Abstract:
The purposes of this study are to evaluate the Library Science Curriculum of Ramkhamhaeng University as to the suitable objectives, contents, the period of study needed for the curriculum, including problems and difficulties faced during the work phrases, the application knowledge gained in the performance of their jobs as the librarians or other professions. The results and suggestions in all aspects derived from the study will present to the Library Science Department of Ramkhamhaeng University. The research methods used in this study were documentary research and survey. Questionnaires were sent to 200 Library Science graduates during academic years 1977-1981. These populations were samples 50% of 398 graduates. Out of 200 copies of questionnaires sent to those graduates, 172 copies were completed and returned. This was rated in 86% of all graduates. The data derived were analyzed and presented in the form of Percentage, Mean, and Standard Deviation. Research results conclude as follows: All the graduates (97.67%) are female. The average age of graduates is 26.64 years old. The graduates were capable to find their jobs within 6 months. Most of them (75%) attended the position as librarians and instructors. The rest of them attended other positions (11.05%) and the unemployed (13.95%). The highest number of graduates entered to work in the college and university libraries (20.93%) and school libraries (11.63%) For the effectiveness of the objectives, contents and the period of study in the curriculum of Ramkhamhaeng University, the results reveal that objectives were acceptable. However, the contents and period of time should be adopted to suit the educational progress. In some courses, their contents and period of study should be increased as the practicum in library, the cataloging and classification Thai and English books. Also, some courses should be reduced such as the history of books and printing, the introduction to Library Science, and the literatures. Graduates applied professional knowledge studies from the department to perform their duties in various types of libraries at the rate between maximum and medium. The courses which could be fully applied were mostly in practicum in library, the cataloging and classification, and library service. On the other hand, the courses which could be less applied were the history of books and printing, the cataloging and classification of special materials. The duties performed by the graduates fell into the following categories: the classification and cataloging of books (47.01%), the selection and acquisition (40.30%), the library service (29.85%), indexing, bibliography and abstract (28.36%), and the least was audio-visual materials (2.24%) At the working levels also, considerable amount of problems encountered by the graduates, concerning library itself and working condition. There are moderately and less on the average. Graduates of both librarian groups and other professional groups greatly on the average, wanted the department to provide them with more educational activities and services. They also suggest the department to improve curriculum, teaching process, teaching staff, activities and other services. Recommendations: 1. The department should reduce the number of the students to solve the problem concerning organization for students in library training courses, also the lack of manuals and equipments. 2. The department should have plans to evaluate the courses in the curriculum and teaching process concerning its content and period of study. 3. The department should increases the time schedule for some subjects that are intensively used in performing library work such as the classification and cataloging of books, the practicum of library so that students should have more training. 4. The department should survey the need of the students in using the text books, providing or producing by the teachers, and the understanding towards those text books so that the teaching process should be more efficiency. 5. The department should provide the educational activities more often such as lectures, short courses or seminars in the new topics of library science and open for the graduates, students and interested persons for the use of their professional improvement. 6. The information, opinions and suggestions reported in the research should contribute in future as a guideline to improve curriculum, the teaching process, the organizations in various aspects of the department so as to be more efficiency.