University Library Users Research Articles

Information-seeking behavior of academic library users

Today, information has become the least needed in everyday life. For anything and everything, information is required. Information can be gathered from a variety of sources. Libraries serve as a center for always providing the right information to the right people. User studies are to be recognized as an important part of the information packages. Information providers such as libraries need to be aware of their information-seeking methods so that they might be able to provide better library services. This paper studies the information-seeking behavior of university and college library users in the university libraries and College libraries in Maharashtra state. The respondents are postgraduate students, research scholars, and staff members. Data has been collected from a sample of 900 respondents. The major objectives of the present study are to identify the library users, their need for information, their frequency of visits, the amount of time they spent in the library, their usage of formal information sources, and their usage of e-resources. The significance of the study is to analyze and evaluate facts and facets pertaining to the Information Seeking Behavior of iwomen students, scholars, andfaculty members in the university libraries in Maharashtra. The study reveals that the majority of PG students and research scholars refer to e-resources to update their general knowledge as well as current information about their subjects.

Personalized Service for University Library Users Based on Data Tracking

This paper discusses the personalized service processing methods of university libraries, and proposes implementation methods, demand analysis and personalized service forms for university libraries based on data tracking technology. This paper uses big data behavior tracking and other technologies to analyze and track the user behavior information of user groups in Chinese university libraries through the Internet, find the points of interest to users, and then make point-to-point service recommendation. Through the investigation and analysis of a large number of library user demand data, personalized services are provided from the aspects of library personalized reading, book classification recommendation, personalized book evaluation technology design, etc. The construction of the reading service platform plays a positive role in demonstration and guidance.

Analisis Faktor-faktor yang Mempengaruhi Mahasiswa Memanfaatkan Layanan Penelusuran

The information retrieval services is a service that interests university library users. There is a significant increase of students completing their thesis using searching services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to find factors in the utilization of research searching services. It is Using a quantitative approach with exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The study population was 376 students who submitted searching services during the pandemic (March-December 2020),using Slovin formula get a sample 82 respondents. The primary data source from the questionnaire. The results showed that only one (1) factor for the variable use of research searching services, with seven (7) statements: P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, and P7, but, the P8 idea is not continued for analysis because the results of the commonalities test showed that the extraction value is less than 0.5. The conclusion is the factor variables that influence IAIN Purwokerto students to use the searching service have no dimension (there is only one factor) that is factors for completing thesis, indicators of these factors are seven statements: requires an example of a thesis; enriches material for a thesis; knows how to describe the background; looks for the right theory; gets an appropriate research method; knows how I should explain the discussion; and knows how to conclude the results of a research.

Framework for the provision of information to the visually impaired in academic libraries in compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty

This study aimed to propose a framework for the provision of information to the visually impaired in compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty. Its objectives were to examine copyright-related challenges in accessing copyrighted information; identify strategies to improve access to copyrighted information in compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty; and propose a framework for the provision of information to the visually impaired in in compliance with the Marrakesh Treaty. The study targeted university librarians and library users with visual impairments. Interviews were used to collect data and were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that the challenges include the unavailability of appropriate policies and the high costs and problems involved in accessing copyright consent. Among the strategies to improve access to copyrighted information include role reallocation in libraries, training and creating awareness of the Marrakesh Treaty among all stakeholders. The study concluded with a proposed framework for implementing the Marrakesh Treaty.

Formation of Digital Competences of University Library Users

The paper presents various approaches to defining the concepts of ‘information competencies’ and ‘digital competencies’. The point of view of scientists on the essence, structure and ways of developing digital competencies are considered, the concept of students’ digital competence in modern conditions is clarified. The influence of this process on the development of the university library is emphasized. Digital competence is defined as the student’s high-level ability to communicate in the digital space (highly mobile intelligent devices, smart technologies, network professional communities) with the goal of self-realization and continuous innovative development. Among new challenges for the university library in digital environment the main ones are considered to be the emergence of new social and technological tasks, the specifics of working with users of the university library, and changing access to electronic resources while maintaining the invariability of main functional purpose of university library. The integrity and systemic development of digital competence of students in the conditions of the university library is reflected. The purpose of this paper is to unlock the potential of the university library as a subject of digital competencies development of students who will work in the digital age. The experience of the Scientific Library of the Siberian Federal University on developing digital competence of students is presented. Profiles of digital competencies of library users are proposed, which include two areas of responsibility: 1) information competencies and 2) digital competencies. The results of the study were refined and summarized, the results of the study were systematized, methodological recommendations were prepared to increase the effectiveness of libraries

Developing a model to identify the factors contributing to user loyalty of university libraries

One of the primary reasons behind the inefficiency of libraries pertains to the lack of user loyalty and continuous communication between users and libraries. Accordingly, this study set out to identify the factors contributing to the user loyalty of university libraries. The present study is applied in terms of research objectives and is survey and of correlational type in terms of data collection method. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the required data. To do so, data from 384 users of university libraries in Iran were analyzed running structural equation modeling (SEM) and Smart PLS software version 3.0. The obtained results revealed that user perceived value of the services provided to them generated a sense of satisfaction in them which in turn led to their loyalty to their presence in and re-use of library services. There was also a direct and significant relationship between the services provided by libraries, including eight dimensions of library rules, lending system, electronic resources, printed publications, technical facilities, library environment, personal and library services and user perceived value and satisfaction. The present research can be considered one of the initial studies having experimentally evaluated the factors contributing to user loyalty of university libraries presenting a new model. The results of this study could be useful in identifying some of the problems of libraries in attracting and maintaining users and providing appropriate solutions to solve them. The model presented in the study could be used in future research as well. Furthermore, the study has expanded the range of theories on user loyalty of university libraries.

Let eyes tell: experimental research on university library signage system and users' wayfinding behavior

PurposeWayfinding efficiency is an extremely influential factor to improve users' library interior experience. However, few research has studied the different functions of various wayfinding signages for university library users through mobile visual experiment. To fill this gap, the purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between university library signage system design and patrons' wayfinding behavior features.Design/methodology/approachIn this article, an eye movement tracking method was introduced to record eye movement data during the wayfinding process of participants in the library interior, targeting the cognition and psychology of library users in the wayfinding signage system. The visual guiding usability of landmarks, informational signages and directional signages were quantitatively tested, and the fixation on the signage system between orientation strategy users and route strategy users was compared. This study also investigated the effects of library users' spatial anxiety and environmental familiarity on their fixation on the area of interest of the wayfinding signage system using the differential test and regression.FindingsThis paper observed that informational signage had the best visual navigating competence. The difference of fixation duration and searching duration between patrons used various wayfinding strategies was significant. The informational signage was most attended by the route strategy users, and the orientation strategy users rarely focused on the directional signage. And participants with high anxiety tended to ignore the visually auxiliary function of the landmarks but paid attention to the directional signage. The participants with low anxiety could capture the landmarks that could not be easily found by the route strategy users. And participants less familiar with the environment were more sensitive to the landmarks. Furthermore, this paper offers optimization measures for university library wayfinding signage system, from the perspectives of informational signage understandability improvement, directional signage physical specification design and wayfinding assistant system with automatic landmark technology.Originality/valueThis article adds to the relatively sparse literature on university library user wayfinding experimental study in China. The experimental findings of this paper also have important practical implications for academic libraries' wayfinding system evaluation. The whole process could be seen as a repeatable and standard framework and methodology to inspect university library's wayfinding signage system usability and user wayfinding behavior performance.

Access to Information for Visually Impaired Users of University Libraries in Tamil Nadu

Access to Information for Visually Impaired Users of University Libraries in Tamil Nadu

Awareness and usage pattern of e-shodhsindhu resources: A case study of sri venkateswara university library users

Library Consortia is a network for the purchasing and accessing e-information to provide immediate access to greater resources for users of individual libraries. The e-ShodhSindhu is the Consortium for Higher Education E-Resources merging three consortia, i.e. UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, INDEST-AICTE Consortium and N-LIST in December 2015. The e-ShodhSindhu is meant to supply current and depository access to E-Resources i.e. e-books, e-journals, e-journal archives, on-line databases to its member establishments at a negotiated rate of subscription. The purpose of this paper is to find out user awareness and usage of e-ShodhSindhu Digital Library Consortium by Faculty Members and Research Scholars of Sri Venkateswara University. A structured questionnaire was designed and randomly distributed to 350 respondents for data collection, among the faculty members and research scholars. Out of which, 274filled-in questionnaires were returned. The study reveals that most of the respondents are aware and use digital library consortium but there is a need to conduct more awareness/training programs for enhancing the use of e-ShodhSindhu Digital Library Consortium.

PEMANFAATAN LAYANAN REFERENSI DI UPT PERPUSTAKAAN IAIN BATUSANGKAR

University libraries exist to support the teaching , learning and research needs of their institution. This is done by providing the latest information sources for the academic community as university library users. This mission can be achieved well through effective and periodic marketing of information and library services, one of which is through reference services. This article discusses the use of reference and information services in supporting distance learning as one of the impacts of the spread of the Covid 19 outbreak (current situation and the way forward). The research method is quantitative descriptive research, with 78 respondents and using literature related to the transformation of reference services in the digital era. Data collection is processed based on the results of observations, interviews of the IAIN Batusangkar library reference service and other college libraries in providing online reference services. The analysis explains the presence of a reference service for students, especially Library Science students at IAIN Batusangkar. Analyzing how the media can help reference librarians in providing optimal services to the academic community remotely. Describe the strategies that reference librarians can use in creating real time reference transactions in a technology environment while maintaining the main function of reference services. Introducing the idea of a ‘new face’ model of reference and information services for the IAIN Batusangkar library in the period of distance learning, especially the rapid change in learning systems as a result of the corona virus outbreak ( covid 19). Libraries need to improve the reference service system they provide, so that the academic community can meet their information needs through library services remotely, anytime and anywhere. At the end of this paper, it is intended that librarians, especially reference librarians. Continue to serve readers with different needs, librarians must walk across the library, access computer screens from all campus intranet systems, answer emails and explore other interactive tools to reach customers in an effective, practical and effective way. Efficient in order to always satisfy users and keep closer to them, as the main purpose of the presence of reference services.

The influence of Public University library service quality and library Brand image on user loyalty

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of library service quality on user loyalty by using university library image as a mediator. The study examines the role played by university library image in influencing user loyalty. The study uses the LibQUAL+™ to measure the level of library service quality of public university libraries in Ghana. The study was conducted using university library users as respondents and the hypotheses were tested using partial least squares (PLS) structural equation modelling (SEM). Service affect, information access, and personal control significantly predict library brand image. Library as place did not have a significant effect on library brand image. Service affect was found to be the strongest predictor of library brand image. Library brand image mediates the relationship between service affect, information access, personal control, and user loyalty. The major implication of this study is that the management of libraries must continuously improve service quality in an attempt to develop a positive brand image, leading to user loyalty. Also, the measure of service quality using the LibQUAL+™ enables library management to assess its users’ perception of library services, and also to detect gaps. This study contributes to the literature on using the LibQUAL+™ to measure service quality and provides empirical evidence on factors affecting library user loyalty.

Way Finding Behavior of University Library Users in Mumbai an Explorative Study

Libraries often intimidate new or potential users through their size, complexity as well as unfamiliar tools and technology. Observing library users coping with the environment and perceiving their behavior, assists in planning and designing an ideal guidance system. The present article is based on an observation of university library users in Mumbai. The study provides narratives of variety of tasks completed by participants with average task completion time ATCT) and further explores users’ facial expressions and behavior and conducted cause analysis. Findings revealed that majority of participants in university libraries felt that wayfinding is complex and not self-oriented even after attending library orientation, due to the complexity of library buildings and lack of appropriate signage. The analysis of ATCT highlighted that maximum users of the university libraries in Mumbai require inordinate time to find their way and locate the required information source. Many participants experienced confusion, disorientation, indecisiveness and anxiousness while navigating and searching for information sources in libraries. It further revealed that major reasons behind prolonged time required in task completion were user specific such as user unawareness about library physical settings, classification schemes, floor-wise splits in stacking arrangement, availability of facilities, etc. The observational findings and recommendations lead to serve as a starting point in defining patron orientation needs.

Users’ satisfaction with facilities of university libraries in South-South, Nigeria

The main aim of the study was to examine the extent of user‟s satisfaction with physical facilities ofuniversity libraries in South-South Nigeria.The study adopted descriptive research design.Thepopulation of the study consisted of 21,162 library registered students of three federal and three state university libraries in South-South Nigeria.Purposive sampling technique wasused to select a total of 1056 respondents from sixuniversities.A four point Likert questionnaireentitled:“Users‟ Satisfaction with Facility Questionnaire (USFQ)” was used as instrument of data collection. The data were analysed with frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Thestudy revealedthatusers‟ satisfaction with reprographic facilities, lightning points facilities, shelving facilities, air condition facilities, seating arrangement and building facilities are high. The study concludedthat if users in university libraries are not satisfiedwith the provision of library facilities then something other than facilities is responsiblefor their satisfaction. It was recommendedthat the library buildings should be properly sitedandbuilt to accommodate materials needed to aid academic research and other purposes of the library.

User awareness of ict enabled information services: a comparative study of university libraries of Delhi and NCR

The authors through this paper aimed to compare the user awareness of ICT enabled information services of university libraries Delhi & NCR (National Capital Region). The universities covered in the study are central and deemed universities of Delhi and NCR, selected from NIRF 2017 of MHRD. The in-depth review of literature helped in preparing the tools for the study. Content analysis of websites of university libraries helped to find out the ICT enabled information services being facilitated by the universities under study. The survey using a structured questionnaire helped in the collection of users data. Out of the many ICT enabled information services facilitated by the selected libraries, only five ICT enabled information services were selected through content analysis of websites. The five selected services were used to compare user awareness. The authors collected data into two categories, which were 'Aware' & 'Not aware'. The Google spreadsheet was used as a statistical tool to analyse data and represent it pictorially. The study findings revealed that a higher number of percentage of users of deemed university libraries (84.80%) are aware of the selected information services in comparison to (69.88%) users of central universities. In the category of 'not aware', the higher percentage of responses (30.12%) are from central universities in comparison to deemed universities (15.20%). It highlights that users of central university libraries are less aware of the ICT enabled information services. These are lagging behind in making their users aware in comparison to deemed university libraries by a margin of (14.92%). The scenario needs to be addressed by central university libraries.

English

Social media and its tools have great potential in building relationship between a library and its users, mainly by allowing users to participate in creating contents, access information, and disseminating the information more rapidly. The main objective of the study discussed in the present article was to investigate the perception towards social media and its effective utilization by Aliah University Library users in meeting their information needs. The study has confirmed that majority of respondents were well aware of the different social media platforms and were using them in their studies, entertainment, social awareness, research, and to catch up the latest updates. However, the problems faced by the respondents on using the social media mainly came in the form of irrelevant content, advertisement, and lack of authentic information on these platforms. The findings of the studies will not only help in understanding the ‘awareness and need’ of social media amongst users of Aliah University Library but will also provide guidance to other libraries on how to extend their services on the different social media platforms.

Information Seeking Behaviour of University Library Users: A Study of Purvanchal Based Universities

Information Seeking Behaviour of University Library Users: A Study of Purvanchal Based Universities

Measuring Customer Satisfaction in Bowen University Library, Nigeria

This study examines user satisfaction with the library products and services, facilities and conduciveness of the library environment, and ease of obtaining materials, as they affect their decision in patronizing the library. The study population comprises Bowen University students from diverse disciplines, levels and ages. Data was collected with an adapted questionnaire administered to over 400 respondents using convenience sampling technique. Descriptive statistics were adopted in measuring user satisfaction. Findings revealed that Bowen University Library users were satisfied with the products, services, facilities and conduciveness of the library environment. Nevertheless, a majority of the respondents reported that they seldom obtain materials from the library promptly. It was therefore recommended that library management should work more on training users on how to access materials through available services (e.g. OPAC, Library Portal) provide stable internet services, functional reference service, regular shelf maintenance, provide current information resources.

Overview of Security Measures in Nigerian University Libraries

The paper takes a look at the incidence of mutilation and theft and of library materials, and gives users’ assessment of library security and factors that influence mutilation and theft among library users in Nigerian university libraries. Librarians all over the world are increasingly disturbed with the safety and physical integrity of important intellectual properties. Periodical and reference materials are the most likely materials that will be mutilated. All of the libraries still rely exclusively on manual checks carried out by unskilled personnel at the library exit and entrance. The high cost of photocopying and frequent breakdown of copiers was the causes of library material theft and mutilation. The results show that all the university libraries stamps specific pages, with security personnel and porters are at the entrance door of the libraries checking in and checking out users of the library. Findings from the study revealed that university libraries in Nigeria must adopt security measures to prevent theft of library materials. Therefore, media centers and libraries must adopt security measures to protect the software and hardware from serious harm. The paper wrap up by offering some constructive suggestions on the way out of these problems.

Use of E-Resources in the e-ShodhSindhu Consortium: A Study of North Bengal University Library Users

The e-ShodhSindu is the Consortia for Higher Education E-Resources merging three consortia, i.e. UGC-INFONET Digital Library Consortium, INDEST-AICTE Consortium and N-LIST. The e-ShodhSindhu is intended to provide current and archival access to E-Resources i.e. e-books, e-journals, e-journal archives, online databases to its member institutions at a negotiated rate of subscription. This paper studies the use of e-resources in the e-ShodhSindhu Consortium by the North Bengal University Library users. 150 questionnaires were distributed among the faculty members and research scholars. Out of which, 110 filled-in questionnaires were returned. The study reveals that most of the respondents are satisfied with e-resources available in the e-ShodhSindhu Consortium.

Access Pattern of Scholarly Information at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University: A Case Study

This paper described that users visit the Tamilnadu Agricultural University library for collecting information from students and faculty members. The researchers have attempted to find out the perceptions and outlook of the university library users with highly response to utilize the facility is available. The study shows that the quality of collection with respect to books, Journals and e-resources. Google is most popular search engine among the user for browsing the net. Reference Service is the most prefer by the staff and students.