Transcript utilization of digital ressources by faculty of jawaharlal

UTILIZATION OF DIGITAL RESSOURCES BY
FACULTY OF JAWAHARLAL NEHRU
TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY,
KAKINADA (JNTULK), ANDHRA PRADESH
B.R. Doraswamy Naick
Assistant Professor & Head I/c,
University Library
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada
Kakinada- 533 003
Andhra Pradesh
INTRODUCTION
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Advances in computer applications during the past few decades
have brought radical changes in the way information is gathered,
stored, organized, accessed, retrieved and consumed. Today’s
users have their information needs met via a number of options.
They need not come physically to the library to use print formats but
can stay at home or the office and access online library resources
and services via networks or authentication methods at any time. In
order to exploit the current information explosion, utilization of
digital resources in the libraries for rapid development is necessary
and important. Digital resources can be used for efficient retrieval
and meeting information needs. This is very important for
academic libraries since most of them call for more and more
research work. This important fact is convincing many libraries to
move towards digital resources, which are found to be less
expensive and more useful for easy access.
Jawaharlal Nehru Technological
University (JNTU)
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The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) was originally ‘The College
of Engineering, Vizagpatnam’ at the time of its establishment in 1964. It is now a
sprawing campus of 110 acres, green with mango trees in the fast developing port
city of Kakinada, East coast of peninsula India. Kakinada has a rich political literacy
and cultural heritage passed on through generations This college became a
constituent of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University w.e.f 02-10-1972
through an act of legislature along with other sister institutions under the control of
the then Director of Technical Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier, it
was affiliated to Andhra University. In the year 2003 the college has become
autonomous. The main library is situated in a separated block housing more than
69,405 volumes and contributed 12 numbers of journals maintained by two qualified
librarians and necessary supporting staff for 12hrs a day for 6 days and 9 a.m to
1.00pm on Sunday. It is undergoing changes for automation. In addition, a bookbank with more than 3000 volumes is at the disposal of students for borrowing by
BC, SC and ST categories. These books are procured from the funds provided by
the Social Welfare Department. Over and above, each of the Engineering
Departments have Departmental Libraries to reduce the burden on the Central
Library and for the convenience of staff.
SCOPE AND LIMITATION
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This study is based on the user capability
of the faculty members of Jawaharlal Nehru
Technological University Kakinada
(JNTUK), Andhra Pradesh. The scope of
the study is limited to the use of digital
resources and its aim is fulfill the teaching
and research purposes of the faculties. It
covers the availability of digital resources
and services in JNTUK library.
OBJECTIVES
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To assess the amount of knowledge and frequency in the
use of the different types of digital resources made by the
faculty;
To find out the purpose and utilization of the digital
resources and services by the faculty;
To know the problems encountered by the faculties while
accessing and using digital resources;
To know the adequacy of information in digital resources;
To suggest suitable suggestions to improve the digital
resources and services for the benefit of users.
METHODOLOGY

The study was conducted by using a questionnaire method. The
universe of the study consists of the faculty members of the various
departments of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University
Kakinada (JNTUK). Altogether there were 172 faculty members in
various departments, out of this a sample of 100 faculty members
were taken at random as they study unit. The investigator visited all
the departments of JNTUK and personally handed over the
questionnaire to 100 faculty members. The completed
questionnaires were personally collected after two or three days.
About 95 filled questionnaires were returned; out of this five
questionnaires were rejected from the sample, as they were not
properly filled. The analysis of the data obtained through the
questionnaires provided an in-depth interpretation for fulfilling the
objectives.
Findings: Faculties familiarity
with digital resources
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Most of the faculty members (65.55%) are
familiar with the usage of digital
resources.
Frequency of using the digital
library
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About 35.56 percent of the faculty
members are availing the digital library
two or three times in a week, and 10
percent have rarely availed them.
Frequency of using the digital
resources
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Most of the faculty members 25.56%,
23.33%, 18.89%, 17.78%, 16.67%,
14.4.4%, and 10% are using search
engines, e-mail Internet, CD-ROM’s,
online journals, online databases, and
OPAC ‘daily’ respectively.
Relative frequency use of digital
resources
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Most of the faculty members are mainly
using e-mail services compared to other
digital resources. Online databases and
OPAC are less using compared to other
digital resources.
Purpose of using digital resources
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Majority of the faculty members (65.56%)
are using digital resources for research
purpose.
Methods of learning to use digital
resources
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Majority of the faculty members (67.78%)
are learning the required skills for the
usage of digital resources through ‘selfstudy’.
Adequacy of information in digital
resources
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Most of the faculty members (60%) felt
that the information available in the digital
resources is always ‘adequate’.
Problems faced while using digital
resources
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Majority of the faculty members (65.56%)
and (61.11%) have encountered the
following problems in getting access to
digital resources, viz., delays in the
downloading of pages, slow access of
bandwidth etc.