Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate componentsthat were concerned with the development of the Library ofSrinakharinwirot University, Maha Sarakham Campus to be theAcademic Resource Center, Srinakharinwirot, University.The research method was historical approach. The sourcesof data for this study were drawn from documents and interview.The data were analysed qualitatively and shown with tables andcharts.The results showed that the developing components ofAcademic Resource Center, Srinakharinwirot University were :1. Administration. The central library of SrinakharinwirotUniversity, Maha Sarakham Campus was under control ofvice-president of the campus. However, its academic affair wasunder the Central Library, Srinakharinwirot University. Thissituation created obstacles in administration and cooperationwhich caused many problems as follows:1.1 Status. Officially, the Central Library ofSrinakharinwirot, University was established in 1975, but, thelibrary of Srinakharinwirot University Campuses was not, approvedto have equal status as the Central Library. Their status wasonly a section attached to Administration Department of eachcanpus.1.2 The Law. The establishment, of The CentralLibrary of Srinakharinwirot University campus was not approvedby Ministry of University Affaire, so the status of eachcampus's library was only a section under AdministrationDepartment of each campus.1.3 Personnel. During 1968-1986, the lecturers fromLibrary Science Department had to work as librarians(professional staff). However, they had to teach Library Sciencecourses too. The library of Srinakharinwirot, UniversityMaha Sarakham Campus had only 2 librarians during 1979-1986, whichwere very few when compared with the amount of work.1.4 Money. Because of being only a section, thelibrary of Srinakharinwirot University, Maha Sarakham Campus gotvery small amount of money to buy books, materials and equipmentsfor services.1.5 Building. The first buildting, which had 2stories, built in 1968 and enlarged in 1982 with total areaof 1,074 square meters. But, the space was not enough to containmaterials and users increased every year. This causedanother problem.2. Technical work. The library of Srinakharinwirot,University, Maha Sarakham campus had developed all of itstechnical works such as acquisition, preservation andconservation of books, cataloging and classification andperiodicals section.3. Service. The library of Srinakharinwirot,University, Maha Sarakham campus had developed its new serviceswhich were non-printed materials, community service andNortheastern Information service.4. The administration of the library of SrinakharinwirotUniversity, Maha Sarakham Campus became under the vice-presidentof the Campus after the attempt of the library to elevate its status.Its academic affair was under the Central Library of SrinakharinwirotUniversity. The University had asked the Ministry of UniversityAffair to approve the establishment of the Central Library ofSrinakharinwirot University campuses, but it failed. However,the Ministry of' University Affair had appointed the deputy directorof the library in each campus.5. Conducting a research on establishment of InstructionalMaterial Center for the rural area in Northeastern Thailand in 1979-1981found the models and procedures in carrying out rural service.6. Studying of academic service organizations in otheruniversities found that those organizations concentrated theirservices on academic affair. So the library of SrinakharinwirotUniversity Maha Sarakham campus created new services which focused on community service and academic service.7. The proposal of the central Library project of Srinakharinwirot University, Maha Sarakham campus, which, finally, had been named "Academic Resource Center", was created and presented to Ministry of' University Affair in 1980 and was corrected and improved 7 times before it was approved.