval ability, then teachers training their students.
My name is Hu Yongsheng, born in 1971, living in China.
In 1988-1992, I studied in the School of Library and Information, Wuhan University, and got a bachelor degree.
In 2002-2005, I studied in the School of Information management, Wuhan University, and got a master degree.
In 1992, I began to work in Wuhan University Library. My major jobs include: reference work, electronic information evaluation and consultation, CALIS Central China introducing databases, teaching and training the readers, subject service.
And now, I mainly work as a subject librarian in biology and environment. I have initiated some pioneering work in the subject services. And I wish there is more breakthrough in subject service in our libraries..
Survey results: best way of communication between subject librarian and science users – via email #P212 #iatul2012
— IATUL 2012 (@iatul2012) June 5, 2012