Abstract:
Purpose:- The main purpose of this study was to compare users satisfaction and expectation towards the Circulation Services at the Central library, Academic Resource Center, Chulalongkorn University on the following aspects : the building and reading room facilities, library materials and management, circulation services activities, and the Central Librarys rules and regulations concerning with the Circulation Services. Research result was expected to be used as guidelines for the improvement of circulation work to be more effective and truly consistent with the users need. Procedures:- Of the total 9,197 registered members of the Central Library, 465 were chosen at random as samples, comprising 5 percent and signifying 4 groups of people, i.e., undergraduates, graduates, faculty members and line personnel of the university. Of the questionnaires distributed to the sampled population during February, 1983 , 359 were returned (77.20%). The obtained data were statistically analyzed by using percentage, mean, standard deviation and t-test. Findings;- The Central Library Users were in accord in their opinions. The majority expressed their satisfaction at the medium and low degrees while their expectation reached the high degrees. Significant differences were found nearly thoughout with high expectation on almost all the aspects studied, such as, Central Library building and reading rooms, library materials and management, interlibrary-lone, aiding sevices and Circulation staffs. As for the other services, namely, users registration, charging routines, circulation rules and regulations, significant differences were scattered in some aspects and with some groups of samples. The findings revealed that most library users accepted and recognized the nature of circulation work but still desired for more improvement to better the services. Research result were discovered of being acceptably positive, though not in toto, to the stated hypotheses: that users satisfaction found was at the medium, low and lowest degrees; that users expectation would fall at the high and highest degrees; and in comparison, significant differences were found. Recommendation. The library should:- 1. Set definite procedures on administering reserved books, new books display, and regularly distribute news on circulation services to the Central Library users. 2. Set constant intervals for staff meetings in order to seek effective means to deal with any problems on circulation services. 3. Stimulate circulation staff to be more active so as to accelerate the pace of routine operations. 4. Plan for an effective control system to keep track of every book in the Central Library which assures circulation staff to answer any questions of its whereabouts. 5. Try to acquire any frequently requested for materials of which the library has to get through interlibrary-loan. 6. Organize proper book-reserved service including claiming notice for overdue books and calling attention to needed users on reserved books returned. 7. Publicize rules and regulations clearly stated in written form so they can be observed and conformed to by library users. 8. Read the shelves regularly and keep library materials attractive. 9. Increase reading space and prepare reading facilities to meet the needs of users. Recommendations for further research:- 1. Study other types of services being practiced in the Central Library, Academic Resource Center, Chulalongkorn University, using the same procedures as this research. 2. Repeat the same study about circulation service five years later in order to test the results of this research and make comparison. 3. Study users behavior to learn of users attitude and how they get about to find things. 4. Investigate promotion methods to seek for proper model in libray-users communications.