Impact of Availability of E-Resources on User Satisfaction in Agricultural Libraries of Northern India

Authors

  • Nazir Ahmad Bhat
     Assistant Librarian, Central Library, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Kashmiri - 190025, Jammu and Kashmir
  • Shabir Ahmad Ganai
     Senior Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, The University of Kashmir, Srinagar - 190006, Jammu and Kashmir

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2017/v54i1/109488

Keywords:

Electronic Sources of Information (ESI), e-Books, e-Journals, e-Theses, I&A Databases, User Satisfaction

Abstract

The main objectives of the study were to assess the level of user satisfaction with regard to the following types of Electronic Information Resources (EIRs) relevant to agriculture and allied disciplines, viz. Indexing and Abstracting (I&A) Databases; e-Journals; e-Books; and e-Theses. Seven universities were surveyed using a questionnaire for collecting data. The investigator used telephonic and e-mail communication and had a face-to-face interaction with respondents to substantiate the responses and remove ambiguities. The level of users’ satisfaction has been measured using a five point Likert scale. A great majority of respondents are satisfied about the availability of e-abstract databases (87.92%) and e-journals (89.67%). Despite the fact that only three of the surveyed libraries are found to subscribe to a single e-book collection of 600 titles, surprisingly a good percentage of the library users (69.08%) are satisfied with the availability of e-books. Same is the case with e-theses, whereof the majority of respondents (60.33%) are satisfied, despite the fact that only one e-theses database that too only of Indian coverage i.e., KrishiPrabha is made available to users.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Anas, M., Iqbal, J. & Ahmad, P. (2014). Impact of automation on library services in selected management institutes at Aligarh: A survey. The Electronic Library. 32(3), 296–307. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-112011-0157 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-11-2011-0157

Bhat, I. & Mudhol, M. V. (2014). Use of e-resources by faculty members and students of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS). DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology. 34(1), 28–34. Available from: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.34.5943 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.34.5943

Bhat, N. A. (2016). Electronic resources in agricultural libraries of northern India: Usage and impact. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). The University of Kashmir, J&K, India.

Bhatt, S. & Rana, M. S., (2011). E-information usage among engineering academics in India with special reference to Rajasthan State. Library Hi Tech. 29(3). 496–511. DOI: 10.1108/0737 8831111174440. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/07378831111174440

Dhanavandan, S., Esmail, S. M. & Nagarajan, M. (2012). Use of electronic resources at Krishnasamy College of Engineering and Technology Library, Cuddalore. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal), Paper 698.

Kannappanavar, B. U. & Swamy, H. M. (2010). User perception of library and information services in agricultural science universities in South India: An evaluative study. Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal). Paper 353.

Kumar, B. T. S. & Kumar, G. T. (2010). Perception and usage of e-resources and the internet by Indian academics. The Electronic Library, 28(1): 137–156. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471011023432 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471011023432

Madhusudhan, M. (2010). Use of electronic resources by research scholars of Kurukshetra University. The Electronic Library. 28(4): 492–506. DOI: 10.1108/0264047 1011033684. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/02640471011033684

Mohamed Haneefa, K. (2005). Electronic information resources in the special libraries of Kerala. Kelpro Bulletin. 9(1-2): 53–8.

Mulla, K. R. (2011). Use of electronic resources by faculty members in HKBK College of Engineering: A survey. Library Philosophy and Practice, (e-journal). Paper 593.

Thanuskodi, S. (2011). Usage of electronic resources at Dr T. P. M. Library, Madurai Kamaraj University: A case study. DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology. 31(6): 437–445. Available from: https://doi.org/10.14429/ djlit.31.6.1318 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.31.6.1318

Thanuskodi, S. (2012). Collection development practices in selected engineering college libraries in Tamil Nadu, India: A survey. International Journal of Opinion in Physical Sciences. 1(1): 11–16.

Tyagi, S. (2012). Use of electronic information resources at the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission. DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology. 32(2): 171–178. Available from: https://doi.org/10.14429/ djlit.32.2.1604 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.32.2.1604

Downloads

Published

2017-03-30

How to Cite

Bhat, N. A., & Ganai, S. A. (2017). Impact of Availability of E-Resources on User Satisfaction in Agricultural Libraries of Northern India. Journal of Information and Knowledge, 54(1), 42–45. https://doi.org/10.17821/srels/2017/v54i1/109488

Issue

Volume 54, Issue 1, February 2017

Section

Articles

License

All the articles published in Journal of Information and Knowledge are held by the Publisher. Sarada Ranganathan Endowment for Library Science (SRELS), as a publisher requires its authors to transfer the copyright prior to publication. This will permit SRELS to reproduce, publish, distribute and archive the article in print and electronic form and also to defend against any improper use of the article.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC
Received 2017-01-23
Accepted 2017-03-16
Published 2017-03-30