Information needs of faculty members and research scholars of Chaudhary Charan Singh university: a case study.

Kumar, Devendra

Introduction

The benefits of information revolution are centered on the convenience of the user. Faculty members and research scholars are responsible for teaching and are expected to do research and publish the results throughout their careers. This study looks at the information needs and use patterns of faculty members and research scholars of Chaudhary Charan Singh University. A questionnaire was used to collect data and statistical tests were applied to the results.

Significance of the Study

This study raises awareness of the collections and services of the library, and shows the effectiveness of resources and services of college libraries and the university library of Chaudhary Charan Singh University. It focuses on the skills needed to use electronic resources and emphasises the need for user education and training in using electronic sources in the library based on user responses.

Objectives of the Study

* To study the information needs and use patterns of faculty members and research scholars of Chaudhary Charan Singh University.

* To identify the constraints faced in using and searching for information in libraries.

* To suggest remedies that may help the faculty members and research scholars to use the library in an efficient way.

Scope

The present study is confined to the teachers and research scholars working in departments colleges and departments affiliated to Chaudhary Charan Singh University. The university includes six districts: Bulandshahar, Meerut, Muzaffar Nagar, Saharanpur, Baghpat and Ghaziabad College.

Hypothesis

* The faculty members and research scholars of Chaudhary Charan Singh University visit libraries for study and research purposes.

* Users face difficulties accessing information through electronic sources.

* Users need more skill in using the electronic information sources.

Method

A random sampling technique was used to select from 63 colleges and 27 departments based on five faculties affiliated to the university. A total of 425 questionnaires were distributed and 200 were completed. In addition to a questionnaire, interview and observation were also used.

Data Analysis

The data collected through the questionnaire was analysed using FoxPro database management system software. Statistical analysis of the data for the present study was done by applying

1. Simple percentage

2. Chi-square test

Chi-square was used to compare an observed group of frequencies with an expected group of frequencies. This allowed expected frequencies to be deduced from the null hypothesis.

[X.sup.2] = [(Fo - Fe).sup.2]

Fe

This is the required [X.sup.2] Value

Fo = Observed frequency

Fe = Expected frequency

df = (r-1) x (c-1) or df = (r-1)

df = Degree of freedom

r = number of rows

c = number of columns

Analysis of Data

Purpose of Visit to the Library

Frequency does not indicate the nature and purpose of library visits. With this in mind, visitors were asked to indicate the purpose of their visit to the library.

Nearly all users visit the library to borrow books, while four-fifths go to locate information in books and journals and for study and research, while a little more than half go to spend leisure time.

Information Sources for Research and Teaching Needs

Table 2 reveals that users prefer "other" sources, followed by discussion with colleagues, attending conferences, CD-ROM databases, and patents for research.

Figures in square brackets indicate the expected frequency (Fe) and those in parentheses indicate the cell Chi-square

Chi-Square 1544.997

Chi-Square at 119 df and 0.05 level of significance is 155.595

Null Hypothesis Rejected

Current Literature in the Field of Interest

It is essential that for researchers to be up-to-date in their fields of interest. In addition, they must know about developments in other broader and peripheral areas.

Table 3 reveals that respondents find current literature in e-journals, followed by the Internet.

Figures in square brackets indicate the expected frequency (Fe) and those in parentheses indicate the cell Chi-square.

Chi-square =592.983

Chi-square at 56df & 0.05 level of significance is 74.451

Null Hypothesis Rejected

Difficulties Accessing Information

Faculty and researchers needs the assistance of others to access information. Difficulties faced include lack of time, inaccessibility, incomplete collections, lack of knowledge of sources and library services, as well as "unfriendly library staff."

Table 4 shows faculty members and research scholars face difficulties in accessing information because of multiple factors. Three-quarters of respondents have difficulty because of lack of knowledge about using library services, while two-thirds lack knowledge of information sources.

Conclusion and Recommendations

Information Needs

Most users visit the library to borrow books, study and do research, locate information from books and journals, and do light reading. The purpose of visits depends on time available and the need to keep up-to-date.

Use Patterns

Library use patterns are an effective method of understanding information requirements. Most users gave priority to book trade catalogues, bibliographies, indexes and abstracts, addition lists, and book reviews for being aware of the current literature. The lower ranking given to the Internet, e-journals, and CD-ROMs is due to the lack of availability and skill to use them, although they do use seminar papers, projects from colleagues, contact with original authorities, Information/Documentation centres, and the Internet. Respondents like to visit other libraries as well, and suggested networking among local, university, state, public, subject, national, and government libraries.

Constraints

Every user faces constraints. Faculty members and research scholars face difficulties in access because of multiple factors. Most face a considerable problem of time to read or look for information in the library. They also face problem of lack of library automation. Automation is a key factor in improving library services for researchers. Faculty and researchers are not familiar with appropriate sources, and they need skill maintenance activities to update their knowledge of reference tools and other sources.

Recommendations

Librarians who were interviewed want to develop their collections, improve their services, and stand out in this competitive age. Due to the rapid growth of information, varied application of information technology, and financial constraints, it has become a big challenge for library professionals, especially in academic libraries. Improving quality does not just mean the adoption new and expensive technologies. It is also possible to work continuously on improving service as budgets permit. Users attach maximum importance to the relevancy of the needed material for research and teaching, more than to any other aspect of the library.

References

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Foster, M.B. (1989). A study of use of information sources by social science researchers. Journal of Academic Librarianship 15 (1): 7-11.

Prasad, H.N. (1992). Information needs and users. Varanasi: Indian Bibliographic Centre.

Hewins, E.T. (1990). Information needs and use studies. Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 25: 145-172.

Robinson, J., et al. (1995). Information usage by biological researchers. Journal of Information Science 22 (1): 47-53.

Sehgal, R.L. (1998). Statistical techniques for librarians. New Delhi: Ess Ess.

Shineborne, J. (1980). User needs and new technology and traditional approaches to library services. Journal of Information Science 2:135-36.

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Devendra Kumar

Periodical Section, University Library

Faculty Member, Department of Library and Information Science

Chaudhary Charan Singh University

Meerut, India

Distribution of Responses Received

Name Users Response Percent

University Departments 50 30 60.00
Bulandshahar 75 38 50.66
Meerut 75 34 45.33
Muzaffar Nagar 75 31 41.33
Shaharanpur 50 25 50.00
Baghpat 25 12 48.00
Ghaziabad 75 30 40.00
Total 425 200 47.05

Table 1

Purpose of Visit Numbers Percentage

Study/Research/Training 160 80.00
Locate information books and Journals 163 81.50
Borrow books 192 96.00
Light reading 112 56.00
Leisure time 31 15.50
Other 23 11.50

Table 2

Information Sources Preference

Textbook/Handbook 133 [24] 14 [13] 10 [10]
 (510.51) (0.18) (0.00)
Encyclopedia 13 [24] 59 [13] 19 [10]
 (4.39) (153.80) (7.56)
Dictionaries 15 [24] 17 [13] 22 [10]
 (3.66) (7.56) (14.30)
Periodicals 14 [24] 45 [13] 25 [10]
 (4.19) (71.58) (29.30)
Technical reports 13 [24] 9 [13] 9 [10]
 (4.83) (7.83) (0.86)
Proceedings 12 [24] 16 [13] 34 [10]
 (5.14) (3.06) (57.75)
Patents 15 [24] 3 [13] 7 [10]
 (2.90) (8.21) (1.56)
Standards 14 [24] 12 [13] 6 [10]
 (4.19) (1.05) (1.47)
Thesis/Dissertations 21 [24] 8 [13] 4 [10]
 (0.14) (2.74) (3.07)
Reference Books 24 [24] 17 [13] 9 [10]
 (0.07) (5.32) (5.56)
Indexes/Abstracts 19.6 [24] 9 [13] 7 [10]
 (3.74) (1.52) (4.87)
Bibliographies 17 [24] 10 [13] 1 [10]
 (10.22) (5.55) (7.72)
Colleagues 17 [24] 2 [13] 6 [10]
 (10.22) (9.55) (1.35)
Conferences 21 [24] 6 [13] 6 [10]
 (1.01) (4.06) (1.73)
CD-ROM 18 [24] 3 [13] 6 [10]
 (6.79) (7.94) (1.23)
Internet 26 [24] 7 [13] 5 [10]
 (2.04) (3.99) (2.17)
e-journals 8 [24] 4 [13] 2 [10]
 (7.24) (7.53) (5.95)
Other 15 [24] 1 [13] 2 [10]
 (17.00) (10.01) (6.25)
Total 425 242 172

Information Sources Preference

Textbook/Handbook 4 [8] 2 [5] 2 [5]
 (2.49) (10.76) (2.54)
Encyclopedia 12 [8] 7 [5] 6 [5]
 (1.58) (3.84) (0.47)
Dictionaries 43 [8] 6 [5] 6 [5]
 (142.15) (1.18) (1.08)
Periodicals 15 [8] 5 [5] 6 [5]
 (4.20) (0.00) (0.74)
Technical reports 9 [8] 7 [5] 6 [5]
 (0.00) (4.56) (0.74)
Proceedings 18 [8] 12 [5] 5 [5]
 (9.53) (8.22) (0.02)
Patents 2 [8] 0 [5] 2 [5]
 (5.62) (5.46) (1.65)
Standards 4 [8] 6 [5] 8 [5]
 (18.34) (0.54) (5.17)
Thesis/Dissertations 9 [8] 12 [5] 4 [5]
 (0.03) (0.65) (2.05)
Reference Books 13 [8] 12 [5] 21 [5]
 (12.22) (12.48) (46.56)
Indexes/Abstracts 6 [8] 2 [5] 9 [5]
 (4.84) (14.40) (22.52)
Bibliographies 2 [8] 4 [5] 5 [5]
 (32.02) (0.70) (0.41)
Colleagues 7 [8] 6 [5] 3 [5]
 (1.51) (1.59) (5.35)
Conferences 4 [8] 5 [5] 6 [5]
 (17.17) (0.24) (1.08)
CD-ROM 1 [8] 3 [5] 0 [5]
 (6.75) (8.50) (5.35)
Internet 5 [8] 3 [5] 4 [5]
 (2.96) (9.64) (3.18)
e-journals 3 [8] 1 [5] 2 [5]
 (4.41) (4.27) (3.10)
Other 1 [8] 0 [5] 1 [5]
 (6.78) (5.78) (4.61)
Total 158 95 96

Information Sources Preference Total

Textbook/Handbook 1 [4] 33 [29] 200
 (1.87) (71.15)
Encyclopedia 2 [4.8] 82 [129] 200
 (3.75) (18.50)
Dictionaries 4 [4] 84 [129] 200
 (0.00) (18.50)
Periodicals 2 [4] 85 [129] 200
 (4.57) (13.20)
Technical reports 4 [4] 143 200
 (0.02) [129]
 (8.21)
Proceedings 6 [4] 96 [129] 200
 (3.58) (8.56)
Patents 3 [4] 169 200
 (1.78) [129]
 (12.10)
Standards 4 [4] 151 200
 (2.88) [129]
 (3.60)
Thesis/Dissertations 6 [4] 134 200
 (5.27) [129]
Reference Books 10 [4] 98 [129] 200
 (0.00) (7.70)
Indexes/Abstracts 14 [4] 132 200
 (24.63) [129]
 (0.41)
Bibliographies 7 [4] 153 200
 (13.74) [129]
 (27.04)
Colleagues 8 [4] 166 200
 (20.37) [129]
 (18.82)
Conferences 2 [4] 166 200
 (1.76) [129]
 (18.82)
CD-ROM 4 [4] 167 200
 (0.53) [129]
 (58.40)
Internet 3 [4] 124 200
 (4.57) [129]
 (4.95)
e-journals 3 [4] 168 200
 (4.57) [129]
 (11.65)
Other 1 [4] 179 200
 (3.26) [129]
 (19.25)
Total 84 2330 3600

Table 3

Information Preference
Sources

Book Trade 7
Catalogue [921.8] 2 [18.1] 12 [17.5]
 (7.68) (14.84) (10.30)
Bibliographies 24
 [21.8] 50 [18.1] 10 [17.5]
 (1.37) (347.27) (0.55)
 20
Addition list [121.8] 15 [10.1] 45 [17.5]
 issued by (0.470) (1.86) (267.22)
 library
Book reviews in 24
 News papers [21.8] 22 [18.1] 32 [17.5]
 and periodicals (2.61) (4.47) (79.90)
 21
Internet [21.81] 15 [18.1] 14 [17.5]
 (0.02) (2.14) (3.71)
e-journals
 6 [21.8] 7 [18.1] 9 [17.5]
 (17.40) (6.82) (20.20)
CD-ROM 14
 [21.80] 31 [18.1] 26 [17.5]
 (17.28) (9.10) (9.50)
Other 10
 [121.8] 4 [18.1] 13 [17.5]
 (1.53) (17.50) (1.15)
Total 190 146 151

Information Preference
Sources

Book Trade
Catalogue 6 [5.60] 6 [7.5] 4 [2.95]
 (0.12) (1.29) (4.47)
Bibliographies 10
 6 [5] 4 [7.5] [2.95]
 (0.74) (7.87) (3.38)
 22
Addition list 9 [5.60] 5 [7.5] [2.95]
 issued by (8.50) (14.95) (1.02)
 library
Book reviews in 13
 News papers [5.60] 29 [7.5] 5 [2.95]
 and periodicals (44.74) (391.50) (14.88)
 22 10
Internet [5.60] 7 [7.5] [2.95]
 (4.24) (0.28) (3.38)
 3 [5.60] 30 [7.5] 6 [2.95]
 (7.53) (4.19) (18.76)
CD-ROM 20
 4 [5.60] 11 [7.5] [2.95]
 (2.38) (4.28) (0.29)
 1 [5.60] 7 [7.5] 6 [2.5]
 (19.88) (5.63) (7.78)
Total 65 99 81

Information Preference
Sources Total

Book Trade 78 200
Catalogue 6 [2.9] 4 [5.9] [124.6]
 (4.47) (0.60) (17.84)
Bibliographies 95 200
 4 [2.9] 4 [5.9] [124.6]
 (7.03) (0.60) (43.64)
 14 200
Addition list 4 [2.9] 0 [5.9] [124.6]
 issued by (7.03) (5.88) (20.14)
 library
Book reviews in 200
 News papers 8 [2.9] 0 [5.9] 4 [124.6]
 and periodicals (2.49) (5.88) (124.12)
 135 200
Internet 7 [2.9] 0 [5.9] [124.6]
 (3.41) (5.88) (5.72)
e-journals 160 200
 3 [2.9] 3 [5.9] [124.6]
 (1.23) (1.41) (910.33)
CD-ROM 68 200
 10 [2.9] 8 [5.9] [124.6]
 (25.33) (11.60) (11.60)
Other 4 [2.9] 28 [5.9] 124 [6] 200
 (7.03) (83.32) (1.08)
 45 68 706
Total

Table 4

Details Numbers Percentage

Lack of time 24 12.00
Lack of access to
 all the information 56 28.00
Lack of reading material 94 47.00
Lack of knowledge of
 information sources 132 66.00
Lack of knowledge in use
 of library service 153 76.50
Unfriendly library staff 44 22.00