Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Tesoro, Almario A. |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | The ergonomic effectiveness of the UP SLIS Library : an analysis of library design for users and staff |
| Date Issued | April 2013 |
| Abstract | Ergonomics is an important element of any workplace. It covers all aspects of a person’s working environment, from the design, equipment, methods, and work organization, in relation to the job being done and the physical abilities of the person. Hence, it is essential to the growth and development of any institution. It is in this light that the study at hand aims to assess the ergonomic effectiveness of the UP SLIS Library for the benefit of its users and staff. This research is mainly concerned about: the background and assessment of the ergonomic factors of the SLIS Library – whether it complies with the principles of health, safety, comfort, and, productivity; the fit between the library furniture and the anthropometric data of the users and staff; the postural practices of the said people; the ergonomic practices done in the library; the health related aspects brought about by the design of the library; and the strengths and weakness of the library in terms of ergonomic effectiveness. By knowing these things, the researcher aspires to come up with ways on how to further improve and develop the said library for the benefit of its users and staff. The researcher employed the case study design using both qualitative and quantitative research methods in order to attain these objectives. Two different sets of questionnaires were distributed. The first set was given to 196 random users of the SLIS Library. As for the second set, the researcher distributed 5 questionnaires to the staff of the said library; 3 of which were for the college librarians, and 2 were for the student assistants for the previous semester. Results show that, the library furniture and workplaces are not fit for the said users and staff and that majority of the furniture, namely: the chairs and desks, do not comply with the suggested standards for the average Filipino. Moreover, most of the users and staff do not use proper posture when executing tasks or performing their jobs; though it could also be attributed to the fact that the current ergonomic design of the said library also affects their posture. Lastly, the strong points of the SLIS Library in terms of ergonomic effectiveness are the following: fosters an atmosphere suitable for library work, has good temperature level (not too hot/cold), free from noise and disturbances, and has sufficient lighting (not too bright/dim). On the other hand, its weak points are: the physical condition of most furniture and equipment and the hard to reach positioning of the electrical outlets. The researcher recommends the staff of the UP SLIS Library to utilize the results of the study as a basis for improvement of the library. The research could serve as a way to further develop the said library for the benefit of both the users and staff by voicing out their insights and perceptions. In addition, the administration could also use the results of the study to plan for the new library that would be set up when the School of Library and Information Studies moves to its new building towards the end of A.Y. 2015, tentatively. |
| Degree Course | Bachelor of Library and Information Science |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | Ergonomics; Human engineering; Library design; University of the Philippines Diliman School of Library and Information Studies Library |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
378.08 Kb