Application of Total Quality
Management Approaches in the
Academic Libraries of Public Sector
Universities
BY
Uzma Akhtar
Student Counselor
Allama Iqbal Open University
Multan
Khalid Mahmood Sanghera
Librarian
Govt. College for Elementary
Teachers Rangeel Pur Multan,
Ph.D. Student
University of The Punjab,
Lahore
INTRODUCTION
• A school, a college, and any university of a
society can never alone impart education;
each of them is dependent upon a library—a
centre of wholesome education for concrete
and ultimate knowledge.
Academic Library
• An entity in any academic institution that
provides an organized collection of printed
and other material, a staff trained to provide
and interpret such material as required to
meet the demands of user for his educational
work” (Carey and Williams from instruction
section of Academic Library Survey of IPEDS,
2003).
Academic Libraries of Universities
At the university level library is a:
• partner with departments of the university in
meeting in teaching, research and learning
commitments of that university.
(Kavulya et al, 2004).
Quality
• Meeting expectations of the customer/user
• William A Foster remarks,
“Quality is never an accident, it is always the
result of high intention, sincere effort,
intelligent direction, and skillful execution, it
represents the many choices of alternatives.”
Total Quality Management
•
•
•
•
Aune (1998: 8) defines TQM as the
Management approach of an organization
centered on quality,
Based on the participation of all its members
Aiming at long term success through customer
satisfaction
Benefits to all members of the organization and
to society.
Libraries and Measurement of Quality
Generally, the service quality of an academic
library has been described in terms of
• Its collections,
• Its size
• Various service contents.
(Kavulya et al, 2004).
Quality Pursuits of HEC
• Realizing the issues of quality, the Higher
Education Commission of Pakistan Quality
Enhancement Cells (QECs) were established in
the public sector universities for improvement
of their
• Academic,
• Teaching
• Learning standards.
(HEC, 2010).
HEC indicators for a quality library
HEC provides on its website a few indicators for
an academic library in a university. These are
about:
• 200 numbers of books per subject,
• 50 numbers of reference books per subject,
• 5 periodicals per week and
• 10 leading newspapers per day
(HEC website).
TQM Approaches for Library
Key aspects of TQM approaches taken for
library are in this study are:
• Unwavering focus on user,
• Continuous improvement of libraries,
(Khera and Sharma, 2012).
OBJECTIVES of THE STUDY
• The objectives of the study were to:
• To examine the application of TQM approaches in
the libraries of public sector universities.
• To analyze the perceptions of librarians about
application of TQM approaches in the libraries of
public sector universities.
• To explore the views of users of libraries about
application of TQM approaches in the libraries of
public sector universities.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
• The study was descriptive in nature and
check list and a survey questionnaire
were developed to collect data.
POPULATION
The research population comprised of:
• Librarians of central and departmental
libraries of a public sector universities offering
research in Southern Punjab.
• Research supervisors/ faculty members.
• Researchers currently enrolled in different
programs of university.
Sample of Respondents
S.No
Tools
Respondents
Sample
Total
1
Checklist
Librarians
20
20
2
Questionnaire
1- Faulty members
2- Researchers
44
44
88
108
Indicators of TQM for Public Sector Libraries
S#.
TQM Approaches
Performance Indicators
1.1Physical Space
1
Unwavering
Source
Standards for libraries
1.2 Easy access
by
Association
of
1.3 Conducive atmosphere
focus on
user
1.4 Physical atmosphere
College and Research
1.5 Intellectual freedom, rights and values,
Libraries
1.6 User privacy confidentiality,
2011
(ACRL),
1.7 Collaboration.
Rosa et. al(2007)
1.8 User-centered service
1.9Access to collections (printed & non printed)
sufficient in quality, depth,
Bayraktar
et.
(2008)
1.10 Diversity,
1.11 Currency to support the research
1.12 Maximum opening hours
Pandi et. al. (2009)
al.
Indicators of TQM for Public Sector Libraries
S#.
TQM Approaches
Performance Indicators
2
Standards for
Continuous
2.1 Updating with recent trends
improvemen
t in library
Source
libraries by
2.2 New services (CAS, SDI)
Association of
2.3 IT infra structure
College and
2.4 Access to Digital library and downloading
Research Libraries
2.5 Continuous access to periodical (5/week)
(ACRL), 2011 &
2.6 Continuous access to leading newspapers
(at least 10/day)
HEC Affiliation
criteria for degree
awarding
institutions
TOOLS OF RESEARCH
• Check list: This was prepared for librarians
• Questionnaire : This questionnaire was
prepared for research supervisors/faculty
members and researchers
Findings
UNWAVERING FOCUS TO THE USERS
• Research data of Checklist for the component 1
indicates that 66.81% librarians agreed that user
is a prime focus in public sector universities'
libraries while 33.18% disagreed with this.
• Research data of Questionnaire for the
component 1 indicates that mean value of the
responses calculated is 3.24 which falls in the
range of agreement that user is a prime focus in
public sector universities' libraries.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF LIBRARY
• Research data of Checklist for the component 2
indicates that 74.21% librarians disagreed that
library receives continuous improvement in
public sector universities' libraries while 25.78%
agreed with this.
• Research data of Questionnaire for the
component 2 indicates that Mean value obtained
is 2.5 which fall in the range of disagreement so it
was found users disagreed with it.
Conclusion
• Analysis of first component of Checklist and
questionnaire, showed that there is a tendency
towards unwavering focus on user of libraries in
public sector.
• Analysis of second component of Checklist and
questionnaire, showed that there are fewer
tendencies towards continuous improvement of
public sector universities' libraries.
Recommendations
• Library services may be provided nonstop
24/7 as a step towards TQM culture.
• Accessories to regulate the internal
atmosphere may be installed.
• There may be quick acquisition of quality
books.
• Reference services also need regular updating
of current books, new journals, periodicals
and news papers. Public sector libraries may
be equipped with new volumes and other
recent updating
•
•
•
•
Automation of library operations,
Increase in number of computers,
Access to HEC digital library
Online downloading facility
Provision of services like:
•
•
•
Resource Sharing Facility,
Current Awareness Service and
Selected Dissemination Service
• Appropriate budget allocation and its
provision in time may pave the way towards
TQM culture in libraries.
Quality assurance cells may devise strategy
and plans that libraries remain fully equipped
with:
•
•
•
•
Latest books
Research journals
Periodicals
Human and mechanical resources
Thanks