USER ISSUES / EXPECTATIONS

REGARDING E-JOURNALS: A STUDY

OF USER EXPERIENCES AT

UNIVERSITY ENGINEERING COLLEGE

JNTU KAKINADA

Dr. B.R. Doraswamy NaickAssistant Professor & Head I/c,

University Central LibraryJawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada

Kakinada- 533 003, Andhra Pradesh

INTRODUCTION Electronic journals form the most productive

source for carrying out research and development activities in medial sciences.

e-journals in general are highly effective in any meaningful research activity.

This resource is widely regarded as the most favored source by R & D workers as well as other users of the libraries in pursuit of quality research, education and knowledge.

Print journals encompass all conventional print editions published and distributed as paper copies, while online editions refer to journals editions available online through Internet.

Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK) The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological

University (JNTU) was originally ‘The College of Engineering, Vizagpatnam’ at the time of its establishment in 1964.

Kakinada has a rich political literacy and cultural heritage passed on through generations.

This college became a constituent of the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University w.e.f 02-10-1972 through an act of legislature along with other sister institutions under the control of the then Director of Technical Education, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

SCOPE & LIMITATION

This study is based on the USER ISSUES/EXPECTATIONS REGARDING E-JOURNALS of the users of Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Kakinada (JNTUK), Andhra Pradesh.

A study like the present one is essential to aimed at conducting user survey To Improve the existing library services Envision of new services To rationalize the limited financial resources in

an economic way To evaluate the performance of the library and

enhance the user satisfaction.

OBJECTIVES To examine the awareness of e-journals

among the engineering students. To know the place from where engineering

students access e-journals. To find out the purpose of using e-journals. To examine the problems while using e-

journals. To know the level of satisfaction with the

available e-journals. To examine the need for conducting user

awareness programes in using e-journals.

METHODOLOGY

To conduct this study, survey method through questionnaire tool was used.

The present study was conducted on a sample of a total number 100 final year B.Tech & M.Tech students of University College of Engineering, JNTUKakinada.

Copies of questionnaire were distributed to 100 engineering students in the month August, 2012.

However, 95 of them responded and the same was used for analysis.

Findings

Most of the students (92.63% of respondents) are familiar with the availability of e-journals.

AWARENESS OF e -JOURNALS

It is evident that 75.79% of the students know the availability of electronic journals from the library staff.

21.05 % of them from friends and faculty. Remaining are from others.

SOURCES OF e -JOURNALS

Most of the students (95.53% of respondents) are accessing e-journals from central library.

PLACE OF ACCESS OF e -JOURNALS

It is evident that 94.74% of the students using e-journals for their research work.

68.42% of the students use for updating their knowledge.

PURPOSE OF e -JOURNALS

45.26 % of the respondents facing problems in using e-journals

The major problems are listed below There is no access from my desktop -

97.33% Downloading is very slow - 82.67% Other problems

(power cuts, UPS down etc) - 57.33%

Lack of training - 78.67%

Internet connectivity - 42.67%

PROBLEMS IN USING e -JOURNALS

Most of the students (54.74% of respondents) feels e-journals are most helpful.

VALUE OF e -JOURNALS

It is evident that 61.05% of the students considers themselves as Moderate.

28.42 % of them are Expert.

Skills regarding usage of e -JOURNALS

64.21% of the respondents are satisfied with the availability of e-journals.

LEVEL OF SATISFACTION

87.37 % of the students feels that awareness program is necessary in using e-journals.

NEED OF e -JOURNALS Training

To overcome dissatisfaction with the types e-journals availability in Engineering College Library, a survey needs to be conducted to know the specific e-journals required by them so that steps can be taken for their subscription.

To provide electronic journals facility efficiently and effectively the number of computers must be increased in the central library as well as departmental labs in the campus.

SUGGESTIONS