Title: A Study of Library resource availability and usage among college students.
Author: Pranay Bhalekar, Omkar Gawde, Tushar Tarmale.
Introduction: The library is an integral part of any higher educational institution, supporting teaching, learning, and research activities. It provides access to a wide range of resources such as textbooks, reference books, journals, newspapers, e-resources, and digital databases that help students enhance their academic performance and research skills. The availability of adequate library resources and the effective utilization of these resources play a crucial role in the overall academic development of college students.
Despite the increasing investment in library infrastructure and digital resources, variations exist in the level of awareness, accessibility, and usage of library facilities among college students. Factors such as lack of time, limited digital literacy, insufficient guidance, and preference for online sources outside the library may affect students’ library usage patterns. Therefore, it becomes important to study the availability of library resources and analyze how frequently and effectively college students utilize them. The findings of such a study can help institutions improve library services, resource planning, and student engagement with academic resources.
Objective: To analyze students’ awareness of various library facilities and services.
Literature Review:
1) Library Resource Availability and Student Usage Patterns
Thanuskodi (2012) conducted a study on the use of library resources by college students and found that the availability of both print and electronic resources significantly influences students’ learning behavior. The study revealed that while traditional resources such as textbooks and reference books were widely used, awareness and usage of electronic resources like e-journals and online databases were comparatively low. The findings emphasized the need for proper orientation programs and user education to enhance effective utilization of library resources. The study concluded that adequate availability alone is not sufficient; students must also be trained to access and use library resources efficiently.
2)Utilization of Library Services in Higher Education Institutions
A study by Natarajan and Suresh (2014) examined the usage of library facilities among undergraduate students and highlighted that frequent library users demonstrated better academic performance compared to occasional users. The research showed that students primarily used the library for borrowing books, preparing for examinations, and accessing reference materials. However, services such as online databases, institutional repositories, and digital catalogues were underutilized due to lack of awareness and technical skills. The authors suggested that libraries should actively promote available resources and integrate library usage with academic curricula to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
Data Collection: To analyze students’ awareness of various library facilities and services. Following 5 questions are framed on Likert scale (5-point scale). A google form was framed with linear scale 1 to 5. Data was coded as 5 for strongly agree, 4 for agree, 3 for neutral, 2 for disagree and 1 for strongly disagree. 100 students of ITM were surveyed and data was downloaded as excel sheet. For each question mean, standard deviation, standard error and t-statistics were calculated.
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As all the t-stats values are less than -1.96 so people disagree with |
Data Analysis:
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Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Q5 |
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Mean |
3.53 |
3.36 |
3.65 |
3.94 |
3.61 |
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Standard Deviation |
1.18 |
1.10 |
1.01 |
1.03 |
1.23 |
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Standard Error |
0.12 |
0.11 |
0.10 |
0.10 |
0.12 |
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T Stat |
-21.98 |
-24.00 |
-26.09 |
-25.10 |
-20.78 |
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Conclusion:
People do not like using the college library for their academic work.
People do not use library books and resources regularly for studies, assignments, or exams.
People do not find required books or materials when they visit the library.
People do not find library resources helpful as per their course requirements.
People are not satisfied with the availability and usefulness of the college library resources.
Reference:
Natarajan, K., & Suresh, B. (2014). Use and user satisfaction of library resources and services in higher education institutions. International Journal of Library and Information Science, 6(3), 45–52.
