A Study on Students Use of Library Resources and Self-efficacy

Abstract

This study has been undertaken to determine the "Students use of the library resources and self-efficacy". This study has tried to find out the information seeking behavior of the graduate level students and their knowledge about the library resources and services made available to them. And how their familiarity with the resources and technology develops self-efficacy. \nThe study has tried to find out how the integration of the Internet has affected the information searching habit on students. \nThe study has collected empirical data on the information searching behavior of the students of the three respective colleges taken under study they are Thapathali College, NCCS(National College of Computer Science) and Kathmandu University. These data has been gathered from 25% of the actually targeted group of study. Questionnaire method has been obtained to collect primary data from the 200 full time students of which 127 has been returned which is the exact number of questionnaire tabulated for the study. \nAfter tabulating and analyzing the data the findings of the study indicated that students are most in the need of intervention as they often come to college unprepared. The guidance in the use of library resources and services is necessary to help students meet some of the information requirements. It is also found that library books, e-journals and Internet are the most popular source of information for the course work and research and the place of Google in the student’s information behavior is prominent and positively co-related to use of traditional library resources. \n \nThe study shows that in today’s fast paced world the desire for expediency has promoted students to place a premium on information that can be found easily and quickly. To this end, many students limit their search to electronic resources, choosing format over substance and convenience over accuracy. In particular reliance on the world wide web as a primary and often sole research tool has impacted the quality and rigor of students projects and reduced students familiarity with more traditional print resources and bibliographical databases in their college library collection. \nInternet has rapidly become one of the most powerful global sources of wide range of information presenting many possibilities for the efficient and unlimited dissemination of information. It has contributed positively in enhancing the search effectiveness. Which has lead to giving students psychological boost and problem solving ability. The newfound confidence due to the easily accessible information resources has upgraded the learning ways among them. Students have become more competent and confident about what they could achieve in the given situations and knowledgeable about the ways that leads to the achievement. \n \nWith the popularity of the electronic resources as the major information sources the study has also found that all the libraries is automated with some having their own online catalogue system with subscription to electronic journal sites and bibliographic indexes. Even if the library did not have various electronic resources they gave Internet services through computer labs and online catalogue. But without proper knowledge of accessing the information sources both electronic or print students are vulnerable to the overloaded information and was not seen so much keen on using the library’s electronic resources they preferred internet resources as its interface is easy to use and they could get unlimited information on the subjects. \nProper guidance and lack of professional person along with the inadequate collection in the material as well as insufficient networking computers has been the main drawbacks on students exploring the resources. For them to be more interested towards libraries librarians along with the faculty members need to work together in educating them about the services and resources that is available and library should also work towards networking with other libraries so that it could provide better range of materials in given subject. \n \nIn this study even though students are drawn to information sources that allow them to complete their research in “the easiest least painful way” the large percent of students are still motivated to learn about accessing their present library resources. With such a strong bias among students towards using the web as their primary research tool, library instruction should be considered a crucial means of introducing students to print resources of the library beside the web. Numerous studies have shown that positive change in student’s research skills and knowledge of the library and its resources after library instruction. This study has also tried to point towards that aspect of the library where it could educate its users by giving orientation so they can become an accurate searcher and make use of the right information at the right time. \n

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