the effectiveness of searching arabic resources through opac : a case study in usim library

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SEARCHING

ARABIC RESOURCES THROUGH OPAC :

A CASE STUDY IN USIM LIBRARY

PUTRI SANIAH MEGAT ABD. RAHMAN

&

NOR AZZAH MOMIN

UNIVERSITI SAINS ISLAM MALAYSIA (USIM)

CONTENTS

07/07/2011Seminar Kebangsaan Perpustakaan Akademik 2011

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Issues to be addressed - the technical problems in

Arabic information retrieval system & information

skills of the users.

Methodology - survey on the effectiveness of

searching through USIM OPAC & survey on the

problems faced by cataloguers in the organization

and management of Arabic collection.

Issues and opportunities.

OBJECTIVES


3

To evaluate the effectiveness of searching

Arabic resources through the OPAC of the

USIM Library.

General observation - Arabic users are not

really satisfied with the information

retrieved from the OPACs and prefer

browsing on the shelves.

Not only issues in Malaysia

Survey 1


4

Effectiveness of searching Arabic resources

through USIM Library OPAC

In 2010 by Nurul Hafiza – Student – Degree

in Sunnah Studies & Information

Management.

115 undergraduate students from the Faculty

of Quranic and Sunnah Studies.

Survey 1 - Results


5

34.78% - chose USIM Library as their

source of reference for Arabic

information (lecturers, internet).

93.1% - Purpose – Assignments.

58.8% - Use OPAC to search for Arabic

resources at USIM Library.

Survey 1 – Results…cont.


6

63% - no basic knowledge.

53.3% - browsing the OPAC.

Others -use Keyword Search.

Search terms - 79.3% - Title.

16.7% - Author. 3.4% - Subject.



7

Looking level of information - in term of

searching Arabic information.

53.45% - Correct – keyword for

searching ‘Ism Kana wa-akhawatuha’

(Nahu/Saraf) and Treaty (Sulh) of

Hudaibiyah.


8

Tests - Searching Arabic information.

42% - right answer – Using subject

– eg. Ahmad Deedat.

27.9% - correct - Transliteration

scheme.



9

Students should learn more of the

OPAC searching functions through the

User Education Class.

Learn more on subject searching.

Survey 1 – Conclusion

Survey 2


10

2008 - The need - Islamic cataloguers &

Islamic cataloguing system.

Study the organization and management of

Arabic resources - cataloguing and

classification tools, transliteration techniques,

and also the competencies of librarians.

20 librarians.


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40% - no Islamic Studies background at all.

5% - High School,

10% - Diploma in Islamic Studies

45% - First Degree level.

Other problem - Cannot read Arabic Calligraphy

& cannot understand the language itself (which

may affect the transliteration process too).



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60% - need for training on

cataloguing the Islamic resources.

65% of them faced problems in

giving subjects.



13

The study concludes - the importance in

developing competent & knowledgeable

(in Islamic Studies and Arabic languages).

Should also be the subject specialist for

the Islamic collections and libraries.

Survey 2 – Conclusion

Issues and Opportunities


14

Arabic information retrieval

Organization of Arabic and Islamic

resources

Competencies of LIS professionals

Packaging of Islamic information

Conclusion


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Cooperation & collaboration to:

Ensure more effective management & retrieval

of Islamic & Arabic information & resources;

Improve standard rules, cataloguing tools &

techniques;

Establish union catalogues & authority files;

Share & exchange resources & expertise

creatively.


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