Showing papers in "Pearl: A Journal of Library and Information Science in 2015"

Information Seeking Behaviour of Research Scholars at Central University Libraries in Hyderabad: A Study

Abstract: This study was undertaken to determine the information seeking behaviour (ISB) and library use by researchers at the Central University Libraries. The overall purpose of the study was to determine the information requirements of researchers and also determine their awareness of available library services. The study collected data on the information requirements of researcher scholars. Data were gathered from 100 out of 150 researchers through open and closed questionnaires. Findings indicate that guidance in the use of library resources and services is necessary to help researchers meet some of their information requirements.

Digital Literacy of Postgraduate Students in Management Institutions of Puducherry: A Survey

Abstract: It is true that the academic institutions dealing with management-related programmes produce good employees who will be a backbone of economic growth in any country. The success of any organisation is based on the employee's skills and knowledge. Utilisation of right information from right source is also a skill that makes any professional competent to work in any environment. The digital resources including information products are influencing all walks of life. This paper was an attempt to assess the digital literacy skills of post-graduate students from management institutions in Puducherry. A total of 119 respondents from four institutions were studied based on questionnaires. The result revealed that 72.6% of the respondents were aware of digital sources and 24% of students used digital sources always for academic and entertainment purposes. Online sharing tools like Email, Facebook, Google+, Youtube and Skype were very familiar among the respondents. Elsevier, Blackwell, Springer, INFORMS, CMIE were found to be familiar among the PG students of the institutions under study.

User Satisfaction on Print and Electronic Information Resources in Kakatiya University Library, Warangal-A Case Study

Abstract: User satisfaction is the main aim of an academic library. This paper reports a part of a quantitative study that aims to evaluate the performance of libraries by measuring the users’ satisfaction with (a) library services, (b) library electronic resources and (c) satisfaction with print and electronic services provided by the Kakatiya University (KU) library. A self-developed questionnaire was used to gauge the respondents’ opinions about their satisfaction level on the statements regarding the three dimensions. The questionnaire was distributed to a sample of 220 students and research scholars from three faculties of the university, out of those 178 questionnaires were taken for study.

Utilisation of Electronic Resources By Faculty Members in NAAC Accredited Engineering College Libraries in Rayalaseema Region: A Study

Abstract: Engineering college libraries in India are facing challenges due to budget cut, in-sufficient staff, depreciation of rupee, abrupt hike in conversion of foreign currencies, and growth in the cost of publication. Due to many aspects mentioned above, engineering libraries are facing difficulties to acquire necessary books and periodicals as per the AICTE norms. Electronic resources are making a revolution in engineering college libraries. Many librarians consider that these resources are the best option to support major role in satisfying the user needs of research and development in the field of engineering. This paper discusses about the engineering college libraries, importance and impact of E-Resources on engineering colleges. The paper also explains about E-Resources and the role of E-Journals provided by the INDEST – AICTE consortium.

Student Trends in Using Electronic Information Sources in Public Universities in Jordan: AL Hussein Bin Talal University model

Abstract: The electronic resources in AHU library are formulating more than 60% of the library collections. This study aims at identify electronic resources and services in AHU library presented to students and specifying problems and obstacles imitating the use of these resources. The study used the descriptive research method through describing the reality of electronic services and electronic information sources presented by AHU library. The study concluded that there are no statistical differences attributed to sex variable and also there are significant statistical differences attributed to college variable.

Application of Bradford's Law of Scattering to the Literature of Stellar Physics

Abstract: The present paper tests one of the important bibliometric laws of Bradford's Law of scattering for the literature related to ‘stellar physics’ for the period 1988–2013 as available in the Web of Science Core Collection database. A total of 2738 articles related to Stellar Physics published in journals in English language during the study period are retrieved. Data are analysed with respect to year-wise growth of articles, relative growth rate and doubling time of literature. The 2738 articles are scattered in 188 journals. A list of ranked journals was prepared and it was found that the Astrophysical Journal with 895 articles is the most productive journal publishing Stellar Physics literature followed by Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society with 507 articles and Astronomy and Astrophysics with 380 articles. In this study, theoretical aspects of Bradford's Law of Scattering are tested and found that the data do not fit to the present sample. The Leimkuhler model is tested and found to fit the data for the Bradford Multiplier (k) at 11.65. The Bradford law is also tested through graphical formulation by drawing the Bradford bibliograph and is found to confirm all the three characteristics.

Websites of Astronomy and Astrophysics Libraries in India and USA: A Webometric Study

Abstract: Library website aims to fulfill its fundamental objectives in disseminating and providing right information at right time to the right user from right resources. Library services are always being evaluated to analyse the performances of the library. Similarly, the library website needs an evaluation process which has to be of a continuous nature. This study explores the Webometric analysis of library websites belonging to Astronomy and Astrophysics (AA) in India and USA. An attempt has been made to measure the libraries’ web structures, content, ranking and find web relationship.

The Perception and Satisfaction of the Academic Staff Members towards Quality of the Library Services: Perspectives from Academic Libraries in Sri Lanka

Abstract: The main objective of this research was identified to measure the service quality and satisfaction based on six main dimensions such as the physical facilities, library collection, library services, library services marketing, responsiveness of the library staff and the library web services. In order to achieve above-mentioned objective and other sub objectives, a questionnaire was designed and used to collect data for this study. The key data for this study were obtained from academic library users. For collecting data from the identified population, random sampling was applied during the survey. Mean, median and mode were employed to test and analysis the data. Special characteristics were identified during process of survey for service quality. It has decreased the standard of significant services necessarily available in libraries. In this analysis, all those necessary services that are vital for obtaining day-to-day fresh information and have been deteriorated in university libraries were found out. It was also indentified that the mean, median and mode scores of services and facilities.

Socio-Demographic Characteristics and Stress among Librarians in Cross River State, Nigeria

Abstract: The main thrust of this study was to examine the influence of socio-demographic characteristics and stress among librarians in Cross River State, Nigeria. The study examined the influence of age, sex, income level, marital status, educational qualification and family size on stress. To achieve this, six null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. A sample of 120 respondents was used for the study. The selection was done through purposive and accidental non probability sampling techniques. Questionnaire was the main instruments used for data collection. The instrument was faced validated by the supervisor and experts in measurement and evaluation who vetted the items developed. The reliability estimate of the instruments was established through the use of Cronbach Alpha reliability method. One-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and independent ttest analysis were the statistical techniques employed to test the hypotheses under study. Each hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the analysis revealed that, age, income level and educational qualification significantly influence stress among librarians, while sex, marital status and family size had no significant influence on stress among librarians. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that librarians' salary should be improved and the working environment should be conducive. Librarians' job is not sex limited, as such, all who are educationally qualified and are of age should be employed for the services irrespective of marital status.

Availability, Use and Barriers to ICT in the College Libraries in Nashik-Malegaon Town: A Survey

Abstract: The study is based on the survey method. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the 14 college libraries of Nasik and Malegaon town in the state of Maharashtra to assess the current status of college libraries of under study area and their ability to adapt information and communication technology (ICT) in various library operations and services. The study revealed that various ICT facilities were readily available in the selected libraries such as computers, printers, photocopier, Internet connectivity, etc. However, inadequate funds, shortage of human resources, lack of training of staffs, low bandwidth, and irregular power supply are some of the challenges faced by the libraries. Recommendations were made based on the findings of the study.

Online Questionnaire for Survey Research: Comparative Study of the Features Available with Free Account of Some Selected Tools

Abstract: The use of Internet is rapidly increasing as a fast and effective communication channel all over the world. The online survey tools available on Internet are very quick, time and cost saving way for creating surveys, collecting responses and to reach large numbers of geographically distributed people from all over the world compared to paper, in-person, or telephone surveys. This paper presents the analysis of features available with free account of five online survey tools. This paper also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of online survey tools.

Acquisition and Utilisation of ICT Skills of Library Professionals in some Nigerian Academic Libraries

Abstract: Living in a changing information age whereby information users not only have the knowledge but the capacity of generating information on their own, the library professionals must therefore possess technological related skills in order to compliment and support the transformational skills to make them become global professionals. Given this reality, it becomes necessary to investigate the acquisition and utilisation of ICT skills by library professionals in some Nigerian academic libraries. The study was a descriptive survey research type. Questionnaire was used to collect data from a sample of 160 library professionals. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics (percentages). The study revealed that acquisition of ICT skills is imperative to its utilisation. The study also revealed that epileptic power supply was the greatest challenge of ICT in Nigerian academic libraries. Recommendations made among others include that the management of University libraries should attend to the problem of epileptic power supply by ensuring either a standby generator or inverters or solar power to ensure the continuity of work in the case of power outage and they should endeavour to provide adequate fund for the acquisition of appropriate ICTs.

Information Use Pattern of Faculty Members of Agricultural Sciences: A Study

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the information use pattern of agricultural faculty members working in Andhra Pradesh. The research population comprises of 235 faculty members working in Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University, A.P. To collect data, questionnaires were employed. Findings revealed that nearly 50% of the faculty members are visiting library once in a week, the motivator ‘preparation for teaching’ has received the highest rank by the faculty members for collecting information, 34.0% of the faculty members are spending 1–5 h per week for collecting the required information, most of the faculty members (82.1%) are maintaining personal libraries for their information requirements, three-fourths of the faculty members (77.5%) responded that they are aware of e-journal portals.

An Analysis of Research Contributions Reflected in Pearl: A Journal of Library and Information Science

Abstract: The present study investigates research trends in different disciplines of library of information of science field. The analysis indicates that 300 articles are published during 2007–2014. This study analyses the volume-wise distribution of research contributions, authorship pattern, author affiliation and country-wise distribution of research contributions.

Adoption of Web 2.0 by the Institutions of Higher Education in India

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to discuss the adoption of web 2.0 by the Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) in India. This is the first kind of study which revealed use and awareness of Web 2.0 tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Blogs, LinkedIn, YouTube, RSS feed, Flickr, and Wiki within the IHE in India. This paper attempts to measure the dissemination of web 2.0 tools in various IHE that is, IITs, IIMs and AIIMS. The websites of institutions were surveyed individually and the web 2.0 tool available on their websites was studied. A total 36 institutions of higher education of the country are being analysed and they use 62 web 2.0 tools. The study found that 44.44% of the total population under study consists of IITs, 36.11% of IIMs, and 19.44% of AIIMS. The study only considers those Web 2.0 tools which are linked on websites of institutions of higher education in India.