Abstract:
The objective of this thesis is to study the establishment, conditions, operation, administration, services including problems of the libraries of private colleges in Thailand and to propose some suggestions for the improvement of those libraries. Data used in the research are collected from: 1. Books, periodicals and other printed materials concerning college libraries in both Thai and English languages. 2. Library visits and surveys in the form of a questionnaire. 3. Interviews of the librarians and the administrators of all private college libraries. Research results are as follows: 1. Most of the private college libraries are not adequate academic centres because they are not really a section under the Division of Academic Affairs. 2. Each library is in need of library personnel in different positions such as a professional librarian, an assistant librarian, a library clerk and a janitor. 3. Two libraries do not get sufficient budget to operate the libraries. In another three libraries, the librarians do not have information about the budget nor the expenditure of the expenditure of the libraries. 4. As for technical services, five libraries have acquisition problems and two libraries have trouble with classification and cataloguing of books. 5. The book collections of eight libraries are not up-to-date and are not quantitatively well related to the numbers of the students. 6. Most students do not know how to use their own libraries. 7. Most libraries do not have their own buildings. They have limited space, and have to face noise pollution and inadequate and insufficient library facilities. To improve the private college libraries in Thailand, some proposals are made. There should be guidelines for the operation, administration and services for private college libraries in Thailand. The guidelines may cover the following: 1. Writing clear objectives of the library which should be in good harmony with the goals and purposes of the college. 2. Having standard collection of books and audio-visual materials. 3. Classifying library materials according to the standard classification system. 4. Having a number of staff members such as professional librarians adequately related to the word load in the library. The use of student assistants in a college library is one of the ways to get sufficient supply of labor for a college library. 5. Having independent library building with adequate space for library staff and library services. 6. Giving the same status as the teaching staff to the librarian, who ought to be directly under the college director. 7. Introducing and allocating the budget of the library, this should be done within the librarians responsibility in accordance with the financial policy of the college.