Enhancing librarianship students’ awareness of preservation at the learning resource center of a Mekong Delta university
| Date | 09 July 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-12-2017-0127 |
| Pages | 414-421 |
| Published date | 09 July 2018 |
| Author | Trang Thi Huynh,Cuc Hong Lam |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
Enhancing librarianship students’
awareness of preservation at the
learning resource center of a
Mekong Delta university
Trang Thi Huynh
School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Can Tho University,
Can Tho, Vietnam, and
Cuc Hong Lam
Department of Library and Information Management,
Can Tho University, Can Tho, Vietnam
Abstract
Purpose –This study aims to investigate the rate of print material deterioration at the Learning
Resource Center –a university at the Mekong Delta and identify users’behaviors that may harm library
materials, thereby presenting some potential solutions to enhance librarianship students’awareness of
preservation.
Design/methodology/approach –The research is based on Walker’s (2003)conceptualframework
of preservation and that of education and propaganda from awareness development. Using a
quantitative approach, 25-item questionnaire was delivered to 133 sophomores and seniors and
analyzed by SPSS software. Qualitative data from the open-ended question were recorded and analyzed
by themes.
Findings –The findings from this study show that the rate of print material deterioration at the
Learning Resource Center was relatively low compared to that of other libraries in the nation and in the
world. In addition, students’knowledge about how to make the photocopies, as well as how much to
open the book, is limited. The most important reason is because of lack of education from school and the
library. The research also proposed some effective and realizable solutions to enhance librarianship
students’awareness of preservation of the materials at Learning Resource Center of a Mekong Delta
university, Vietnam.
Practical implications –This research provides library staff and users, especially librarianship
students, with an awareness of the important role of book preservation, human behavior of library
collections and potential preventive ways of book damage. This study also specifies evidence that
library lecturers should include ethical issues in their lectures because librarianship students still have
limited knowledge of book preservation. By doing so, these actions may motivate librarianship students
to continue to learn and apply their knowledge of preservation into library materials and their own
documents. Furthermore, the finding of the library work punishment contributes to better
understanding of library labor force and students’personality education. The findingscanserveasa
reference to educating other users in Vietnam and globally.
Originality/value –The level of print materialdeterioration at the Learning Resource Center of a Mekong
Delta university, Vietnam and library work punishment were observed to be the most important findings
with regard to librarypreservation in a particular library in Southeast Asiancountry. These findings provide
insightsinto students’awareness of preservation, not yet discussedin the literature.
Keywords Vietnam, Psychological factors, Deterioration, Preservation, Awareness on preservation,
Learning resource center, Library students
Paper type Research paper
ILS
119,7/8
414
Received3 December 2017
Revised5 May 2018
Accepted5 May 2018
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.119 No. 7/8, 2018
pp. 414-421
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-12-2017-0127
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