Information Services Division, Sibu

Information Services Division (Pustaka Sibu)

Information Services Division of Pustaka Sibu consists of two (2) units which are Reference Services Unit and Information Literacy Unit. The Reference Services Unit serves as a gateway to knowledge and culture by providing resources and services to support literacy, education and lifelong learning. Meanwhile, Information Literacy Unit organizes events and activities for users and communities of all levels, to connect with each other, through cultural, informational and educational programs to support libraries and life-long learning.

Reference Services Unit

This service provides reference assistance to members of the Sarawak State Library, Sibu, by phone, e-mail, letter, in person, straight to the counter, or through the use of other communication technologies in a timely manner. This service can help Library members who are looking for materials for study, reference, or current needs. Library users will also have simple access to information from library resources as well as those available through consortia or other sources through this program. This service will assist Library users in determining whether the necessary information is correct and satisfies their needs. Through this service, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak can improve the service by completing a survey of members following the provision of services at once. Through this service, Pustaka Negeri Sarawak can increase efficiency and effectiveness by performing a survey to members after the services are provided. This service also helps E-Government services as well as government activities in giving reference to all in various aspects. The following are some of the services offered to address client information needs:

• Online Services

1. Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)

The Online Public Access Catalog, also known as the OPAC, is a library catalog that is accessible online. OPAC is one of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak's online services that allows its members to search for required materials using a computer with an Internet connection.

The OPAC contains records for all materials, including books, journals (printed or electronic), maps, databases, manuscript collections, and so on. Members of the Sarawak State Library can use the OPAC to find the items they need, as well as find out where the materials are and their status, thereby facilitating their search.

2. Online Database

Database that has been developed and is accessible through the OPAC Pustaka Negeri Sarawak. Members of the Sarawak State Library can access collections such as journals, electronic books, reports, periodicals, and electronic newspapers for free to suit their managerial needs and as a reference in their studies.

3. E-knowbase

Pustaka Negeri Sarawak has taken the effort to create a database that would assist individuals in finding answers to the most frequently asked queries (FAQs). The Sarawak State Library's website provides access to e-KNOWBASE. Most of the queries on Library Services have been gathered by the Reference Librarian. Members of the Sarawak State Library can use e-KNOWBASE to discover answers to their questions simply by scouring the web.

• Offline Services

1. Inter-Library Loans

This service is based on the idea of partnering with other libraries or resource centres to provide library materials. Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Sibu is able to meet the information demands of its members through this service, which makes use of a variety of information sources available in other libraries.

2. Borrowing Library Materials

Members of the Library can borrow up to ten materials at a time for 14 days for free. Library members can renew materials before the due date. This service is available during operating hours.

Materials that can be borrowed include:

• White label - Open Shelf Collections
• Orange label - Special Needs Collection
• Blue label - Teen Collections

The material borrowing process are as follows:

• Use OPAC to locate the materials that you want to borrow
• Go to Circulation Counter for borrowing the library material chosen
• Provide your identification card
• Your borrowing transaction will be processed by the staff
• Take the material together with the transaction receipt for your keeping

Pustaka members can make reservations online if the status of the book to be borrowed has been borrowed by another Pustaka member. Prospective borrowers who have made a reservation for the material will be alerted by phone and given three days to pick up the material once the initial borrower returns it. Using the technique, you can order materials that are currently being borrowed by other Librarians:

• Using the online catalogue, locate the materials you want to borrow (OPAC).

• To see the location of the material, click the "item" symbol.
• The resources accessible at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak may be found by clicking on the name of the Pustaka.
• Check whether the status is "available" or "checked-out".
• The "available" status indicates that the item is in the Library and available for borrowing, but the "checked-out" status indicates that it is currently borrowed by another member. The loan's expiry date will also be displayed. If another member has borrowed the resource, you can make a reservation by clicking "reserve item".

The following are the options for renewing Library materials:

• Phone call
• Walk-in
• Library-net account
• Angka.sa2 application
• Reference Whatsapp number

3. Bulk Loans

An organisation can use this service to borrow a huge volume of material for free. To make advantage of this service, the organisation must first register as a "bulk loan libraries". For a period of two months, the organisation can borrow a minimum of 50 materials and a maximum of 200. Renewal loans have a one-month grace period. Before the return period expires, you can renew by phone, in person, or through your Librarynet account. This service makes it simpler for an organisation to borrow resources and allows people to read materials from an organization's reading room instead of going to the Sarawak State Library in Sibu.

Literacy Unit

The Information Literacy Program is one of the programmes provided by the Sarawak State Library, Sibu, to give exposure and ways to discover information to fulfil the demands of its members, where the skills are crucial for current needs in supporting the lifelong learning process.

This service is available to:

• Registered members only.
• Non member

Pustaka offer this service to

• Primary school
• Secondary school
• IPTA/IPTS students
• Adults

The courses offered are:

• Information Literacy - Foundation Module
• Information Literacy - Intermediate Module
• Information Literacy - Advanced Module

Registration is available to everyone and is completely FREE. Classes are run in response to user requests.

History

The Information Services Division of Pustaka Negeri Sarawak, Sibu was established in November 2018. The functions of IS division are as below:

(I) Reference Services Unit
1. Reference and Referral Tasks
2. Circulation Management
3. Users’ Profiles Management
4. Information Literacy & User Education
5. Digital and Online Resources

Current Staff

Currently, the Information Services Division is managed and administered by one officer, one assistant librarian, and four support staff.

1. Nurfarathul Aqma Julani, Head of Information Services Division
2. Rayson Clinsmund anak Jensonray, Assistant Librarians
3. Nurrini Binti Esmani
4. Cassieafiefie
5. Annasyah binti Hajemi
6. Faeza Hanim Binti Morshidi

Former Staff

1. Muhamad Ali Bin Abdul Wahab, Head of Community Engagement Services Unit - Resigned on 25 April 2021
2. Karen Angelina Lim Kar Leng - Reshuffled to Sarawakiana Unit on 1 January 2021
3. Fiona Ravia Asing - Reshuffled to Community Engagement Division on 1 January 2021
4. Mohd Tarmizi bin Malek - Reshuffled to Community Engagement Division on 1 January 2021
5. Nurrul Azzila Binti Abdul Rasid - Reshuffled to Community Engagement Division on 1 January 2021
6. Mas Azreena binti Majenis - Reshuffled to Community Engagement Division on 1 January 2020

Functions

(I) Reference Services Unit

1. Providing equitable reference assistance to users via telephone, emails, letters, in person or through the use of other communication technologies within a reasonable time frame.
2. Facilitating access to information from library resources and those available through consortium/held remotely, by locating, accessing and evaluating the required information.
3. Circulation and membership management.
4. Interlibrary loan and document delivery.
5. Providing library instructions/orientations, information and digital literacy sessions to users.
6. Promoting and marketing information resources and services.
7. Undertaking users’ surveys and evaluating information usage and services rendered.
8. Supporting E-Government services and initiatives.

(II) Information Literacy Unit

1. Management of user education classes
2. Responsible for the planning and implementation of User Education Programme, library instruction; Information Literacy Skills, online database training and workshop, library orientation tour, Digital Literacy PANDei Program (People Accessible Network for Digital Empowerment & Inclusivity) and Family Literacy (Reading Seeds Program).
3. To expose the library user on what type of library services, facilities and resources available in the Library
4. To guide the library user on how they can use the library services, facilities and resources available in the library
5. To train the library user to utilize the library resources effectively with correct methods and strategies
6. To provide the library user with the skills for independent information seeking for their learning, teaching and research process

30 November 2021	08 February 2022