How Libraries Help the Job Seekers? A survey of Five Public Libraries in District, HOW LIBRARIES HELP THE JOB SEEKERS? A SURVEY OF FIVE PUBLIC LIBRARIES IN , 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 -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, , , 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 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

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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)

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5.5. Frequency of Library Visit visiting the library daily for job related information are 40.66%. Those who are visiting It is seen (table 5) that 44.39% visit more than once in a week are less (10.55%) libraries weekly for getting information on and those who visit fortnightly are 04.39% only. employment opportunities. Those who are

Table 5

Frequency of Library Visit

Sl. No. Frequency Alangayam Ambur K.pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %

1 Daily 43 43 34 34 55 55 32 32 21 21 185 (40.66)

2 Weekly 36 36 40 40 36 36 40 40 50 50 202 (44.39)

3 More than once in a 6 6 14 14 2 2 18 18 8 8 48 week (10.55)

4 Fortnightly 5 5 0 0 0 0 6 6 9 9 20 (04.39)

Percentages are given in parenthesis

Natures of employment information 5.6. Nature of Employment sought by the people are: Information

1. Government assistance It is seen that 40.86% of the public library users visit for getting information on 2. Job vacancies jobs in the private sector. Those seeking 3. Job related aspects information in the government sector are 30.77%. Those seeking information for starting 4. Overseas employment opportunities their own business are 28.37%. 5. Student educational loans. Further analysis (table 6) shows that 6. Entrepreneur loans for self- people of Ambur and Ranipet public libraries employments are searching information for jobs in the private sector (30% and 25%). But those in 7. Other information related to the Vellore region are searching information employment for government jobs (18%). It is also seen that more government offices are located in this region which is the capital district. Those people visiting public libraries in the Alangayam region prefer information needed for starting own business (20%).

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Table 6 Nature of the Employment Information

Sl. Nature of Alangayam Ambur K.pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total No. Employment No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %

1 Government 12 12 11 11 10 10 13 13 18 18 64 (30.77)

2 Private 10 10 30 30 13 13 25 25 7 7 85 (40.86)

3 Own business 20 20 11 11 12 12 2 2 14 14 59 (28.37)

Percentages are given in paranthesis

5.7. Membership in the Self Help Though there are less percentage of Group (SHG) respondents linked with SHG, still they are visiting their respective libraries to get Lion’s share (83.61%) of the public information pertaining to SHG related issues library users are not having membership in and government policies. any SHG, whereas only 16.39% are members.

Table 7 Membership in the Self Help Group

Sl. Member of SHG Alangayam Ambur K.pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total No. No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %

1 Yes 18 18 24 24 9 9 10 10 18 18 79 (16.39)

2 No 82827171858587877878403 (83.61)

5.8. Regularity of Library Use number of regular users are found in Vellore area (77). It is also found that many of them More than 3/4th (78.1%) of the people are are nonmembers but are regular visitor of the regular user of the public libraries and only library. 21.83% are not regular users (Table 8). More

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Table 8 Regularity of Library Use Sl. Are you a No. regular User of Alangayam Ambur K.pakkam Ranipet Vellore Total your Library?

No. % No. % No. % No. % No. %

1 Yes 67 67 65 65 61 61 63 63 77 77 333 (78.17)

2 No 111129296 6 2929181893 (21.83)

Percentages are given in paranthesis

Table 1

Selected Libraries and Their Web Address

Alangayam Ambur K. Pakkam Ranipet Vellore

Fig.1. Regularity of Library Use

5.9. Opinion on Library Help in public libraries opined that library is helpful Employment in seeking employment opportunities and are strongly agreeing. The reasons for the answer It is found from the survey that more is the fact that these areas are the industrial than 60% of the public library users under belt of Vellore district with more number of study opined that the library is helpful for private and small and medium scale seeing employment opportunities. More than industries. 70% of the respondents of Ambur and Ranipet

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Table 9

Opinion on Library Help in Employment

Sl. Alangayam Ambur Kaveripakkam Ranipet Vellore Particulars No. SA A N D SDSA A N D SDSA A N D SDSA A N D SDSA A N D SD

1 Employment opportunities 39 34 1 0 1 21 65 6 2 0 6 36 4 1 2 24 47 5 0 2 17 41 6 2 0 (Government)

2 Employment Opportunities 35 32 4 0 0 9 63 10 5 0 9 27 3 3 1 17 48 6 0 2 10 39 4 3 0 (Private sector)

3 Self-Employment 35 36 4 0 0 7 36 12 2 0 7 11 6 4 1 12 35 9 0 2 5 31 3 4 0

4 Government assistance (Self 3320800733851511414917823720330 profession)

5 Job vacancies 33214001331105147341722642614440

6 Job related 3422400124011204102409176537132210 details

7 Foreign employment 341741043413703533061682428301 opportunities

8 Student Educational 371260063110544532342591217221 loan

9 Entrepreneur loans details for 36306105346653232132751524301 self-employment

10 Other information related to job opportunities and 371160010308334331051562469201 competitive examinations

6. Findings ii) Around 1/3rd (32.92%) of the

Major findings of the study are:- respondents are undergraduates.

i) Those public library users in the age iii) Almost half (46.04%) of public library range of 21 to 30 years are more users are employed. (34.34%).

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iv) Backward community users are 8. Conclusion 40.16% in all the public libraries. The public libraries are the essential part v) Those visiting the libraries weekly of dissemination of information in villages in are more (44.39%). India. Both the Union Government and State vi) It is found that 40.86% of the public Government have taken initiatives for growth library users visit for getting of public libraries. It is observed from the study information on jobs in the private that five regional libraries providing service sector. to the rural areas in sufficient manner and also found that more than 60 percent of the vii) More than 60% of the user’s opined respondents in all the libraries under study that library is helpful for seeking opined that the library is helpful for seeking employment opportunities. government employment and educational 7. Suggestions opportunities. Suggestions show that the respondents are in need of more effective online 1. The public libraries should be facility in concerned libraries. The provided with comfortable reading government should take remedial measures chairs, tables and enough toilet for the respective libraries in order to enhance facilities. the facilities in a time bound manner. The 2. All the libraries should be provided librarians also conduct awareness with internet facilities. programmes in regular interval for effective usage of the public libraries. 3. All the libraries should be automated.

4. More digital resources for References

competitive examinations should be 1. Aslam, Rabia and Seher, Naveed A. provided. (2018). User satisfaction survey of 5. Most of the people visit the public Public library : A study of Liaquat libraries to seek information on Memorial Library, Karachi, Pakistan. women development, health and International Journal of Library Science family welfare, agriculture, 7, 1, 8-14. employment, entrepreneur loans 2. Baumann, Michael (2009). Public etc. Therefore the collection on these libraries step into job seekers. libraries should be focused on these Information Today. November. areas. 3. EBSCO Post Archive (2016). Public 6. More qualified library professionals libraries: transforming the lives of job should be appointed. seekers. April 28, 2016.www.ebsco.com/ blog/public libraries.

105 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Dr. Aariefa Basheer and Dr. K. Kaliyaperumal

4. Field, Nick (2018). Reinventing the Journal of Law Policy for Information public value of libraries. Public Library Society.13, 1, 30-45. Quarterly. 37, 2, 113-126. 11. Leo, Appleton et al. (2018). UK public 5. Fourie, Ina and Meyer, Anika (2016). library roles and value: A focus group Role of libraries in developing an analysis. Journal of Librarianship and informed and educated nation. Library Information Science.50, 3. Hi Tech. 34, 3, 422-432. 12. Strand, Karla J. and Britz, 6. Hidreth, Susan (2017). Libraries are Johannes (2018). The evolving role of well-positioned to help job seekers. public libraries in South Africa Municipal Advocate. 27, 1, p.13. addressing information poverty : A historical context. Library Management 7. Hughes (2017). Rural libraries services 39, 6-7. for older adults: A nationwide survey. Public Library Quarterly. 36, 1, January, 13. Tan, Te-Sjyang et al. (2017). User 43-60. satisfaction and loyalty in a public library setting. Social Behaviour and 8. Juchnevic-Laura (2014). Library Personality: An International journal. roles in changing society. Social 45, 5, 741-756. Transformation in Contemporary Society. 2, 120-130. 14. Vakkari, Pertti et al. (2014). Perceived outcome of public libraries in Finland, 9. Kittrick, Meagen (2016). Three Norway and The Netherlands. Journal reasons to connect with your public of Documentation. 70, 5, 927-944. library. Career Convergence: Web Magazine. 09/01/2016. 15. Warraich et alal. (2016). Status of public libraries in Rawalpindi District, 10. Lawson, Rhea Brown (2016). The role Pakistan. Public Library Quarterly. of public library in today’s World. 35, 1, 2, January, 72-82.

106 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018 Book Review

PROFILE OF LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SCIENCE EDUCATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIAA. by Zulfikar Zen and others. Jakarta. Indonesian Library Association, 2014. xi+228 p. ISBN: 978-979-008-681-4.

This book is a result of collaboration of libraries, library development program and many people from ten countries of Southeast various issues associated with it. This is Asia, under the ‘Congress of Southeast Asian followed by profiles of library education and Librarians’ (CONSAL) project ‘Profile of Library library schools in Cambodia in the form of two Educations in Southeast Asia’. There have tables. Third chapter entitled “Library and been a few articles on the topic in journals information science education in Indonesia” and conference proceedings, but this seems is a long chapter on LIS education in the to be a first compilation in the form of a book, largest country in Southeast Asia. It covers therefore CONSAL, Dr. Zulfikar Zen, and 12 an introduction, formal library education, other contributors deserve appreciation. library education at early period, undergraduate and master’s programs, Southeast Asia is a vast area, and has vocational education during 1980s, 1990s, eleven countries. This book covers 10 and during 2000s. This is followed by a section countries namely: Brunei Darussalam, on non-formal education. Details about Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, institutions, their programs, and courses are Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, given in numerous tables in the chapter. A and Vietnam in its 10 chapters. East Timor large number of references are given at the (Timor-Leste), the 11th country of the end, followed by two appendices. Southeast Asian region that gained independence from Indonesia in the 21st Fourth chapter on library and century, is not included. Each chapter is information science education in Laos gives written by one or more contributors, but their an introduction, and a historical background names are not mentioned in the table of of Lao library education, and details of current contents or at the beginning/end of chapters. curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor A hastily compiled list of authors’ names, of Library and Information Science (2011 to affiliations, and email addresses (of a few) is 2015). Next sections discuss collaboration, given at the end of the book under the heading trends, and conclusions. A few references are ‘About Author’. given at the end. Fifth chapter is entitled “Library and information studies education in The first chapter on Library education Malaysia: past, present and prospect”. This in Brunei Darussalam covers introduction, large chapter gives information on library and development of libraries, empowering the information sectors, and history of LIS reading culture, library education and education in the country, and its current training and the role of Brunei Library status. A few tables in the chapter give Association, and formal library education information in summarized form. Sixth overseas. Second chapter entitled “History and chapter entitled ‘Library education in development of library education in Myanmar’ gives historical background of LIS Cambodia” gives background information, and education, and details of diploma, tells about primary and secondary school undergraduate, master’s and doctoral courses

107 Kelpro Bulletin, 22 (2) December 2018