DOCUMENTATION AT THE MARGARET THATCHER LIBRARY (MOI UNIVERSITY)

ACTIVITIES AT MARGARET THATCHER LIBRARY (MOI UNIVERSITY)

Name

CMIS 1001 - Introduction to Information Systems

Walden University

Introduction

This chapter consists of a number of activities assigned and undertaken during the attachment

period by the attaché. During my attachment period at Margaret Thatcher Library, I was assigned

a list of activities in the Technical and the Readers/ Customer Service Department. It also

Afterwards, attendance of workshop on ABCD software was done. The workshop activities took

at least ten days of my attachment period and on completion certificates were issued to the

participant which was found to be of great importance to the attaché, since it added some

knowledge on the online activities pertinent to the library services. During the workshop the

following things were looked at or rather discussed; Common problems pertinent to the software,

current plans undertaken to improve the software and the new features found in the software.

The following two days I did a number of activities which on the first day included; categorizing

of non-book materials, identifying problems associated with then non-book materials as well as

Activities undertaken in the acquisition section

Dealing with Acquisition Module

acquisition module and explain the functions of acquisition which included; suggestions,

purchase order, database and administration. These steps gave different information materials to

various supplies.

receiving of items.

Database-This database was meant to give suggestions to providers, provide a purchase order

and issue copies.

Administration- administration was meant to reset orders, numbers and suggestions.

Working with E- Resources

The Margaret Thatcher Library has electronic resources services, of which I was introduced to

some during my attachment at the library. These resources included; E- books, E- journals and

the African Journal Online (AJOL). Practical exercises to online acquisition module were done

where it was noted that acquisition of information materials depended on the policy of the library

from North to South and from West to East. It has also been difficult for African researchers to

access the work of other African academics. In partnership with hundreds of journals from all

over the continent, AJOL works to change this, so that African-origin research output is available

to Africans and to the rest of the world. AJOL is a Non-Profit Organization based in South

Africa.

2. Springer

It is an E- resource found in the organization. Knowledge, information and quality – these are the

three things that shape Springer Science and Business Media’s business activities. It develops,

manages and disseminates knowledge – through books, journals and the Internet. It works with

the world’s best academics and authors in long-standing loyal partnerships based on mutual trust

and we are always open to new input. Its aims to offer excellence – more than 150 Nobel prize-

materials into more salable form. It involves a series of procedures to be undertaken during the

binding activity.

Library binding is a good choice where economy and durability are the objectives. It is

appropriate for books that are significant primarily for the information they contain and that do

not have value as objects. Books that have art factual or associational significance in addition to

informational value should be sent to a professional conservator for treatment. The goals of

library binding have changed over the years. In the past, library binders strove to produce sturdy,

economical, serviceable bindings. As librarians and users began to take a fresh look at the

physical quality of library materials, however, and became concerned with the open ability of a

book and photocopying problems associated with over sewing, the goals of library binding

Procedure of binding

hard covers by putting the boards by cutting the boards into A4 sizes that makes the book cases.

4. Putting P.V.C (Binding Cloth)

It is an activity which involves the cutting of pieces of cloth into the desired page sizes on the

book cases afterwards, it’s taken to the press machine to flatten it and remove air bubbles and

help in drying up. Finally the book is trimmed and a spine is made for the book, after which the

book is taken to the blocking machine to write the title of the book.

3.1.4 Activities in the Customer/ Readers Department

I finally served in the customer or rather the readers section where I made a number of

observations, The activities that took place in the section include; monitoring the circulation of

books, serving in the special collection, also served in the children’s library, the Audio Visual

National, Special, Periodicals and Audio-Visual Collection may be borrowed for use outside the

library. Items for loan are borrowed at the Issue Desk on the Ground Floor. The University

Librarian is empowered to levy fines on readers who fail to return materials within the stipulated

loan period.

special collection section as well as processing of periodicals.

3. Children’s Library section

I was also assigned some activities in the children’s library of which the collection in this area is

for children age 3 to 16 years. Most of the users of this tiny (but wonderful) library are children

belonging to university staff and some from the surrounding community. Services provided

include: borrowing, reading areas, computer games, story telling, videos etc. However I was

assigned specific functions in this field which involved arranging of books, assisting young

library users in the challenges they encounter in the library, cataloguing of children’s books

using DDC.

4. Audio-Visual Section

During my serving period in the customer service department, I served in the Audio-Visual

audiocassettes, slides, microforms and other A-V materials are housed on the Ground Floor near

5. Reference & Information Section

information searches, typing of reference material, indexing of newspapers and journals

3.2 An analysis of new skills acquired

Attachment is also considered as a learning process; hence during my attachment period I learnt

several new skills that I did on acquire in the theoretical education in the college. The following

is an overview of some of the lessons acquired.

3.2.1 Communication skills

During the attachment, communication skills were acquired especially when working with the

three departments. One of the duties of a library assistant is to communicate to customers or

rather learners who spare their time to visit the library on daily basis to inform or assist them

about or on the areas that they are unable to handle by themselves Apart from this task, I had to

attend to many quarries pertaining to the services offered by new library users. As a result as an

attaché I learnt to be polite, patient and tolerant with different characters. Good communication

improves the institutions image to its outside world. With particular attention to verbal skills I

noticed a big improvement in my communication.

The fact being that during my attachment I interacted with different kind of people especially the

workers of the library and student who most of the time are said to be rampant when they don’t

find things working well for them, function of library is to provide information services to people

who visit the library, hence it requires people of good interpersonal skills to handle this

Interpersonal relations in an organization are necessary for the wellbeing of the organization as

well as individual.

During the attachment period though some most are unpaid, a learner gets some indirectly

attached benefits from this learning activity. Here are some of the attachment benefits that are

Internships have been viewed by different researchers as offering a diversity of benefits to the

student intern or attaché. They engage the intern in service activities primarily for the purpose of

providing them with hands-on experience that enhances their learning or understanding of issues

relevant to a particular area of study. They assist the internee to bridge the gap between the

academic learning process and the practical reality. Students should note that internship is

supervised work experiences where students are closely supervised. The internship program

contributes significantly and positively towards enhancing the knowledge base and motivational

level of students.

times already an experienced employee and has already made up his/her mind on a career choice.

To further cement this view, internship is the best way for students to explore the suitability of a

particular job.

Attachments bridged the gap between the theory of the classroom and the world of practice.

Internship program are perceived as a valuable way to acquire broad competencies where the

practical knowledge obtained supports and complements the theoretical studies learned in the

classrooms. Attachments are found to enhance students' performance in their courses. With some

of the internship program coming at the end of the final semester, it is perceived that internships

of such nature would not contribute much to their academic attainment.

The internships have been seen to be beneficial in socializing the student through training and

teamwork assignments at the workplace. It has been noted that interns have successfully

developed their personal skills, particularly relating to information technology, time

management, communication skills, teamwork, specialist knowledge and ability to prioritize