Annals of Library Science and Documentation 43, 2; 1996; 76-80.

THE NEED FOR CATALOGUE USE STUDIES IN INDIAN LIBRARIES

SHORT COMMUNICATION

T.M.K. GANDHIDr. V.S.K. LibraryAndhra UniversityVisakhapatnam - 530 003

The importance of catalogue use studies, particu-larly in the context of database development fornetworking, is discussed. A review of literature onthe subject reveals that most of the studies areconducted in western countries which may begrouped in three categories viz., i) user studies, ii)studies relating to search failures, and iii) experi-ments with methodological aspects. The need andimportance of more such studies in the Indian con-text, particularly in view of library network devel-opment in the country, have been stressed.

INTRODUCTION

As library is the heart to an academic institution,so is catalogue to the library. "A library catalogueis an essential and important tool in a library. It is amust for library, especially when the collection be-comes large. A library without a catalogue is like atown which has been developed without a plan.Without it, it would not be possible to know what isavailable and where" [1].

A catalogue is a major key to the holdings of anylibrary which serves as a retrieval tool rather thanan inventory. In whatever form and type the cata-logue may be, it shows through varieties of ap-proaches like authors, SUbjects, titles, series etc.,what is available in the library. It is essential to as-sess from time to time the efficiency of such animportant tool particularly in the context of moderndevelopment of information access.

NEED FOR CATALOGUE USE STUDIES

Focus on catalogue use studies in university librar-ies has assumed added significance due to prolif-eration and complexities of publications, users andtheir diversified demands and also, shrinking bud-

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get coinciding with the rising cost of book produc-tion. Study of user's approach to find and locate adocument helps to improve the effectiveness of acatalogue. As early as 1876, Cutter gave utmostimportance to the convenience of the public whiledrafting his code 'Rules for a printed dictionarycatalogue' [2]. Summarizing on card catalogue usestudies, Gorman observed that, "the most vitalaspect of cataloguing theory and practice whichremains unexamined is the use made of the cata-logue. Untill the aim of catalogue construction hasbeen clearly stated on the basis of the objectiveand accurate surveys of catalogue use, all cata-loguing theory will remain unscientific and open todoubt" [3].

Many catalogue use studies, embracing all typesof libraries and users, were conducted and reportedin the literature of western countries. The growingrealisation of the importance of catalogue use stud-ies in India, though very limited, is reflected througha few Master's degree theses submitted by stu-dents of library and information science courses,and articles published in professional journals inIndia. Thus, there is vast scope and need for thestudies in this area especially in the context s~thedevelopment of library networks, such as, Infor-mation and Library Network (INFLIBNET). The suc-cessful operation of INFLIBNET depends on twopre-requisites - a) standardisation of cataloguingpractice among the participating libraries, and b)automation of libraries. Catalogue use studies willhelp to establish the best practices in cataloguingand go a long way in making library networks likeINFLIBNET, a success. This communication at-tempts to reflect on the need for catalogue use stud-ies in Indian libraries based on the review of avail-able literature. For convenience, the literature areexamined under three broad groups:

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THE NEED FOR CATALOGUE USE STUDIES IN INDIAN LIBRARIES

i) User studies;ii) Studies relating to search failures; andiii) Experiments with methodological stud-

ies.

i) User Studies

In this group, types of users' purpose and fre-quencyof use and degree of efficiency of cata-logue are considered.

Randall [4] observed that the improvement ofthe catalogue could not be done "by any studyof catalogue themselves or of the rules bywhich they are made, neither can it be donemerely by an examination of the books to becatalogued". But he pleaded for "an intelligentstudy of the patrons themselves, their mentalequipment, their background knowledge andneeds". Susan Grey Aker's study [5], basedon 10 Liberal Arts Colleges, identified the bib-lioqraphical items used by undergraduate stu-dents. Rolland E. Stevens [6] and Frarey [7]have provided useful summaries on catalogueuse studies. F.W. Lancaster [8] provided anexcellent critical analysis of catalogue usestudies ..

American Library Association (ALA) [9] con-ducted a catalogue use study during 1955-56 in 39 libraries to identify actual user de-mands on the catalogues and to measure theextent to which these demands are satisfied.Tagliacozzo, et. al. [10] and Tagliacozzo andKochen [11] reported on catalogue use studyof the University of Michigan which coveredusers of one public library catalogue and threeuniversity library catalogues to investigate thataspect of information seeking behaviourwhich has to do with searching through fourcard catalogues which are like a directory.Another study of the University of MichiganGeneral Library was conducted by Palmer[12] to determine who used the catalogue, forwhat purpose, in what way, with what degreeof success and whether most of the users'requirements could be met satisfactorily withsome of computer based catalogues. Lipetz[13] carried out a catalogue use survey at YaleUniversity library for over three year periodending within 1970 to determine volume ofcatalogue use, characteristics of users, types

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of searches conducted and degree of successattained. Brooks and Kilgour [14] reported ona study conducted during one week period in1963 of the Yale Medical Library catalogue todetermine the type of use. A study was con-ducted at Chicago University under the direc-tion of Don R. Swanson [15] to find out infor-mation content of future catalogues and howwell the information should be organised andmade available to users.

In United Kingdom (UK) also a major cata-logue use study was conducted in 39 librar-ies under the aegis of cataloguing and Index-ing group of Library Association in 1971.Maltby reported the survey with both usersand non-users [16]. Maclean [17] also re-ported a study of catalogue use in NewZealand. The questionnaire developed for theUK study was used almost unchanged in theNew Zealand study. Ayres et. al. [18] re-ported on comparative accuracy of authorversus title information brought by the usersto the catalogue.

ii) Studies Relating to Search Failures

Lyon's [19] study at the University of Chicagoon proportion of user failures and Riddle'sstudy [20] on searching problems of cata-logue use at the Texas State College forWomen come under this category. Seymour[21] measured reader failure at the cataloguethrough catalogue query slips at four aca-demic libraries in England. Perrine's study[22] on user difficulties at the catalogue alsocomes under this category.

iii) Methodological Studies

In these studies, methods other than obser-vation, questionnaire and interview are used.Malcolm's [23] study at the University of Pitts-burg on searching effectiveness by simula-tion method, Spalding's study [24] of call slipsat the Library of Congress, Quigley's [25] ana-lysis of subject requests received from branchlibraries by the inter branch loan office of theNew York Public Library and Morris's study[26] at the University of New Castle UponTyne in England in which instant diary tech-nique was used, are worth mentioning.

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T.M.K. GANDHI

The above review shows that though the numberof studies in the area are limited, yet they shedlight on important aspects of catalogue use, viz.,characteristics of users of libraries, causes forsearch failures and many related aspects. Most ofthe catalogue use studies selected a single popu-lation for their enquiry. They also covered varioustypes of catalogues. In most cases either ques-tionnaire or interview method formed the basis foreliciting information from the users. They have alsocontributed to methodological aspects like simula-tion, critical incident technique and diary method.But, all the studies are conducted in the westernworld. As such, they are of limited use, if any, tounderstand and reflect on the nature and problemsof catalogue users in the third world countries.

A CASE FOR CATALOGUE USE STUDIES IN IN-DIAN CONTEXT

As mentioned earlier, in developing countries re-source constraints and competing demands onresource allocation are likely to limit funding forlibrary development at university level. This callsfor efficient use of the available facilities throughresource sharing. In fact, this is exactly what issought to be achieved under INFLIBNETprogramme which aims at elimination of duplica-tion and effective use of the available resourcesthrough inter library cooperation. To facilitate thisprocess, plans are also afoot for computerizationof the university library catalogues. Thus, the totalabsence of catalogue use studies of university li-braries in third world countries and the compul-sions of the challenging tasks that the universitylibraries are expected to meet, call for scientificstudies to gauge the present status of cataloguesin use. Such studies can broadly be classified intothree types viz., a) before computerization, b) dur-ing computerization, and c) after computerization[27].

The scenario in Indian libraries is totally differentfrom the western world where they have to servedifferent groups of users depending on the type ofthe library. Broadly, there are three types of librar-ies viz., academic, public and special. Out of these,special and academic libraries foster research, butthe later also performs teaching function. Some of

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the special libraries attempted computerizationwhile very few of the academic libraries are at-tempting for it. In general, Indian libraries are lag-ging behind the western countries in respect ofmodernisation. Primarily, this is due to lack/pau-city of resources for modernisation, and inabilityof individual institutions to afford the implementa-tion of the computerization programme. Secondly,technical manpower is not generated within theorganizations to meet the change. As such; thefunding agency like the U.G.C. should take initia-tive to engage teams of experts to study the avail-able manual methods being followed in various li-braries which are likely to be a part of the proposednetwork. On the basis of the studies, the data ele-ments that are commonly required for computer-ization must be identified or a standard format bedeveloped and followed unequivocally by all thelibraries in the country so that whenever requiredthey may join the network,. This type of proposalsare suggested for Indian conditions since librariesin India are at different stages of development, withvarying sizes of collections, following differentcodes of practices and also different schemes ofclassification.

One of the objectives of INFLIBNET is computer-ization of libraries. Another objective is to trainpersonnel in utilizing the computers for library re-quirements. So far, no effort has been made byINFLIBNET to directly participate in computeriz-ing the libraries. It is only pulling the data collectedfrom various participating libraries to develop adatabase relating to serials. The problems involvedin computerization of participating libraries are: a)dearth of funds, and b) shortage of technicallytrained staff having knowledge of library require-ments coupled with computer expertise. Hence,the need to recruit and train personnel in both thefields under the auspices of INFLIBNET arises.Participating libraries should divert some of theirresources to train their own personnel to make thiscommon endeavour a success. The participatinglibraries should examine their manual cataloguesto identify the defects that are existing in such cata-logues before going in for computerization. It istherefore, essential that more number of catalogueuse studies, based on the different clientele require-ments be conducted in various libraries.

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THE NEED FOR CATALOGUE USE STUDIES IN INDIAN LIBRARIES

REFERENCES requirements. Cited in Lancaster: Measure-ment and Evaluation of Library Services.

1. KUMAR (Girja) and KUMAR (Krishan). 1977. Information Resources Press; Wash-Theory of cataloguing. 5th Rev. Ed. 1989. ington, D.C. P. 36.New Delhi. p. 2.

13. LlPETZ (B A). User requirements in identi-2. CUTIER (C A). Rules for a printed dictio- fying desired works in a large library. 1970.

nary catalogue. 1876. Washington. New Haven, Conn.

3. GORMAN (M A). Study of the rules for entry 14. BROOKS (B) and KILGOUR (F G). Cata-and heading in the Anglo-American Cata- logue subject searches in the Yale Medicalloguing Rules. 1967, 1968. London. pp.66- Library. Call. Res. Lib. 25; 1964; 483-487.67.

15. SWANSON (0 R). Requirements study for4. RANDALL (William M). The users of library future catalogue. Lib. Quart. 42; 1972; 302-

catalogues: a research project. In ALA Cata- 315.loguers and Classifiers Year Book II. 1980.Chicago. pp.31-32. 16. MALTBY (A). Measuring catalogue utility.

Jour. Librarianship. 3; 1971; 180-189.5. AKERS (S G). To what extent do the stu-

dents of the Liberal Arts Colleges use biblio- 17. MACLEAN (H). Using the library catalogue.graphic items given on the catalogue card? New Zealand Libraries. 35; 1972; 166-172.Lib. Quart. 1; 1931; 394-408.

18. AYRES (F H) et al. Author versus title: a com-6. STEVENS (R E). A summary of the litera- parative survey of the information which the

ture on the use made by the research worker user brings to the library catalogue. Jour.of the university library catalogue. Occa- Doc. 24; 1968; 266-272.sional Paper No. 13. 1950. Urbana, Illinois.

19. LYON (S A). Assistance for users of the cata-7. FRAREY (C J). Studies of use of the subject logue in a university library. 1963. Cited in

catalogue: summary and evaluation. In Sub- Lancaster: Measurement and Evaluation ofject Analysis of Library Materials, Ed. byM.F. Library Services. 1977. Washington, D.C.Tauber. 1953. New York. pp.147-166.

20. RIDDLE (M S). The use of the card cata-8. LANCASTER (F W). The measurement and logue in the library of a typical women's col-

evaluation of library services. 1977. Informa- lege. 1952. Cited in Lancaster: Measurementtion Resources Press; Washington, D.C. and evaluation of library services. 1977. In-

formation Resources Press; Washington,9. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION. D.C. p.54.

Catalogue use study, Ed. by V. Mosteky.1958. Chicago. 21. SEYMOUR (C A). Measuring reader failure

at the catalogue. Lib. Resour. Tech. Servo 17;10. TAGLIACOZZO (R) et at. Access and rec- 1973; 6-24.

ognition: from users data to catalogue en-tries. Jour. Doc. 26; 1970; 230-249. 22. PERRINE (R H). Catalogue use study: the

imperfect key. R.o. 6; 1967; 115-119; and11. TAGLIACOZZO (R) and KOCHEN (M). In- causes and cures: catalogue use difficulties.

formation-seeking behaviour of catalogue R.Q. 7; 1968; 169-174.users. Inf. Stor. Retriev6; )970; 363-381.

23. MALCOLM (R S). The student's approach12. PALMER (R P). Computerizing the card cata- to the card catalogue. 1950. Cited in

logue in the university library: survey of user Lancaster: Measurement and evaluation of

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library services. 1977. Information Re-sources Press; Washington, D.C. p.54.

24. SPALDING (C S). The use of catalogue en-tries at the Library of Congress. Jour. Cat.Class. 6; 1950; 95-100.

25. QULGLEY (H). An investigation of the pos-sible relationship of inter branch loan to cata-loguing. Lib. Quart. 14; 1944; 333-338.

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26. MORRIS (W EM). Catalogue computeriza-tion project: final report to OSTI, 1967-1971.Part 2. Catalogue Use Survey, 1971; 1971.Newcastle Upon Tyne, England.

27. KRIKELAS (J). Catalogue use studies andtheir implications. In Advances in Librarian-ship. V3, Ed. byM.J. Voigt. 1972. New York.pp.195-200.

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