Students Satisfaction of Library Resources in Autonomous College Libraries: A Case Study Of Engineering Students

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International Journal for Modern Trends in Science and Technology (ISSN: 2455-3778), Volume 4, Special Issue 4, July 2018 111

Students Satisfaction of Library Resources in Autonomous College Libraries: A Case Study Of

Engineering Students

GOLLA. NARASIMHA RAO, Librarian,

Sri Sunflower College of Engineering & Technology, Lankapalli Library and Information Science Department

Abstract

This study aims to investigate and assess the level of satisfaction of users of Library resources in autonomous college libraries with reference to the targeted Engineering students. Filled in questionnaires were collected from 250 students to assess and evaluate their level of satisfaction in regard to quality deliverables and usage of diverse print resources being offered to them by the libraries. The analysis of filled-in questionnaires disclose that the level of satisfaction of users of in P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology was more than the level of satisfaction of users in Gudlavalleru Engineering College in regard to textbooks, reference books, project reports and question papers. However, with regard to periodicals the users of Gudlavalleru Institute of Technology were more satisfied than the users of P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology and Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering. Concerning newspapers, the users of Gudlavalleru Engineering College were contended than the users of Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering and P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology.

Key words: Students satisfaction, User study, Autonomous colleges.

1. Introduction

Any library irrespective of its kind has to be students oriented. All the services provided by the library are intended for the benefit of the students. In order to improve the existing library services, plan new services, rationalize the limited financial resources in an economic way, evaluate the performance of the library and enhance the student’s satisfaction, it is imperative to conduct user studies. These studies will help library authorities to know the satisfaction of students with existing library services and facilities, the type of new services required and the amount of finance required for their implementation. Students’ satisfaction studies are also part of user studies as these are based on users. The performance of any library can be judged on the basis of extent of satisfaction it is providing to its users. Hence, there is need to conduct students satisfaction studies to assess the satisfaction of students with the services and facilities provided by the library. These studies are also essential to know the differences in satisfaction among the differences in satisfaction among the

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different categories of users. Necessary measures can be taken in case of the users are dissatisfied with the library services and facilities by finding out the reasons for their dissatisfaction.

The present study makes an attempt in this direction by studying the satisfaction of Engineering students with regard to library resources, services and facilities provided by the three autonomous college libraries namely P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Gudlavalleru Engineering College and Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering Library. Efforts have been made to know the differences in satisfaction between the students of autonomous colleges’ libraries and finally t make recommendations to improve the present library resources, services and facilities.

2. User Study

‘User Study’ is the means for systematic examination of the characteristics and behavior of the users of the information systems and services. The user study is directly linked with the effectiveness of library and information services as they aim at satisfaction of user needs. The term user study mainly focuses on users to measure their information needs, information seeking behavior and use pattern.

3. Students satisfaction studies

The studies relating to satisfaction of students with regard to different resources, services and facilities provided by the libraries are useful to maximize the satisfaction of students and to improve the library services.

4. Reasons for conducting students study

a. To understand the students information needs;

b. To evaluate the library collection and services;

c. To know the extent of satisfaction of students with regard to different library services;

d. To identify those services of the library with which the students are dissatisfied;

e. For providing timely service to the students efficiently and effectively;

f. To get suggestions from students for improving the existing services and also for introducing the new services to meet the requirements of students; and

g. To increase the performance of the library.

5. Objectives

The specific objectives of the present study are:

1. To find out the frequency of visits of users to the library.

2. To ascertain the frequency of time spent in the library by users in a week.

3. To know the level of satisfaction of Engineering students in regard to quality of deliverable resources like text books, reference books, periodicals, project reports, question papers and news papers.

4. Recommend concrete suggestions and recommendations to authorities for improving the library collection basing on inputs collected from users.

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6. Scope of the study

The scope of this study is confined to the analysis of satisfaction of library collection of engineering students in Autonomous College Libraries in Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh, namely

1. P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology, Kanuru.

2. Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering, Mylavaram.

3. Gudlavalleru Engineering College, Gudlavalleru.

7. Methodology

The study is mainly based on the primary data collected from engineering students of autonomous colleges in Krishna District through a well designed questionnaire. Three hundred sixty questionnaires were distributed. Two hundred fifty questionnaires were collected from engineering students. Among the 250 questionnaires, 83 were collected from Gudlavalleru Engineering College; 80 were collected from Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering; 87 were collected from P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology. The analysis and interpretation of the data is presented in the following paragraphs.

8. Data Analysis

8.1 Frequency of visiting the library

The frequency of users according to their frequency of visiting the library is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 : Distribution of users according to their frequency of visiting the library

Sl.No. Frequency of Visit

Name of the College

Total Gudlavalleru

Engineering College

Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering

P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology

1 Every Day 66.27 61.25 10.34 62.80

2 Once a Week 10.84 13.75 10.34 21.84

3 More than once in a week 16.87 15.00 21.84 11.60

4 Once in a month 6.02 10.00 6.90 7.60

Total 100.00

N=83

100.00 N=80

100.00 N=87

100.00 N=250

8.2 Amount of time spent

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The distribution of Engineering & Technology students according to their time spent in the library is show in Table 2.

Table 2: Distribution of users according to their time spent in the library

Sl.No. Time spent

Name of the College

Total Gudlavalleru

Engineering College

Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering

P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology

1 Less than one hour 10.84 13.75 12.65 12.40

2 One hour 33.73 26.25 39.08 33.20

3 2 – 3 hours 46.99 41.25 31.03 39.60

4 More than three hours 8.44 18.75 17.24 14.80

Total 100.00

N=83

100.00 N=80

100.00 N=87

100.00 N=250

8.3 Relative satisfaction of Library collection

In order to know the relative satisfaction of different types of library collection by the Engineering & Technology students, weightages of 4,3,2,1 and 0 are assigned to the responses of highly satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, dissatisfied, and highly dissatisfied respectively.

Total weightages and mean weightages are calculated for each college. The ranks are assigned to the colleges on the basis of their mean weightages. The rank list of colleges, total weightages, means weightages are given in below Table.

Library Collection

College Name Total

Weightages

Mean Weightages

Ranks

Text Books

Gudlavalleru Engineering College 233 2.81 2

Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering 195 2.44 3

P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology 256 2.94 1

Reference Books

Periodicals

Project Reports

Question Papers

News Gudlavalleru Engineering College 265 3.19 1

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Papers Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering 223 2.79 2

It is evident from Table 9 that the library users of P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology are more satisfied than the library users of Gudlavalleru Engineering College and Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering with regard to text books, reference books, project reports and question papers.

It is also evident from it that the users of Gudlavalleru Engineering College are more satisfied than the users of P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology and Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering with regard to periodical collection.

It is also evident from it that the users of Gudlavalleru Engineering College are more satisfied than the users of Lakkireddy Balireddy College of Engineering and P.V.P.Siddhartha Institute of Technology with regard to news papers collection for their reference.

9. Conclusions and Suggestions

1. Most of the Engineering and Technology students (61.2%) were satisfied with the quality and accessibility of text books available in the libraries. A few students (7.6%) were highly dissatisfied.

2. Most of the students (59.2%) were satisfied with the reference collection. A few students (4.8%) were highly dissatisfied.

3. About 44.4 percent of the Engineering & Technology students were satisfied with the periodicals, 14% were highly satisfied, 20.8% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 10.8%

were highly dissatisfied, and 10% were dissatisfied.

4. Hence, the budget for the purchase of books and periodicals may be enhanced in proportion to the rising cost of books and periodicals and keeping in view the increasing demand of the reading community.

5. Majority of the Engineering & Technology students (60.4%) were satisfied with the project reports. Only 12.4% of the students were dissatisfied.

6. About 35.6% of the Engineering & Technology students were satisfied with the old question papers, 30% were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 20% were highly satisfied, 13.2% were dissatisfied, and 1.2% was highly dissatisfied.

7. Most of the Engineering & Technology students (52.8%) were content satisfied with the newspapers while 1.6% were highly discontented.

8. Presently, it has become very intricate for a library to attain self sufficiency status owing to dearth of resources. The allocation of resources is not in commensurate with the increase in the strength of students and faculty, bringing intense pressure on the already scarce library resources.

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10. Reference

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6. Sridhar, M.S. 1995. Information seeking behavior of scientists and engineers: a case study of Indian Space Technologists. New Delhi: Concept Publishing co.

7. Wilson, T.D. 1981. On user studies and information needs. Journal of documentation. 37:

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