Pemanfaatan Koleksi Corner di Perpustakaan Universitas Muhammadiah Sumatera Utara

The Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra Library has several corner services that aim to enrich the global insight and literacy of academicians. These services include BI Corner, Thailand Corner, Japan Corner, French Corner, Indian Corner, and Chinese Corner. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the collection available in these corner services is utilized by users, especially students. This study uses a qualitative method with a descriptive approach. Data collection was carried out through direct observation at the corner service location of the Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra Library. In addition, the author also conducted in-depth interviews with a librarian who understands in detail the management and function of corner services, as well as two users who routinely visit and use these services. To support data validity, the author also documented various activities related to the use of corner services during the research process. The results of the study show that students have utilized the collections available in each corner, both for academic needs and as additional sources of information about their respective cultures and countries. However, there are several obstacles faced by the users. One of them is that the collections available in several corners are not yet completely complete and are still limited, thus limiting the space for information exploration. In addition, the lack of promotion and socialization carried out by the library regarding the existence and benefits of corner services is also a inhibiting factor in optimizing the utilization of these collections. Therefore, it is recommended that the library add relevant collections and improve promotional strategies so that corner services are better known and utilized optimally by the entire academic community.