Journal of Information and Knowledge (Formerly SRELS Journal of Information Management)

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Electronic Information Seeking behavior of Education Postgraduates:A Case Study at University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka


Affiliations
1 Main Library, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
2 Department of Library and Information Science, Bharathidasan University, Palkalaiperur, Trichy – 620024, Tamil Nadu, India
     

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The present study explored electronic information seeking behavior of postgraduate students in Education in relation to their scholarly activities. The present study was conducted to examine whether the postgraduates students utilize electronic resources and services provided by the library and the extent to which the library was used. A questionnaire was administered to all the postgraduate students in the Department of Education, Faculty of Arts, and University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in September 2017 and the data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. The results revealed that most of the respondents used electronic resources available in the library, and websites and online catalogs are the most preferred electronic resources. This study showed that most of the respondents used e-resources for their research works and writing assignments and the average time spent for using e-resources was one to two hours per week. It is evident that most of the respondents preferred to access e-resources from the University library and the cybercafés and most of them were aware of e-resources available in the library. The study further identified some constraints users face when using electronic resources.

Keywords

Education, Electronic Information, Information Seeking Behavior, Postgraduates.
User
About The Authors

Chamani Gunasekera
Main Library, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya
Sri Lanka

R. Balasubramani
Department of Library and Information Science, Bharathidasan University, Palkalaiperur, Trichy – 620024, Tamil Nadu
India


Notifications

  • Garg, R. M & Tamrakar, A. K. ( 2014). Utilization of electronic resources by the postgraduate students, research scholars and faculty members of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. Journal of Scientometric Research, 3(2), 75–81. https://doi.org/10.4103/2320-0057.145621

  • International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (2012). Key Issues for e-Resource Collection Development: A Guide for Libraries. Retrieved from http:// www.ifla.org/files/assets/acquisition-collection-development/publications/electronic-resource-guide-2012.pdf.

  • Langlois, C. (1997). Information technologies and University Teaching, Learning and Research. Paper presented at workshop on the role of Universities in the future information society held at Czech Technical University, Prague, Czech Republic September 25-27. Retrieved from http://www.cvut.cz/ascii/cc/icsc/nii/schedule/Langlois2.html.

  • Millawithanachchi, U. S. (2012). Electronic resources usage by postgraduates at the University of Colombo: Identifying the critical success factors. Annals of Library and Information Studies. 59(1), 53–63.

  • Oduwole, A. A. & Akpati, C. B (2003). Accessibility and retrieval of electronic information at University of Agriculture library, Abeokuta Nigeria. Library Review, 52(5), 228–33. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530310476742.

  • Ozoemelem, Obuh Alex (2009). Use of Electronic Resources by Postgraduate Students of the Department of Library and Information Science of Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria, Library philosophy and practice (e-journal). Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1306&context=libphilprac.

  • Peiris, N. D. 1 & Peiris, B. L. (2012). Use of electronic information resources by postgraduate students: A case study. Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka, 16(1), 46–69. https://doi.org/10.4038/jula.v16i1.5197.

  • Sharma, C. (2009). Use and impact of e-resources at Guru Gobind Singh Ind Raprastha University India: A case study. Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Librarianship, 10(1), 1–8.

  • Soyizwapi, I. L. (2005). Use of electronic databases by postgraduate students in the Faculty of Science and Agriculture at the University of KwaZulu -Natal, Pietermaritzburg. MBibl Thesis. University of KwaZulu, Natal.

  • Thanuskodi, S. (2012). Use of e-resources by the students and researchers of faculty of arts, Annamalai University, International Journal of Library Science, 1(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.library.20120101.01.


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  • Electronic Information Seeking behavior of Education Postgraduates:A Case Study at University of Peradeniya Sri Lanka

Abstract Views: 426  |  PDF Views: 17

Authors

Chamani Gunasekera
Main Library, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
R. Balasubramani
Department of Library and Information Science, Bharathidasan University, Palkalaiperur, Trichy – 620024, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract


The present study explored electronic information seeking behavior of postgraduate students in Education in relation to their scholarly activities. The present study was conducted to examine whether the postgraduates students utilize electronic resources and services provided by the library and the extent to which the library was used. A questionnaire was administered to all the postgraduate students in the Department of Education, Faculty of Arts, and University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka in September 2017 and the data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software. The results revealed that most of the respondents used electronic resources available in the library, and websites and online catalogs are the most preferred electronic resources. This study showed that most of the respondents used e-resources for their research works and writing assignments and the average time spent for using e-resources was one to two hours per week. It is evident that most of the respondents preferred to access e-resources from the University library and the cybercafés and most of them were aware of e-resources available in the library. The study further identified some constraints users face when using electronic resources.

Keywords


Education, Electronic Information, Information Seeking Behavior, Postgraduates.

References