Use Of Online Information Resources Research Articles

Investigating the relationship between online information seeking and translation performance among translation students: The mediating role of translation self-efficacy.

The widespread use of online information resources by translation students has motivated an increasing number of researchers to investigate the relationship between online information seeking and translation performance. However, these studies mainly address the direct effect of online information seeking on translation performance, thus failing to explore and identify the internal psychological mechanisms. This study, therefore, explores the mediating role of translation self-efficacy in the relationship between online information seeking and translation performance. A total of 314 translation students in China completed questionnaires on online information seeking and translation self-efficacy, and translation performance was measured by assessing the quality of a translation task given to them. Results showed that translation self-efficacy partially mediated the association between online information seeking and students’ translation performance. These findings can contribute to our understanding of the role that translation self-efficacy plays in information seeking behaviors and the emotional states of translation students in translator training.

Role of Library Associations in Supporting the Library Sector during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the library sector, library associations are playing an important role in the promotion of librarianship as a profession vital to informed and knowledgeable society. The purpose of this study was to examine the role library associations played to improve access to information during the pandemic in Africa. The objectives of the study were to: find out the communication channels used by library associations to communicate with their members during the COVID-19 pandemic; challenges faced by the associations in communicating to its members during the lockdown; collaborations or partnerships the library associations developed during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep its members abreast of the new developments and recommend strategies to mitigate similar disasters in future. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a semi-structured online questionnaire, involving both closed and open-ended questions. Most of the responses were from library associations in Central Africa (33.3%) and majority of the respondents were females (67%). The highest level of education attained by most of the library association’s President was a master’s degree (67%). Majority of the library associations have subscribed to IFLA and AfLIA. The major challenges faced by respondents’ library association were poor internet connection during the COVID-19 lockdown, technophobia and insufficient funds for data subscription. The pandemic had an effect on the strategic plan of the national library associations because their planned activities such as conducting national library conference were disrupted. This study therefore recommended the development of risk and disaster preparedness manuals and encouragement of more use of online information resources.

Use Pattern of Online Information Resources by Students for Academic Purpose in Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India: A Study

The present study uses a pattern of online information resources by students for academic purposes in Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. The study covered basic areas like information regarding the use of online resources, frequency of use of online information resources, purpose of online information resources, usefulness of online information resources, and satisfaction level of online information resources. In this study I distributed 330 questionnaires to library users and received 268 responses, the response rate is 89%. The study found that majority of users are aware of online resources, majority of users using Google search engine for searching information. The study also highlighted the majority of users use online information for study purpose and improving knowledge. They also found that most of the respondents were satisfied with online resources. The researcher suggested that the university library should provide online video lectures, online institutional repositories and online reference sources.

Internet literacy skills of community pharmacists in Lagos State, Nigeria

Purpose Community pharmacists need good retrieval skills and competencies for effective use of online information resources for professional practice. This study aims to ascertain the internet literacy skills of community pharmacists in Lagos State, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A survey research design was adopted for the study. Convenience sampling technique was used in selecting community pharmacists. Questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection, whereas descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Findings The study revealed that community pharmacists possess requisite internet literacy skills for effective use of online health information resources. There is a positive relationship between informational and operational internet literacy skills [r = 0.820, p(0.000) < 0.05], informational and strategic internet literacy skills [r = 0.838, p(0.000) < 0.05] and operational and strategic internet literacy skills [r = 0.810, p(0.000) < 0.05]. There is a statistically significant gender difference in the level of skillfulness in internet use based on self-reported skills. There is a significant relative contribution of demographic variables (gender, age, educational qualification and number of years in professional practice) to the level of skillfulness in internet use among community pharmacists. Practical implications To improve the use of online internet resources, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Lagos Chapter, should conduct training needs assessment regularly to offer the right levels of internet use skills. They must be proactive and incorporate training on computer and internet skills into their annual conferences and zonal meetings. They should also prepare and give internet use manuals to their members to read and understand how to use the internet more effectively. Community pharmacists, especially the female pharmacists, should also take advantage of free online training sessions called webinars to improve their internet literacy skills to cope with rapid changes in the e-environment, as well as to boost the quality of health-care services delivery. Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria, the agency responsible for regulating and controlling the education, training and practice of pharmacy, should include an internet literacy skills module in the Mandatory Professional Continuing Education Programme. Originality/value The study investigated the internet literacy skills of community pharmacists in Lagos State and identified the gender gap in level of skillfulness. This study also explored the relationship between level of skillfulness and internet use, as well as the relationship between community pharmacists’ informational, operational and strategic internet literacy skills.

International students using online information resources to learn: complex experience and learning needs

This paper reports the findings of a qualitative study that investigated 25 international students’ use of online information resources for study purposes at two Australian universities. Using an expanded critical incident approach, the study viewed international students through an information literacy lens, as information-using learners. The findings are presented in two complementary parts: as a word picture that describes their whole experience of using online information resources to learn; and as a tabulated set of critical findings that summarises their associated information literacy learning needs. The word picture shows international students’ resource use as a complex interplay of eight interrelated elements: students; information-learning environment; interactions (with online resources); strengths-challenges; learning-help; affective responses; reflective responses; and cultural-linguistic dimensions. In using online resources, the international students experience an array of strengths and challenges, and an apparent information literacy imbalance between their more developed information skills and less-developed critical information use. The critical findings about information literacy needs provide a framework for developing an inclusive informed learning approach that responds to international students’ complex information using experiences and needs. While the study is situated in Australia, the findings are of potential interest to educators, information professionals and researchers worldwide who seek to support learning in culturally diverse higher education contexts.

An expanded critical incident approach for exploring information use and learning

Critical incidents offer a focus for exploratory research about human experiences, including information use and information literacy learning. This paper describes how critical incidents underpinned research about international students’ use of online information resources at two Australian universities. It outlines the development and application of an expanded critical incident approach (ECIA), explaining how ECIA built upon critical incident technique (CIT) and incorporated information literacy theory. It discusses points of expansion (differences) between CIT and ECIA. While CIT initially proved useful in structuring the research, the pilot study revealed methodological limitations. ECIA allowed more nuanced data analysis and the integration of reflection. The study produced a multifaceted word picture of international students’ experience of using online information resources to learn, and a set of critical findings about their information literacy learning needs. ECIA offers a fresh approach for researching information use, information experience, evidence-based practice, information literacy and informed learning.

Awareness and use of online information resources by medical students at Delta State University in Nigeria

PurposeThis paper aims to present the results of a study which was carried out to find out whether the undergraduate students in the College of Health Sciences in Delta State University are aware of and fully utilize the medical databases and other online information resources within and outside the medical library.Design/methodology/approachA questionnaire and interview methods were used to elicit data from the students.FindingsThe results revealed that majority of the students are not aware and do not use the online information resources such as: MEDLINE, HINARI, CINAHL databases, NUC virtual library as sources of information to retrieve materials related to medical literature. This could be as a result of lack of training for information literacy skills and ineffective user education programmes in the medical libraries and medical schools to equip the medical students with necessary skills to use the medical databases and other online information resources. Problems such as lack of skills to use the online information resources, lack of time, poor user education programmes, and slowness of server were mentioned by the students as some factors militating against the effective use of online information resources.Originality/valueThe findings will be useful for medical librarians and faculty in highlighting the need to collaborate in integrating information literacy skills into the medical school curricula in developing countries.Paper typeResearch paper

ENGLISH

The paper discusses the use of online information resources for organising knowledge in library and information centres in Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT). The paper discusses the status and extent of automation in CUSAT library. The use of different online resources and the purposes for which these resources are being used, is explained in detail. Structured interview method was applied for collecting data. It was observed that 67 per cent users consult online resources for assisting knowledge organisation. Library of Congress catalogue is the widely used (100 per cent) online resource followed by OPAC of CUSAT and catalogue of British Library. The main purposes for using these resources are class number building and subject indexing.

The impact of electronic information resource use on research output: experiences from Universities in Tanzania

This paper examines the impact of the use of electronic information resources on research output in the universities in Tanzania. Research for this paper was conducted in five public universities in Tanzania with varied levels of access to electronic information resources. The selection of the sample universities was purposive. Data was collected using face-to-face interviews, questionnaires and key informant interviews. Analysis of data employed descriptive and quantitative techniques. Empirical data revealed that the use of online information resources has a positive impact on various research activities and milestones such as research proposal submission, research proposal funding, research report writing and journal article publishing. The results therefore provide empirical support for a positive relationship between the use of electronic information resources and research output and publishing in general. This was demonstrated in the increased number of proposals prepared, submitted and funded, research reports submitted, journal articles published and chapters in books and books published with increased access to and use of electronic information resources. Results also show that although researchers who are actually using the scholarly databases are small in number the core group of researchers using these resources is growing and the use of resources is becoming more frequent and diverse. The major challenges observed include ineffective marketing strategies on the availability of the resources, inadequate training of end users, questionable content relevance of some of the resources and issues of sustainability of access given high levels of donor dependency for subscriptions. Finally, limited variations in terms of intensity of use of resources were observed between junior and higher ranking academics; and younger and older members of faculty. The paper makes a number of recommendations.

Use of Online Information Resources by Rmit University Economics, Finance, and Marketing Students Participating In A Cooperative Education Program

This paper examines the use of online information resources by Economics, Finance, and Marketing 3rd year students in a cooperative education program and explores some possible factors and issues that influence how students use these resources. The nature of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) programs, the business information environment, and the information seeking behaviour of students are discussed. Barriers to using online information resources and workplace information literacy are also reviewed. From this better understanding of the online information resources used by students on work placement will emerge and assist the Library in assessing its acquisition of resources and designing of information literacy training.

On-line information resources on the health sciences area

A importância do acesso e uso de fontes de informação on-line no contexto da área de ciências da saúde. Apresenta a gestão da informação quanto aos procedimentos adotados em um centro de informação na área médica referente a descrição das atividades e ações desenvolvidas para organização de seu acervo específico. Relata a experiência de estágio curricular, efetuado no Centro de Estudos Dr. Ewaldo José Ramos Schaefer, Florianópolis – Santa Catarina. Entre os resultados salienta-se o trabalho em ambiente de documentação médica, a dinâmica em equipe, a utilização constante de novas tecnologias de informação e comunicação e observação das mudanças e transformações no contexto do cotidiano na área médica especializada em Radiologia e Diagnóstico por Imagem. Questões sobre a formação do bibliotecário para estar competitivo e participativo no estabelecimento de políticas de acesso e de uso de fontes de informação on-line. Formação profissional. Abstract Points out a vision about access and use on-line information in the health sciences area. How to manage information, with procedures adopted in a information center at medical area, some descriptions of the activities and actions developed for organization of this specific collection. Refers to the curricular practice from a librarianship student at the Studies Center Dr. Ewaldo Jose Ramos Schaefer, Florianópolis – Santa Catarina. Results show the importance to work in an environment of medical documentation, give an idea about the team work dynamics, also perspective to use new technologies of information and communication, and experience between the changes and transformations in the context of the medical area, especially in Radiology and Image Diagnosis. Some questions about the library science professional education to be qualified. In this view, he have to participate in political decisions and establish procedures to facilitate access and use of on-line information resources at the medical area.

Actions and Reactions: Exploring International Students' Use of Online Information Resources

ABSTRACTThe trends in higher education towards internationalisation and increasing dependence on ICTs (information and communication technologies) are contributing to the diversification of the student population and their learning needs. In this context learners may encounter an array of educational and technological challenges. For international students these challenges may be compounded by differences in cultural and linguistic backgrounds and limited previous experience of independent learning and library and online information use. This article discusses the interim findings of a research project into the use of online information resources by a group of international students at an Australian university. It describes the students' online behaviour (actions), their affective and cognitive responses (reactions) and associated difficulties. It discusses the implications for information literacy education and online resource development related to cultural and linguistic diversity.

The counter code of practice, for usage statistics that are credible, compatible and consistent

The use of online information resources is growing exponentially and it is widely agreed by producers and purchasers of information that the use of these resources should be measured in a more consistent way. Librarians want to understand better how the information they use from a variety of sources is being used; publishers want to know how the information products they disseminate are being accessed. An essential requirement to meet these objectives is an agreed International Code of Practice governing the recording and exchange of usage data. The first objective of Project COUNTER was to develop such a Code of Practice. This article describes the origins of COUNTER, sets its mission in the context of other industry initiatives, outlines the plan for COUNTER, and describes Release 1 of the COUNTER Code of Practice, published in December 2002.