Application of the rules of indexing in Algerian university libraries: the case of the human sciences faculty library at Mohamed Boudiaf University in Msila

Abstract

The study aimed at figuring out its reality of applying cataloguing in the library of Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Mohamed Boudiaf in Msila, and at knowing its modern developments in the field of descriptive cataloguing. A case study method was used to collect data and to analyze them. The study comes at a set of results such as: the library of the Faculty of Human Sciences at the University of Mohamed Boudiaf in Msila relies on automated cataloguing only and there is a lack of traditional cataloguing, as this cataloguing is available on university website for beneficiaries, so it can be viewed at any time and at any place, the library doesn't give big importance to training, so no library staff received any training session neither in the field of library services nor in the field of cataloguing, and that contributed in the existence of many problems and difficulties from witch the employees suffer. The main reasons of difficulties they face, in addition to the lack of their submission to training sessions, are the lack of coopreation between libraries in the field of cataloguing, the lack of experience among employees during their work, and also the study shows that the library staff are familiar with the developments in the rules of descriptive cataloguing, mainly the automated one, because of their specialization and to develop their knowledge through self-development.

In the light of these results, the study came to a set of recommendations as: the necessity for the library staff to be submitted to training sessions in order to improve their levels, to face difficulties they meet during the cataloguing process, to add and to invent rules compatible with its contents and its beneficiaries in order to improve services, to answer the researchers' requirements and improve the advancement of scientific research in the Algerian University.