Abstract:
This research aims at studying the opinions of the National Institute of Development Administrations (NIDA) students toward the services rendered by the Library and Information Center and at collecting problems, needs, satisfaction as well as recommendations arising from the use of such services. It is expected that the results derived from the research would be used as a guideline for the improvement of the library services. The data for this study were obtained from 250 complete questionnaires or 87.72 percent of the total 285 sent to the sampled groups of students from the four schools of the Institute. The data accumulated were then analyzed and presented in the forms of percentage, arithmetic mean and standard deviation. The research findings can be summarized as follows : On the average, the majority of students surveyed had 6-10 hours/week free time between their study hours to spare for using library services. They realized that the library is very crucial for their graduate studies. Surprisingly, it is discovered from the research that their main purpose in using the library is only to read journals, magazines, and newspapers (78%). Most of the students surveyed (94%) used card catalogs to look for materials they needed in the library and they were satisfied with the service (83%). According to the students opinions, the library building should be expanded so that it would be adequate for a great number of students in the future. There should be more tables, chairs and carrels. Moreover, the students suggested that the library should provide more up-to-date books and journals for use as supplement for their graduate studies and research, especially those in the Thai language. The students also suggested that the library translate widely used English
textbooks into Thai, as well as quickly provide more completely bounded journals. The research discovers that the students had less benefit form the use of Index to Thai Periodical Literature, Index to Thai Newspaper, NIDA Bulletin, research document and pamphlet, government publication, and clipping. They were also found to gain least benefit from the librarys audio-visual materials : microfilm, tape-recorder, map, etc. The findings about the library staff reveals that the students were moderately satisfied with the number of library staff, their skill and knowledge, their cooperation and the relationships between the students and the library staff. However, there should be more library personnel at the circulation counter and the reference desk. They also suggested that the library hours be extended. There should be more books for lending. The lending duration should be made longer and the fine should be cheaper. The research discovers that the students moderately utilized the services and were satisfied with the following services and activities : circulation service, inter-library loan service, library orientation service, reserved book service, individual reserved book, NIDA Bulletin distribution service, auditorium, research and seminar rooms service. Those that they were less satisfied with are as follows : Microfilm service, reference and information service, acquisition service, buying books through the library, sound library, library exhibition, seminar and discussion programs, etc. Finally, the students recommended that the aforementioned services and activities be publicized more efficiently so as to encourage the library clienteles to make an increasing use of them. Recommendations : The researcher recommends that the Library and Information Center use the results of this research as a guideline to improve the library services and operations in order to satisfied needs of the students. Furthermore, her recommendation to NIDAs administrator is that they allot more budget to the library and substantially promote all library operations so that it will be a center for information, education and research of higher learning institution and in the hope that it will eventually bring academic excellence to students, NIDA staff, as well as other clienteles.