Identification of Circulation Behavior of Patrons: A Study based on Main Library, University of Ruhuna

Abstract

The circulation desk is one of the most important places in the library, which should manage to provide an effective and efficient service to the patron. The management decisions that affect library circulation desk must make with a logical foundation. Hence, the objectives of this study are to identify the variations of circulation rate throughout the year; to identify the demanding days within a week of circulation and to identify the busiest hours within a day in circulation desk. The data of this study were collected using the statistical data related to circulation, recorded in the Library Management System of the University of Ruhuna. Only the circulation data of the Main Library were considered. Data were collected from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2018. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20 software and Microsoft Excel. According to the results, there were 47743 number of check-out and 47824 no of check-in within the considered period. According to the results, Monday was identified as the day with the highest number of check-in and check-out. From 11.30 am to 12.30 pm was identified as the busiest hours in the check-out counter of the circulation desk. From 9.30 am to 10.00 am and 12.30 pm to 1.00 pm was identified as the busiest hours in the check-in counter of the circulation desk. Based on these findings, librarian can make decisions in staff allocation for counter services in peak periods, counter opening hours and circulation loan period.