Library Philosophy and Practice 2011
Use of Electronic Resources by Faculty Members in HKBK College of Engineering: A Survey
Dr. K.R. Mulla
With advancement of technology the libraries are moving towards digital resources, which are found to be less expensive and more helpful for easy access. These are helpful especially to distant learners who have limited time to access the libraries from out side by dial up access by the commonly available electronic resources mainly CD-ROMs, OPACs, and Internet etc., which are replacing the print media.
Karnataka State has more than 197 Engineering colleges including government, aided, unaided and university constituent colleges. The HKBKCE is one of the best of its kind established during the academic year 1997-98. The initiation and foresight of the members of Karnataka State Muslim Federation, Bangalore, is responsible to build this institution both outside and inside. The institute has 6 under-graduate programmes in engineering, technology and management. Research activities are also undertaken in all the departments in this institution. This institute is having faculty strength of more than 140. The HKBKCE library has 50,217 volumes and receives 110 Indian and foreign journals. DELNET database searching and Internet facilities are also available in this library.
Scope of the Study
The study is confined to faculty members of HKBK College of Engineering, Bangalore, regarding the usability of electronic resources.
Objectives of the Study
A questionnaire consisting of 13 questions was designed to elicit the opinion of faculty members. Data was collected which was further supplemented by informal discussions with faculty. The analysis and interpretation of the data is presented in subsequent sections.
Qualification-wise distribution of respondents
A majority (50.00%) of the respondents are postgraduates in Technology and 18.33% of the respondents are Bachelor's degree holders in Engineering, At the same time 15,00% of the faculty members are postgraduates with PhD degree followed by 8,33% of the faculty members are Master's degree holders.
Gender-wise distribution of faculty members
Nearly three-quarters of of the faculty are male.
Teaching experience of faculty members
Table 1 shows that, only 10% of the faculty members have more than 25 years of experience in teaching and at the same time 26.67% of the faculty members have 6-10 years of teaching experience, followed by 21.67% of faculty members having less than 5 years of teaching experience, whereas, 13.33% of respondents have 11-15 and 21-25 years of teaching experience respectively.
Table 1: Teaching experience of faculty members
5.4 Designation-wise distribution of faculty members
A total of 44 (73.33%)of the respondents are Lecturers, followed by 10 (16.67%)of the respondents are Assistant professors and only 10% are professors were working in this college.
Frequency of using electronic resources by faculty members
Out of 60 respondents, 16 (26.67%) of the faculty members use electronic resources 'once in a week', followed by 15 (25.00%) who are using 'daily', whereas, 18.33% of faculty members use 'occasionally' and only 5.00% of members are 'never' use the electronic resources in the library.
Purpose of using electronic resources
Table 2 reveals that a majority (100.00%) of faculty members are using electronic resources for finding relevant information in their specialization and teaching purpose, followed by 58.337% of faculty members are using for their research purpose. Whereas, 56.67% use to gain current and general information, similarly 48.33% of members are use for update the subject and general knowledge and less percentage (21.67%) of faculty members are using for communication purpose.
Table 2: Purpose of using electronic resources
Note: Total percentage will not be hundred because responses are more than one
Use of electronic resources by faculty members
A majority (55, 91.67%) of the faculties are using Internet, followed by 30 (50.00%) using CD-ROMs and 18 (30.00%) using E-Journals. However, 12 (20.00%) faculties are using E-Books and only 4 (6.67%) respondents are using OPAC system.
Learning to use electronic resources
Table 3 shows the most popular methods of acquiring the necessary skill to use electronic resources. 20 (33.33%) respondents take guidance from library staff. 18 (30.00%) respondents learn through trial and error method, 9 (15.00%) respondents learn with the help of computer department staff' and 7 (11.67%) respondents learn from external courses and 5 (8.33%) respondents learn through course offered by their institution.
Table 3: Learning to use electronic resources
Adequacy of information in electronic resources
Chart 6 shows that, majority (31, 51.67%) of the respondents indicate that, the information available in the electronic resources is always adequate followed by 29(45.00%) indicate some time adequate and 2(3.33%) of respondents felt that the information available in the electronic resources is never adequate.
Hindrances in accessing electronic resources
Table 4 shows the opinion regarding hindrances in accessing the electronic resources. Majority 22 (36.67%) of respondents stated that, too much information is retrieved as the main barrier to use electronic resources, followed by 20 (33.33%) opined that, time consuming', 18 (30.00%) felt that lack of IT knowledge to effectively utilize the services, and 12 (20.00%) respondents stated that, limited access to computers as the main barrier to use electronic resources.
Table 4: Hindrances in accessing electronic resources
Impact of electronic resources on academic career
Table 5 shows that, 42 (70.00%) respondents stated access to a current up-to-date informationis the benefit of using electronic resources. Similarly, 34 (56.67 %) expressed faster access to information is the advantage, and 32 (53.33%) indicated easier access to information as the benefit to develop the academic career of the faculty members. However 29 (48.33%) respondents access a wider range of information.
Table 5: Impact of electronic resources on academic career
Problems faced while using electronic resources
Table 6 Shows that, 21 (35.00%) of respondents have faced problem of lack of timing, followed by 19 (31.67%) of faculty members indicating lack of training as the main problem while using electronic resources. 10 (16.67 %) and 16 (26.67%) of the faculties are troubled with lack of hardware and software problems respectively.
Table 6: Problems faced while using electronic resources
Success rate of finding required information in electronic resources
The respondents were requested to indicate the success rate in finding required information using electronic resources. Chart 7 shows that, 24 (40.00%) of respondents were succeeded in the range of 75-99, followed by 20 (33.33%) respondents who succeeded in the range of 50-74 and least percentage (10%) of the faculties were succeeded in the range of less than 25%.
Features of electronic resources as a source for their academic work
Most faculty members found the features and use of electronic resources to be "good."
Only 10% of the faculty members have more than 25 years of experience in teaching;
Majority of respondents (26.67%) use electronic resources once a week, and 100% of faculty members use electronic resources for finding relevant information in their area of specialization;
Majority (55, 91.67%) of respondents use Internet and 30 (50.00%) use CD-ROMs. Twenty (33.33%) respondents take guidance from library staff regarding the use of electronic resources;
Majority (31, 51.67%) of respondents indicate that the information available in the electronic resources is always adequate;
Regarding hindrances to accessing electronic resources, a majority of respondents (22, 36.67%) stated that too much information retrieved is the main barrier to use electronic resources;
Majority (42, 70.00%) of respondents stated access to a current information is a benefit of using electronic resources;
Regarding problems for using electronic resources, there are 21 (35.00%) respondents were faced the problem of "lack of timing", and 19 (31.67%) faculty members indicate lack of training as the main problem while using electronic resources; and
Regarding the success rate of finding the required information in electronic resources, 24 (40.00%) faculty members rated their success in the range of 75-99.
Recommendations and Conclusion
Based on the findings of the study, the following suggestions are made to improve the use of electronic resources among the faculty members.
1. The library must conduct training programmes for faculty members regarding how to use the electronic resources effectively;
2. Awareness of the use e-journals and e-books to obtain current information should be created;
3. More computers should be installed in the library for the benefit of the faculty members; and
4. More funds should be given to acquire electronic resources.
Electronic resources have played a vital role in all fields of human life. These have rapidly changed the way of seeking and disseminating information. It is clear from the study that the speed of availability and the ease of accessibility of information make the faculty members use electronic resources more frequently. This study helps the librarian to know the importance of electronic resources in academic environment.
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