How Libraries Help the Job Seekers?
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How Libraries Help the Job Seekers? A survey of Five Public Libraries in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu HOW LIBRARIES HELP THE JOB SEEKERS? A SURVEY OF FIVE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN VELLORE DISTRICT, TAMIL NADU Dr. AARIEFA BASHEER Dr. K. KALIYAPERUMAL Librarian and Vice Principal University Librarian (I/C) Islamiah Womens Arts and Science College, University of Madras Vaniyambadi-635751 Chennai-600005 Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu Email : [email protected] Email : [email protected] ABSTRACT The present study has been undertaken to know the contribution of public libraries for providing information on employment opportunities in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu. Public libraries in five regions, namely Alan gayam, Ambur, Kaveripakkam, Ranipet and Vellore corporation are surveyed through questionnaire method. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed. It is found from the study that 44.39% visit libraries weekly to get information on employment opportunities, 40.86% visit for getting information on jobs in the private sector, lion’s share (83.6%) are not members of SHG, more than 60% of the public library users opined that the library is helpful for seeking employment opportunities. Suggestions were given for improvement of infrastructure facility in the regional public libraries. Key words : Public libraries, User Satisfaction, User Studies, Vellore, Tamil Nadu 1. Introduction public libraries are playing a vital role in Employment is the life line and disseminating information services for getting universal need of all human beings. Public employment for the masses but not to that libraries play a vital role in a country’s extent. In this context the public libraries workforce system. A report from America shows should acquire different kinds of documents that in 2009, thirty million Americans used like magazines related to employment libraries to help address career and opportunities, advertisements on various jobs, employment needs, including submitting competitive reading materials for the career online applications, searching for job aspirants and for continuing education of the opportunities and working on their resumes people. It is to be noted that public libraries (Hildreth, 2018). Librarians are helping job are the only agency in rural areas of India seekers in searching for employment serving the all-round development of the resources. Many libraries in the West are using society. For instance, health centres are their public library spaces to hold events such concentrating only on health aspects, adult as career fairs and resume training with the education centres concentrates only on help of local workforce agencies. In India, informal education, agricultural offices for 97 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Dr. Aariefa Basheer and Dr. K. Kaliyaperumal agricultural information etc. But public library perceived benefits of public libraries in Finland, is the only people’s university dealing with all Norway and Netherlands. types of information needed for the all round 3. Objectives of the Study development of the citizen. 2. Review of Literature The following objectives are framed for the purpose of the study There are a number of studies on public 1. To study the demographic aspects libraries in literature. Some of the very recent of public library users, such as age, studies appeared in important journals are education, occupation and reviewed here. community status etc. UK public library role and value has 2. To study the frequency of the visit. been described by Leo (2018). Reinventing the public value of libraries is a paper by Field 3. To find out the use of information (2018). Role of public libraries in education for employment opportunities. has been highlighted by Hussain (2017). A joint study by Aslam and Seher (2018) surveys the 4. To seek opinion on various types of user satisfaction in Liaquat Memorial library, employment information needed by Karachi, Pakistan. Another study by Warraich the user. et al. (2016) also assess the status of public 5. To find out the user’s perception for libraries in Rawalpindi district of Pakistan. further improvement of the public The information in a paper by Strand and Britz libraries (2018) is based on a doctoral research done by the author who investigated the role of 4. Research Methodology libraries in the alleviation of poverty in South This study undertaken on Vellore Africa. Hughes (2017) examined the survey District among this five regions namely result from 721 rural libraries in US and Alangayam, Ambur, Kaveripakkam, Ranipet Canada to learn about how they are serving and Vellore Corporation area were selected older adults. The paper found in EBSCO for the data collection. A systematic Archive (2016) describes how libraries are questionnaire have prepared and data were helping to transform the lives of job seekers. collected from each regional public library. A similar paper by Baumann (2009) also Hundred questionnaire were distributed and discusses the role of public libraries for job data were collected, Total 500 Responses seekers. Another paper by Hidreth (2017) (questionnaires) were received for analysis of discusses the library support to job seekers. the study. Kittrick (2016) explain three reasons to connect with your public library.Lawson 5. Analysis and Interpretation (2016) describes the new role of public libraries in today’s World. A similar aspect on library 5.1. Age-wise Distribution roles in changing society has been detailed Age wise distribution of users of the by Juchnevic-Laura (2014). Tan (2017) selected five regional libraries under study are discusses the user satisfaction and loyalty in given in table 1 shows that those aspirants in public libraries. The purpose of the paper by the age of 21 to 30 are one third (34.34%). Those Fourie and Meyer (2016) raise awareness on in the age range of 31 to 40 are 27.27%. Those the need of public libraries. The purpose of in the range of 41 to 50 are 18.78%. Five the paper by Vakkari (2014) is to compare the respondents did not answer the question. 98 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 How Libraries Help the Job Seekers? A survey of Five Public Libraries in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu Table 1 Age-wise Distribution of Users in Five Regions Sl. Age Alangayam Ambur K.Pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total No. No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 1 Below 20 3 3 6 6 3 3 4 4 5 5 21 (4.24) 2 21 to 30 31 31 63 63 31 31 23 23 22 22 170 (34.34) 3 31 to 40 28 28 15 15 26 26 33 33 33 33 135 (27.27) 4 41 to 50 23 23 11 11 23 23 18 18 18 18 93 (18.78) 5 Above 51 15 15 5 5 17 17 22 22 22 22 81 (16.36) Percentages are given in parenthesis 5.2. Educational Status participants studied upto 10th standard are 13.54%. Professionals using library are very Undergraduates participated in the less (4.79%). (See table 2). Twenty of them did rd survey are around 1/3 (32.92%). Almost a not fill up the columns. quarter (23.54%) are post graduates. Those Table 2 Educational Status of the Users SI. Educational Status Alangayam Ambur K.Pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total No. No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 1 Below 5th 0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2 1 1 05 (1.04) 2 Up to 10th 2 2 8 8 28 28 8 8 19 19 65 (13.54) 3 Higher Secondary Certificate 22 22 13 13 28 28 21 21 19 19 103 (21.46) 4 Under Graduate 25 25 31 31 22 22 41 41 39 39 158 (32.92) 5 Post Graduate 28 28 33 33 13 13 22 22 17 17 113 (23.54) 6 Professionals 4 4 10 10 3 3 1 1 5 5 23 (4.79) 7 Research Scholar 1 1 1 1 3 3 1 1 0 0 06 (1.25) 8 Others 1 1 3 3 0 0 3 3 0 0 07 (1.46) Percentages are given in parenthesis 99 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Dr. Aariefa Basheer and Dr. K. Kaliyaperumal 5.3. Occupational Status employed. One third of them (33.40%) are unemployed people. Those in the agricultural It is found from the analysis given in profession are 15.63%, and agricultural table 3 that almost half (46.04%) are labourer are less (4.93%). Table 3 Occupational Status of the Respondents Sl. Occupational Alangayam Ambur K.Pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total No. status No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 1 Employed 47 47 52 52 35 35 40 40 41 41 215 (46.04) 2 Un employed 28 28 38 38 20 20 36 36 34 34 156 (33.40) 3 Agriculture farming 19 19 2 2 31 31 7 7 14 14 73 (15.63) 4 Agricultural 6 6 1 1 9 9 1 1 6 6 23 labourer (4.93) Percentages are given in paranthesis 5.4. Community Status constitutes (31.73%). Scheduled castes are 21.69%. Scheduled tribes as well as forward Backward community users are more community are less. Two respondents did not (40.16%). Most backward community answer. Table 4 Community Status Sl. No. Community Alangayam Ambur K.Pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total No. % No. % No. % No. % No. % 1 Scheduled Caste 23 23 25 25 16 16 15 15 29 29 108 (21.69) 2 Scheduled Tribe 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 6 10 10 19 (3.81) 3 Most Backward Community 25 25 19 19 57 57 30 30 27 27 158 (31.73) 4 Backward Community 47 47 54 54 23 23 42 42 34 34 200 (40.16) 5 Forward Community 4 4002 2 770013 (2.61) 100 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 How Libraries Help the Job Seekers? A survey of Five Public Libraries in Vellore District, Tamil Nadu 5.5.