Use and Impact of Electronic Resources in Engineering and Technological Institutions in India

Abstract

The main focus of the research was to examine the acceptance of e-resources by users of Engineering and Technological Institutions in India, and determine usage, satisfaction of users and barriers faced in the access of e-resources. The study was carried out in four prestigious institutions of India, IIT, Delhi; IIT, Roorkee; TU, Patiala; and PEC, Chandigarh to study electronic resources & services provided to users of these libraries. A survey was conducted in 2004 to 2006.The questionnaire method was used to examine and collect data from the students and faculty. 20% of the survey data was taken from total 12910 populations of the four intuitions. The questionnaire was distributed to 2686 user and response was received from 2322 users. The collected data has been analyzed with the help of statistical package for social science (SPSS). Statistical method like percentage and Chi-Square were used. Different variables were used to study among the users (i.e., undergraduates, postgraduates, research scholars and faculty members) and institutions. From total survey it has been found that 57.92% users have visited their library website/homepage.Institute wise, 66. 30% users from IIT, Delhi and 73.52% are from IIT, Roorkee are aware of free e-journals on the internet as compared to TU, Patiala (8.66%) and PEC, Chandigarh (24.68%). From the total data 99.22% of users are aware of free e-journals on the internet Users from both the IITs are more aware, i.e., 85.87% from IIT, Roorkee and 71.39% IIT, Delhi as compared to 22.37% from PEC, Chandigarh. Among the users, majority of (77.87%) faculty members and 91.11% postgraduates are aware about INDEST & UGC-INFONET.A majority of research scholars (98.95%), faculty (95.38%), postgraduates (73.24%) use the INDEST consortium more as compared to undergraduates (20%). Internet is used more as compared to e-journals and CD-ROM. CD-ROM services are occasionally used by 42.38% users of all institutes. Internet is used daily and 2/3 time a week as compared to once a week and occasionally. E-journals are used mostly 2/3 times a week by 35.47% users, occasionally by 39.41% of users and daily by 12.08% users. Users have started using e-resources and this shows that they have accepted electronic medium. Users have started feeling comfortable with electronic information. From the i total user data of all the four institutions, it has been found that internet/website are used maximum for e-mail i.e., 2108 (90.55%) and 2149 (92.55%) for finding relevant information as compared to 47.03% career development and 25.62% research work. Internet and online catalogues are used more as compared to current and back volumes of e-journals. E-books are used minimum and the e-journals are mostly used for academic work. The results show from the total users who are seeking information from e-resources 60.77% of users are using OPAC, 53.74% of users are using internet website, 52.46% are using on-line data bases, 34.10% of users are using current e-journals and 17.827% of users are using back volumes of e-journals. The use of video cassettes, e-books and CD-ROM is very less as compared to other e-resources. Users felt that the electronic information saves the time, and they get required information, but slow speed of internet and vast information available are the barriers in seeking information. From the total users' data, 60.77% of users felt that the access to information through internet is a very slow process while 39.06% of users felt that they were short of time and 23.26% of users felt that it was difficult to read from the screen. Most of the users (94.23%) from all the institutions are in favor of training and felt that with training use of e-resources will increase. Usage of e-resources has increased due to the awareness among the users.Users prefer to use the information in both the formats i.e., electronic as well as print, although they feel that electronic document can't replace the print document. The response rate was below 30%, which shows that very few users feel that e-resources can replace print documents. The impact on collection and usage in both the IIT's, TU and PEC indicates that every year there is an increase in the collection and usage of e-resources. The result demonstrates that an academic library can become user centered in the electronic environment. The information provided on consortia base will expand access to electronic data bases. It has been found that users are accepting electronic information resources. The use of e-journals has increased manifold. The printed material is being quickly replaced by the electronic resources.