User preferences in the use of Law Library collections : a case study of the Brand van Zyl Law Library of the University of Cape Town

Law libraries are specialised libraries consisting primarily of printed and electronic legal literature which assist their patrons in legal research and the teaching of law. The use of the law library by the entire university often causes concern on the part of the legal patrons and staff who use and manage the library and its collection. This dissertation investigates the nature and purpose of the law library of the University of Cape Town, with a view to establishing patterns of use and revealing the problems encountered by patrons and members of staff in the use of this library and its collections. In the investigation, two types of questionnaires were prepared and administered to the patrons and members of staff of this library in order to establish their library usage and preferences. The researcher undertook the quantitative approach since the qualitative approach in the form of interviews and observations had earlier been effectuated by the researcher during his internship in this library. In the investigation during which a total number (60) of students, academics (14) and four members of staff responded, it was revealed that the patrons encounter problems of space, noise and movements. The members of staff noted inter alia that in addition to the problems of space, noise and movements, there were also problems of mutilation of the library's materials (underlining passages and tearing pages) and of the deliberate mis-shelving of materials. In the light of these identified problems, this dissertation makes a number of recommendations designed to alleviate the problems experienced by the respondents.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

Library and Information Studies Centre (LISC)

Year dc:date.issued

1997

Author dc:creator

• Masango, Charles Akwe

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Nassimbeni, Mary

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/13397

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/13397