EDUC RESEARCH JOURNAL

1. EXPLORING THE LIBRARY USERS OF VARIOUS COURSES IN NORTHWESTERN
MINDANAO STATE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Carlagane C. Sarajena, Jhon Rey D. Gabe, Lovely S. Sevilla,
Mary Christy V. Banogbanog and Meilgreg Y. Opeña
Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology
Labuyo, Tangub City
The study focuses on exploring the library users from various courses in Northwestern
Mindanao State College of Science and Technology.
Libraries are essential storage of knowledge. One of its primary purposes is to provide
substantial information for the users. Characteristics of student had a big impact on their use of
library services. It was found out that students use the library for research, leisure, class work,
discussion, and other purposes (Olanlokun, 1982). Research shows that there were bigger
differences on how students use the library of various disciplines (Escola,1998). Accordingly,
students who are actively participating the class, often write and read books are regular library
user (William, 1995). The differences of disciplines or courses also have greater effect on the
patterns of library use. Findings show that students of various disciplines or courses have
different modes of library usage.
Several studies have been conducted on library use in various places such as
understanding patterns of library use among undergraduate students from different disciplines as
well as student’s characteristics and use of library services. However, the relationship between
the library and the number of users of various courses has not been widely studied particularly in
Northwestern Mindanao State College of Science and Technology. Thus, in this study, a survey
on the number of library users of various courses is conducted to determine the library usage
patterns.
Conceptual Framework
The study presents the different patterns of library usage of various courses. Each has
diverse ways on dealing with their studies affected by the differences on their educational
patterns.
Methodology
This study applies descriptive design with survey as its method in evaluating the number
of library users. Respondents were library users of various courses in NMSCST. Primary data
was taken from the NMSCST library staff. An interview was also conducted from selected
NMSCST
LIBRARY
HOLDINGS
VARIOUS
COURSES
LIBRARY
USERS

2. students in each course. The percentage on the number of users was used to express the value of
the data gathered. The data were then interpreted as to what course has the most and least
number of library users.
Results and Discussion
Figure 1 shows the result of the survey in the month of August.
The graph revealed that students from school of Teacher Education most often go to the
library followed by school of school of Information Technology opposite from that of Senior and
Junior High School which shows no signs of visit during the whole month of August. It also
shows that the school of Industrial Technology had almost the same level of usage with the
school of HRST and school of Agriculture.
Figure 2 shows the result of the survey in the month of September.
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
STE SIT School of
Industrial
Technology
School of
HRST
School of
Agriculture
BS
Mathematics
Senior High
School
JuniorHigh
School
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSES
Month of August
A.Y. 2016-2017
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
STE SIT School of
Industrial
Technology
School of
HRST
School of
Agriculture
BS
Mathematics
Senior High
School
Junior High
School
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSES
Month of September
A.Y. 2016-2017

3. The graph revealed the almost the same results from that of the first figure(August) which
means that teacher education students most often go to library. Followed by the school of
Industrial Technology. The school of Information Technology shows almost the same level of
library usage with the school of HRST. Opposite to the other courses, school of Agriculture,
Senior High and Junior High shows no sign of visit in the library. Compared to the previous
months, the school of BS-Mathematics showed signs of visit in the library.
Figure 3 shows the result of the survey in the month of October.
Figure 3 shows slight difference from the previous months. It shows that Junior high
school students frequently visit the library during the month of October. It was followed by the
school of Teacher Education. The school of Information Technology showed almost the same
result in the level of library usage with the school of Agriculture, followed by the school of
HRST. Opposite with BS-Mathematics which shows no sign of visit.
0
50
100
150
200
250
STE SIT School of
Industrial
Technology
School of
HRST
School of
Agriculture
BS
Mathematics
Senior High
School
JuniorHigh
School
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSES
Month of October
A.Y. 2016-2017

4. Figure 4 shows the result of the survey in the month of November.
During the month of November, it was the junior high school students who frequently
visit the library same as with the result revealed in figure 4 (October). The school of Information
Technology (SIT) and the school of Agriculture still revealed almost the same result. Followed
by the school of HRST. BS-Mathematics still revealed the same result with the previous months
which shows no sign of visit.
Figure 5 shows the result of the survey in the month of December
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
STE SIT School of
Industrial
Technology
School of
HRST
School of
Agriculture
BS
Mathematics
Senior High
School
Junior High
School
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSE
Month of November
A.Y. 2016-2017
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
STE SIT School of
Industrial
Technology
School of
HRST
School of
Agriculture
BS
Mathematics
Senior High
School
Junior High
School
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSE
Month of December
A.Y. 2016-2017

5. As of the month of December, the figure revealed that junior high school students still
often visit the library. As depicted, students from other disciplines also visit the library often this
time.
Figure 6 shows the result of the survey in the month of January.
Figure 6 revealed that teacher education students and junior high school students almost
had the same number in the level of library usage which means that both discipline often go to
the library. It was followed by the school of Industrial Technology. Still SIT and school of
Agriculture revealed the same findings with the previous months. Still followed by the school of
HRST. BS-Mathematics already shows signs of visit.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSE
Month of January
A.Y. 2016-2017

6. Figure 7 shows the result of the survey in the month of February
The figure 8 revealed that both junior high school and teacher education students most
often go to the library. This was followed by the school of school of Industrial Technology.
Unlike the previous months, the school of HRST almost had the same result with the school of
Agriculture. This was followed by Senior High School. BS-Math shows signs of visit.
Figure 9 shows the result of the survey in the month of March.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSE
Month of February
A.Y. 2016-2017
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSE
Month of March
A.Y. 2016-2017

7. The figure 9 revealed that junior high students frequently visit the library during the
month of March. It was followed by the school of Teacher Education. Then followed by the
school of Industrial Technology and school of Agriculture which shows still the same findings
with the previous months. Followed by HRST. Still the school of BS-Mathematics shows no sign
of visit.
Figure 10 shows the summary of the data from August to March A.Y. 2016-2017
Discussion
The figure shows a summary of the data gathered from August to March. In the month of
August, the graph revealed that students from school of Teacher Education most often go to the
library followed by school of school of Information Technology opposite from that of Senior and
Junior High School which shows no signs of visit during the whole month of August. It also
shows that the school of Industrial Technology had almost the same level of usage with the
school of HRST and school of Agriculture. In the month of September, the graph revealed the
almost the same results from that of the first figure(August) which means that teacher education
students most often go to library. Followed by the school of Industrial Technology. The school
of Information Technology shows almost the same level of library usage with the school of
HRST. Opposite to the other courses, school of Agriculture, Senior High and Junior High shows
no sign of visit in the library. Compared to the previous months, the school of BS-Mathematics
showed signs of visit in the library. In October, the figure shows slight difference from the
previous months. It shows that Junior high school students frequently visit the library during the
month of October. It was followed by the school of Teacher Education. The school of
Information Technology showed almost the same result in the level of library usage with the
school of Agriculture, followed by the school of HRST. Opposite with BS-Mathematics which
shows no sign of visit. During the month of November, it was the junior high school students
who frequently visit the library same as with the result revealed in figure 4 (October). The school
of Information Technology (SIT) and the school of Agriculture still revealed almost the same
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
3500
STE SIT School of
Industrial
Tecnology
School of
HRST
School of
Agriculture
BS
Mathematics
Senior High
School
JuniorHigh
School
LIBRARYUSAGE
COURSE
A survey data from August to March
A.Y. 2016-2017
August September October November December January February March

8. result. Followed by the school of HRST. BS-Mathematics still revealed the same result with the
previous months which shows no sign of visit. As of the month of December, the figure revealed
that junior high school students still often visit the library. As depicted, students from other
disciplines also visit the library often this time. In January, it was revealed that teacher education
students and junior high school students almost had the same number in the level of library usage
which means that both discipline often go to the library. It was followed by the school of
Industrial Technology. Still SIT and school of Agriculture revealed the same findings with the
previous months. Still followed by the school of HRST. BS-Mathematics shows no sign of visit.
In February results revealed that both junior high school and teacher education students most
often go to the library. This was followed by the school of school of Industrial Technology.
Unlike the previous months, the school of HRST almost had the same result with the school of
Agriculture. This was followed by Senior High School. BS-Math shows signs of visit. In the
month of March, results revealed that junior high students frequently visit the library during the
month of March. It was followed by the school of Teacher Education. Then followed by the
school of Industrial Technology and school of Agriculture which shows still the same findings
with the previous months. Followed by HRST. Still the school of BS-Mathematics shows no sign
of visit.
The following figures clearly presents the differences on the level of library usage among
various courses in NMSCST. User’s characteristics such as means of study, personality and
lifestyle, reasons for use, reading patterns, level of satisfaction and awareness of library services
affects individuals’ mode of usage in the library (Powell, 1997). The differences on the graphs
shown may be affected by these characteristics or maybe not. Library as a house of knowledge
must have the broadest possible collection of books and other essential materials. It should
constitute effective services for the students to find more information and thus, use the library
maximally. NMSCST library specifically, provides services like books, magazines and other
essential materials. Even so, the library lacks enough resources to address students’ satisfaction.
47.5% of the respondents assert that NMSCST library lack books, 27.5% say that the books are
not updated and 25% say that the library specifically E-library possess slow internet connection
based on the interview conducted. This pertains to show that the variation of library patterns of
usage in every course as depicted on the graphs was greatly affected by different factors.
Conclusion
This study revealed the variation in library usage based on various courses. The “inner
worlds of the user” asserted by Kimno (1997) was being strengthened by this study. The
NMSCST library should give attention and priority to the students’ needs, of whom is the
primary clientele inspite of their constituencies and obligations. The library should also be aware
that students shared diverse characteristics. The library services of NMSCST should also be
planned carefully. It should be designed in order to meet the series of students’ information
needs that ascend in various courses. NMSCST library lacks enough resources that caters the
needs and satisfaction of all the students of various courses. This means that the quality of library
services has great failure in meeting the needs of the library users. This failure could lead to
greater negative impact on the students’ academic performance or achievement. Quality of
education in NMSCST is affected by the students’ academic achievement as these two variables
are connected. Students views of the library greatly affects the quality of the library services. The
administration responsible for the improvement of the library should take this as a serious

9. problem. There must be an immediate action to this as it can affect the quality of education in
NMSCST.
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