Conditions of Information Service Provision of Open University Libraries in Thailand

Abstract

Advances in information and communication technology have altered information in terms of format and quantity, including the users’ behavior of using the information, which affects the library’s information services, especially open university libraries that cannot predict what users’ needs outside of the classroom or remote users causing the inconsistent information with the requirements. This article focuses on studying the existing condition of the open university libraries information services in Thailand. The findings reveal that two classified conditions that are, firstly, the condition of the open university library’s information service consists of the conditions of physical services in the form of books, journals, magazines, newspapers, multimedia, and audiovisual media. Secondly, the condition of digital services such as electronic book services, electronic journals, and electronic theses. The problems encountered are the print media is out of date; the searching method is not convenient. The service area cannot support a large number of users, including some of the library staffs’service is not meet the users’ expectations or the service is not satisfactory. The open university library tends to develop her services under the guidance of the university’s primary mission by focusing more on the digital platform available access anytime, anywhere.