Searching in Library: Case Study of Idrija Public Library

Med študijsko prakso in iskanjem strokovnega gradiva za uporabnike smo opazili problematiko prenatrpanosti knjižnih polic, primanjkljaja prostora in postavitve gradiva, ki ne sledi logičnemu zaporedju UDK-vrstilcev. Namen magistrskega dela je bil pri uporabnikih preveriti, ali so zadovoljni s trenutno urejenostjo strokovnega gradiva na policah v Mestni knjižnici in čitalnici Idrija. Ob iskanju in orientaciji uporabnikov v prostoru knjižnice imajo pomembno vlogo tudi knjižničarji, zato nas je zanimalo, koliko pomoči jim nudijo, kakšno pomoč jim nudijo in zakaj uporabniki pomoč potrebujejo. Glavni cilj raziskave je bil pridobiti predloge za preureditev postavitve strokovnega gradiva. Kot metodo zbiranja podatkov smo uporabili anketo in intervju. V vzorec ankete je bilo vključenih 53 uporabnikov knjižnice in v vzorcu intervjuja osem knjižničarjev. Največ uporabnikov je odgovorilo, da gradivo znajo poiskati, in sicer, da ga poiščejo tako, da gradivo poiščejo v Cobissu, si zapišejo lokacijo gradiva in ga nato samostojno poiščejo na polici v knjižnici. Vendar je bilo takih uporabnikov manj kot polovica, torej lahko rečemo, da bi večina uporabnikov imela težave pri iskanju strokovnega gradiva in bi verjetno potrebovali pomoč knjižničarja. Uporabnikom smo zastavili tudi vprašanja, s katerimi smo preverjali dejansko poznavanje postavitve. Samoocenjevanje uporabnikov o zmožnostih iskanja in najdenja gradiva je višje od dejanskih zmožnosti, ki smo jih pridobili iz odgovorov na vprašanja. Glede postavitve strokovnega gradiva uporabniki večinoma nimajo nobenih želja in si ne želijo velikih sprememb. Po drugi strani knjižničarji izražajo veliko željo po večjem prostoru knjižnice in boljši postavitvi gradiva. Uporabniki ocenjujejo, da pomoč knjižničarja uporabljajo redko in predvsem zato, ker je tako zanje lažje in hitreje. Predlog za preureditev postavitve strokovnega gradiva bi bil v dodajanju manjših stvari, ki bi uporabnikom lahko pomagale pri iskanju: tloris knjižnice z jasno razvidno barvno postavitvijo gradiva, večje oznake na stranicah knjižnih polic in barvne besedilne oznake na tleh knjižnice.During an internship and while searching for scientific literature for library users, it was established that library shelves were overfilled, that there was a lack of space, and that the way library materials were arranged was not in accordance with the UDC classification scheme. The purpose of this master’s thesis is to study whether the users of the Idrija Public Library are satisfied with the current organisation of scientific materials in the library and in the reading room. Librarians play an important role in helping users to look for library materials and orientate themselves in the library, which is why the research studies how much help users are provided and why they need it. The main aim of the research was to obtain suggestions on how the scientific literature should be organised. The data for this research were collected by conducting a questionnaire and several interviews. The questionnaire was filled out by 53 library users, and the interviews were conducted with 8 librarians. The majority of users stated that they know how to search for materials: by first finding it in the COBISS system, writing down its location, and then searching for it independently in the library. However, this answer was given by less than a half of the users, which is why it can be stated that the majority would struggle to find scientific literature and would probably need librarian’s help. In the questionnaire, users were also asked to assess their knowledge on library arrangement. The self-assessed level of knowledge on searching for and finding materials was significantly higher than the actual ability determined with some of the questions. The majority of users did not express any wishes regarding the reorganisation of scientific literature and did not want major changes. On the other hand, librarians would like the library space to be larger and the materials better organised. The users stated they do not often ask librarians for help, but when they do, it is because it is easier and quicker. A suggestion on how to reorganise scientific literature would be adding minor improvements which would help users search for materials: a ground plan with a clearly colour-coded material organisation, larger signs attached onto the sides of the book shelves, and colour markings on the library floor