Abstract:
Traditional reference service does not reflect the great diversity of users, their information needs and seeking
behavior nor does it reflect changes in information sources and in the management and organization of libraries.
The information and learning commons (ILC) have become a focal point and solutions for those challenges and
user satisfaction. We examined existing reference service desk utilization in Jimma University Library System
JULS, and identified information and learning commons model concepts in order to adopt it. A cross-sectional
study was conducted to a sample of 478 library users who were at different academic status in Jimma University
(JU). The data were entered and cleaned using a statistical software SPSS version 16.0. One-way analysis of
variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean scores of five categories of user’s profession. And, T-test was
employed to compare the mean score of current service and perceived service of ILC. The findings of this study
revealed that the respondents were relatively more satisfied with perceived benefit or usefulness of transformed
service (Mean= 4.123), followed by perceived services of ILC (Mean= 4.030), and neutral by current reference
service usage satisfaction (Mean= 2.87). The overall mean score difference between perception of current
reference service utilization and ILC services are significantly different at the 5% level (P-value < 0.05).
Comparison of satisfaction on current reference service among the five respondents profession/statuses was
significantly different at 5% significance level (P-value = 0.025). Comparison of satisfaction on perceived services
of ILC among the five respondents statuses are significantly different at the 5% level (P-value = 0.012). The
current reference service should be transformed in new service model and the study motivates further research
on the topic in other institutions of Ethiopia.
