- 3rd LIS Research Symposium – “Information for Social Development” - 2012

By: S.K. Illangarathne

Assistant Librarian, Rajarata University of Sri LankaC. Shirani Dharmarathne

Senior Assistant Librarian, University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Dept. of Library and Information ScienceUniversity of Kelaniya

Sri Lanka05/03/2023 1

A study on Information Needs of Academic Staff Members of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

Outline of the presentation1. Introduction

2. Purpose and objectives of the study

3. Survey Questions

4. Conceptual framework

5. The Design – Methods and procedures

Sampling, Instrumentation, Data collection, Data

Analysis

6. Major Findings

7. Suggestions

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1.0 Introduction• Present era called as “Information era”.

• Therefore Information is considered as;• an important tool in every aspect of human life• the fifth need of human life (Kemp, 1976)

• Very common phenomenon of information is outdating

• The need for information differs from person to person

• As a result of this; "Information seeking has become a natural

and necessary mechanism of human existence” (Patitungkho and Deshpande, 2005)

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Introduction cont.• The “library” is

• a growing organization • facilitates to their users to access information in correct

format and in time (Ranganathan, 1996).

• an information hub which links people with of information sources

The Library

Information sources 1. Printed vs. non – printed2. Magnetic vs. optical3. Online vs. offline4. Analog vs. Digital5. Etc.

Library users

1. kids vs. children2. Youngers vs. adults3. Professional vs. non prof.4. Academic vs General5. Etc.

Employees 1. Professional vs.

Supportive

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Introduction cont.• As an organization the library should maintain the

• efficiency• effectiveness and • cost minimization (core management skills of any

organization)

• It should strive to satisfy its customers' wants and needs while meeting the organization's goals.

• In simple terms, “The customer is the king" (Henley, 2010).

• Therefore, satisfy the users is essential need of the Library

The only way of satisfy library users is investigate their current Information Needs day by day.

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2.0 Purpose and objectives of the study• To identify the information needs of Academic Staff in RUSL • To examine their purposes of getting information, current needs and methods of obtaining information

• To identify the use of different types of information resources by the Academic Staff.

• To find out solutions for difficulties indicated in order to enhance the library services of RUSL.

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3.0 Survey Questions• kinds of information sources organized by the RUSL library?

• information needs sought out by the Academic Staff in RUSL?

• Why they seek information from the library system?

• How they satisfy with information sources available at library?

• How the library professionals aware about user needs?

• What are the alternatives ways to recognize their needs?

• Tendency of library users’ information seeking behaviors?

• What are the feeds backs of library users’ regarding their satisfaction?

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4.0 Conceptual Framework

Information

needs

Of

ASMs’

of

RUSL

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Information Needs

Statistical and

descriptive analyzes

 

Usage of information

sources

Seeking behavior when access to the

information sources

Do not fulfill need

Suggestions made by the ASM for

efficient information services

Conclusions

Suggestions

5.0 Research Methodology • Survey method

• Instrumentation• The main research instrument - questionnaire.• Other instruments - secondary data and Interviews

with the Users + Librarians.• Population – ASM of RUSL• Sampling

• stratified random sampling• Population = 216, Sample = 158, Respond rate = 94.3%

• Data Analysis• Quantitative vs. Qualitative methods • “P” values -to check the accuracy of the results

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Major Findings

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Distribution by Designation

Senior Professor0.70%

Professor7.40% Librarian

0.70%

Senior Assistant Librarian

1.30%

Lecturer (Probationary)

18.80%Assistant Librarian

2.00%

Temporary Lecturer51.70%

Senior Lecturer17.40%

Major Findings Cont.

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Information needs of academics

91.9 %

58.4 %

86.4 %

21.0%16.1%

0102030405060708090

100

Teach

ing

Highest

Studies

Research

& D

evelo

pmen

ts

Academ

ic Pro

gram

ming

Other a

cade

mic work

s

Major Findings Cont.

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Library usage by academics

Library usage by academics,

26.80%

Library usage by academics,

0.00%

Library usage by academics,

16.80%

Library usage by academics,

56.40%

Major Findings Cont.

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47.7%

2%

28.9%

0

59.1%

28.2%

20.1%

27.5%32.2%

22.1%

14.8%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

%

Books Thesis Journals Abstracts CitationIndexes

Gateways

Information Source

Information sources usage by format

Print format (very high =5) Electronic format (very high =5)

Major Findings Cont.

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Internet usage by academics

Very high (4)44.09%

High (3)33.81%

Low (2)18.38%

Very low (1)3.72%

Major Findings Cont.

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Usage of information search tools by academics

Shelf guides70.68%

Card Catalogue1.05%

Bibliographies11.13%Indexes

0.00%Abstracts6.02%

Computer Based

Catalogue 11.13%

Major Findings Cont.

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Information sources usage according to language

Sinhalese 22.82%

Tamil 0.67%

English 76.51%

Major Findings Cont.

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Highly satisfied14.09%

Not satisfied85.91%

User satisfaction about the RUSL Library

Major Findings Cont.

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Reason Priority(mean)

Unavailability of Electronic Information Sources at the library 4.59No systematic way at library to aware about fresh information 4.41No proper search tool at the library 4.25No proper intercommunication method through main library and faculty libraries 4.22Insufficient internet facility at the library 4.18Insufficient opening hours 3.94No proper classification scheme at the library 3.94

Reasons for not satisfaction

Major Findings Cont.

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Suggestions made by the academics for efficient information service at RUSL

SuggestionsNo of

respondentsN=149

Percentage (%)

Acquire fresh information sources to the library 110 73.82Increase Electronic Information Sources 49 32.88Start a special orientation program for academics 13 8.72Expand Internet facility at RUSL 141 94.63Reduce fines or revise fine system for academics 92 61.74Organize information sources properly 63 42.28

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Suggestions

• Major suggestions ; • make aware and practice the use of information tools for information

searching and develop the collection of university library with information resources related to teaching and research activities

• increase the availability of electronic resources, consortia purchasing of high cost resources.

• Other suggestions :• to enhance the efficiency of library services

• Introduce Current Awareness Services

• Proper system for Inter Library Loan requests and need of expert systems acting as virtual librarian.

Thank you

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