Information and Library Support of the University Educational Process: Quality Management System Implementation

Currently, the sphere of education in Russia is undergoing numerous transformations. Transformations are taking place both at the federal level and at the level of individual institutions of higher education. The changes are aimed, among other things, at improving the quality of implementation of basic educational programmes, educational, research and other processes in higher education. The use of quality management system (QMS) in the work of information and library centers (ILCs) or libraries of higher education institutions gives the following advantages: improvement of quality and timely provision of library and information resources; possibility to achieve the set goals, to optimize current business processes; improvement of feedback between all participants of educational relations; possibility of self-development and professional development; application of risk and controversy management methods suitable for the situation, etc. The management of the ILC of the Voronezh Institute of Economics and Law (VEPI) decided to use quality management in its work. To implement QMS we analyzed the parties interested in information and library support and their satisfaction with the services received. The interviewing was conducted, the results of which showed that the quality of services provided is the most popular request among the users of the VEPI ILCs. The respondents’ answers also include requests for a wide range of up-to-date information, educational and methodical literature in electronic library systems with which the university co-operates, etc. In order to consider this issue in more detail, the Questionnaire was developed to assess the organization and quality, as well as information and library support of the educational process of VEPI. A total of 64 people took part in the survey. Its results show that the organisation, quality and information and library support of the educational process at VEPI in general are at a high enough level and satisfy the majority of respondents. At the same time, the analysis makes it possible to draw up a plan of corrective measures that will contribute to the highest quality satisfaction of the requests of the parties interested in information and library support of the university. The introduction of QMS in the work of the VEPI ILCs will allow to comprehensively take into account the needs and requests of users for information and library support of educational and other processes, as well as to improve the quality and efficiency of all areas of activity.