VAFA Map: well use of academic library resources and services by providing better visibility, availability, flexibility, and accessibility

Abstract

Academic libraries are enriched with diversified resources and services. Libraries need to take necessary actions to make the better use of its library materials by every possible mean. The growing information communication landscape has resulted many alternatives for the conventional library services and even more new information services. However, the libraries are still serving the society with equality among different social levels. To withstand and sustained in the competition, librarians need to attract and provide a delightful service to its patrons. showcasing the library products and services to its users is a timely necessity to promote and ensure the better use of library materials. Conventional libraries need to be transformed towards hybrid type of libraries, even a paradigm shift if necessary to secure the competitive advantage over the alternative services in the information services ecosystem. Attracting more users in the community will ensure the sustainability of the library, including funding. Visibility, availability, flexibility, and accessibility (VAFA) are simple but effective strategies for showcasing the intimacy of a library to its society. Libraries can consider about these strategies to visualize it products and services to a larger community and sustain. Thus, this concept paper attempt to map these four strategies to be used by the librarians to lead their libraries towards well used and sustainability. VAFA mapping will contrast the diversity of resources and services available in library, methods that can be adopted to overcome the constraints that prevent their visibility, availability, flexibility, and accessibility from a larger community. Accordingly, libraries can restructure their library processers, and policies to implement new services by overcoming the limiting factors of information dissemination. Making a VAFA map will enable the library to showcase their product and services, attract more community share, lead the library towards the sustainability while becoming a challenging competitor in the information landscape.