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Ozean Journal of Social Sciences 2(3), 2009Ozean Journal of Social Sciences 2(3), 2009ISSN 1943-2577© 2009 Ozean PublicationA STUDY OF DICIPLINE FACILITIES PATRONAGE AMONG LIBRARY USERSAT THE HEZEKIAH OLUWASANMI LIBRARY, OBAFEMI AWOLOWOUNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE, NIGERIAJagboro, K. O. (Mrs.)Principal LibrarianHezekiah Oluwasanmi Library,Obafemi Awolowo University,Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.Mobile phone: 08034747878E-mail address for correspondence: kojagboro@yahoo.com__________________________________________________________________________________________Abstract:Objective: The Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library uses the Library of Congress Classification Scheme to organizeits collection. The Scheme provides for subject-based classification facilitating subject-based shelving andhence subject/discipline-based reading rooms. It is expected that users will read/study in the reading roomswhere the books for their disciplines are shelved. This study was aimed at discovering the degree of compliancewith this concept and the level of migratory behavior if it exists. In this regard, the objective of this study was todetermine the levels of utilization of reading space by patrons.Method: In this study, multiple choice questionnaires were used for capturing relevant information from therespondents. 400 questionnaires were distributed, out of which 325 were returned and 321 questionnaires werefound useful for the analysis; which was 80.25% success rate of total questionnaire distributed. Additionally,this number also accounted for 12.84% of sitting capacity available in the Library.Result: The result of the study established an average of 30.32% Core discipline patronage and 29.28%migratory discipline patronage of reading rooms among library patrons. It also showed 65% total patronage ofreading rooms and 35% patronage of research/special collections. An overall core discipline patronage of65.32% in HOL was also established.Conclusion: In conclusion, the philosophy of discipline facilities provision and patronage was found suitableand workable in Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library.Key Words: Core discipline patronage, Migratory discipline patronage, Discipline facility provision__________________________________________________________________________________________INTRODUCTIONThe Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) is a comprehensive public institution established in 1962 as TheUniversity of Ife. The University is situated on a vast expanse of land totaling 11,861 hectares in Ile-Ife, OsunState, Southwest of Nigeria (OAU website, 2008). OAU which started with a student population of 244 now hasover 30,000 students. The Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library (HOL), serving the information needs of theUniversity, began operation in 1962 at the inception of the university. It consists of two five-story buildings, theSouth and North wings. The South wing was designed to house 250,000 volumes and sit 800 readers while theNorth wing extension had a capacity for 500,000 volumes and sit 1,700 readers. The Library has a total sittingcapacity of 2,500 readers. (HOL Website, 2008).The HOL is equipped with six reading rooms listed as B to G where books that could be borrowed are shelvedby subject following the Library of Congress classification scheme. Reading room B is stocked with books withclass marks A-F; Reading room C contains books with class marks G-J; Reading room D which used to houseClass K (Law; though in HOL the Moys scheme is used) is currently housing the Documents collection. Books149
with class marks L-P are shelved in Reading room E; Reading room F houses classes Q-Z while Reading roomG is now home to the Law collection. Aside the reading rooms, there are special collections which also containreading spaces. The special collections in HOL include Reference/Bibliography collection, Africana collection,Documents collection, Serials and Day Reserve collection (HOL, 1989). Fig. 1 shows the layout of a typicalreading room.Fig. 1: One side of a typical reading room at HOL [Usually consist of two sides with shelves in-between]As Crawford (1999) asserts “Space use within libraries has always been fairly complex and will become moreso in the future.” He identified the following space needs and uses by libraries: Meeting spaces, Study spaces,Reading spaces, Research spaces, Coherent spaces and Flexible spaces. While not discussing Stack or Shelvingspace, he acknowledged “it isn’t going away” and constitute one of the reasons why Libraries will continue toneed more physical space in future. This study is concerned with reading/study space which encompasses study,reading and research spaces as identified above.It is generally believed in library circles that users will undertake their study activities in the reading roomswhere the books for their relevant disciplines are shelved. This will facilitate access to and use of the books inthe reading rooms by the core disciplines users. In the context of this study, core discipline users are users whopatronize their Faculty-based reading rooms while migrant users are users who do not patronize their Facultybasedreading rooms. Migrant users tend to deprive the core discipline users of access to reading/study spaceand relevant resource materials.This study was hinged on the philosophy of libraries providing facilities for stratified users in which Sciencestudents are expected to patronize Science-based Reading Rooms, while Art-based students patronize Art-basedReading Rooms. The focus of this paper was to examine the suitability and workability of this concept amongHOL users. The objective of this study was to evaluate the degree of compliance with this postulate and thelevel of migratory behavior.LITERATURE REVIEWFew works have been undertaken in the area of space utilization in Libraries especially in the area ofreading/study spaces. In developing countries, little or no research work has been documented to act as a basisfor policy formulation in stocking of books. Klein (1977) examined shelving space utilization in Hospitallibraries with space shortages. He examined shelving spaces extensively and also touched on sitting spacesgiving several alternative solutions. As regards sitting space shortages, the introduction of carrels in everyusable and available space was suggested. Hall (1979) in his research on Library Space Utilization measuredactivity or spatial relationships between functional divisions within the library using a computerized technique.His methodology demonstrated that significant information about functional requirements of a library can bemeasured and displayed in quantitative and graphic forms. He concluded that such an output could provide abehavioral analysis of the library environment based on actual observation.Crawford (1999) identified a natural connection between libraries and study, even if library materials were notinvolved. Libraries, for generations, have provided safe havens for those who cannot study effectively at homeor in their dormitories. Provision of spaces for study, reading and quiet contemplations, and research remained a150
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