Access to and Use of Information Resource Services in the STOU Library and Learning Center: Lessons for Developing a Library for All

Abstract

         This study aims to analyze patterns of access to and use of information resource services before and after the opening of the Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University Library and Learning Center, examine contextual factors related to users’selection of service channels, and synthesize the findings to inform the development of library services in accordance with the “Library for All” concept. The study employs a descriptive research design using secondary data derived from library usage statistics collected between October 2024 and November 2025, covering a 14-month period, including online searching activities, access to electronic databases, reference and research assistance services, circulation transactions, and the number of walk-in users (Onsite Users). The results indicate that online service usage remained consistently high after the opening of the new library building, while the number of walk-in users increased by more than 50 percent on average; when considered together, these findings suggest that users tend to select both online and onsite services concurrently, depending on their convenience and usage context. This pattern reflects online–onsite hybrid usage behavior and provides empirical evidence to support the development and enhancement of hybrid library services aligned with the “Library for All” concept in the context of an open university.