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Indian Journal of Library and Information Science Volume 7 Number 1, January - April 2013

Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in University Library : A Study

MS Lohar*, Nagaraja Naik M**, MC Gudimani***

Abstract This paper towards light on the step-by-step process of information resources in Kannada University, Hampi. Kannada University specialized in Kannada studies and have specialized research centres. A survey conducted at Kannada University Library, Hampi Keywords: Library Resources; Faculty; Research Scholar; Kannada University; Hampi.

Introduction Specialization is the order of the day. Research and development (R&D) has become a primary function of institutions such as Information is an important national universities, industries, government and resource. It is required and consistently been private institutions and associations. a significant element at every phase of human development. In one form or other it has it is Majorities of the libraries even today are an indispensable resource for right decision- providing only traditional services to its users. making at governmental, organizational and It is high time to go beyond this and think of personal levels. Vital ingredients for the socio- providing intensive services to its users. A economic and cultural development of any library may be having rich resources in the nation especially for developing countries like form of materials and manpower, but it is not . It is well-accepted fact that the country, successful to provide expected services to its which is rich in information is always ahead users, unless the resources are not used to the in socio-economic spheres. The countries, optimum levels. Information is one of the basic which suffer from information gap due to needs of mankind today’s research scholars non-transfer of information, lag behind in are totally lost in obtaining the required socio-economic development. information amidst the information flood. Hence to organize the mass of information, Modern Society is characterized by an after its evaluation in terms of quality, increasing need for specialized institutions in quantity, and reliability, is the need of the hour. various fields of human activities. The libraries being communication centers Author’s Affilation: *Librarian, Post Graduate Center, attached to various institutions endeavor in ( University), Kadur, , **Library Technical Assistant, ***Assistant Librarian, Kannada University, Hampi providing relevant information to its users Vidyaranya, Hospet (Tq), Bellary (Dt) 583276, Karnataka. whenever required. The importance of library Reprint’s request: Dr. M.S. Lohar, *Librarian, Post use for research work cannot be over Graduate Center, (Kuvempu University), Kadur, Karnataka. emphasized. Research is an activity, which is E-mail: [email protected] directed to see something knew, to find out what was not known before and thus expand (Received on 15.06.2010 , accepted on 16.10.2012)

Volume© Red Flower 7 Number Publication 1, January Pvt. -Ltd. April 2013 82 MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study man’s fund of knowledge. Research scholars a. To know the frequency of visits to the are specialists working in the narrower areas library by the research scholars; of a selected subject. Naturally their b. To find out the information needs of the information requirements are also of special teachers & research scholars; nature to be supplied in a special way. Newly generated information constitutes an essential c. To trace the potential utility of the library resource for the research worker. Knowledge resources; builds on knowledge as new inventions are d. To identify the types of information reported. sources required by the users; Today, due to the impact of team relay e. To identify the different methods of research, research activity is becoming multi literature search used by the scholars; disciplinary in nature. There is seepage of f. To know the use and adequacy of the literature. The documents in every field are information sources by the teachers & being published at on accelerated rate. In this research scholars; and situation it is not possible for any library, especially university library to acquire g. To understand the extent of help sought everything, which is needed by its users. Most by users and the services offered by the of the higher educational libraries are facing library staff; financial constraints. Therefore, it becomes h. To suggest the ways and means for the necessary for the library to develop a need- further improvement of the library based collection. Thus it is necessary to services. understand the user’s needs, so that one can be able to provide better services to his users. To know the information needs of the users, Methodology “User Studies” are necessary during planning and designing library and information The main purpose of the present study is to systems/services. assess the various facilities available for the teachers and research scholars in the library Need for the study of Kannada University. There are many techniques to carry out such on investigation. The present study focuses on the Which include interview method, schedule information seeking behavior of the faculty method, observation method and members and research scholars of the questionnaire method. In the present case a Kannada University, Hampi and the user questionnaire method was applied. A satisfaction. The main focus of this study is to structured questionnaire was prepared describe the information needs and keeping in view of the objectives of the study requirements in and to analyze the and personally distributed to the 150 randomly research scholar’s information search selected teachers and research scholars of activities, there use behavior and use pattern. Kannada University, Hampi. Sufficient time The studies also endeavor to find out the ability was given to fill the questionnaire. After the of the existing library and its organizational stipulated time the questionnaires were structure for disseminating information to collected back and analysed for collecting satisfy the needs of the end users. information and recorded in the present work.

Objectives of the study The specific objectives of the study are as follows

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Kannada University, Hampi: A Profile 1994. It now has three more satellite compuses: Introduction one in , an historical place, where the Department of Sculpture and Visual Arts is The Government of Karnataka through the located; other at Kuppalli, the birth place of Kannada University Act 1991 established the poet Kuvempu, where the Kuvempu Kannada University-Hampi, in 1991. Though Research Centre is located and other research the University was established in 1991, the centre at Kudalasangama. demand for such a University was there in Karnataka since the mid 1980s. The Government of Karnataka established a Vidyaranya commission under the chairmanship of The present campus of Kannada University Sadashiva Wodeyar to look into the demand. spans a hilly terrain of 680 acres situated This committee after consulting various amidst a natural forest and beautiful lake. A intellectuals, education experts, political small brook runs through the campus. The thinkers, social activists, literary personalities campus is named Vidyaranya after the and representatives of people came out with ‘founder-Guru’ of the Empire. a report and recommended for the It also means the ‘forest of knowledge’. The establishment of Kannada University. University has departments of research in Kannada University is located near Hampi, History, Religion and Philosophy that have an historical place in Karnataka State. The developed on the basis of the Kannada very name HAMPI evokes mythological and language and literature. historical memories. People lived here since 1. To translate books in other languages into the Stone- age, as it is evident in the cave Kannada according to the needs in paintings left here for posterity by the Stone- consonance with the objectives of the age people. Historically this place has been university and also to translate books in the abode of many religions—, Kannada into other languages. , Virashnavism. Islam and many popular religious cults like Huligemma cult, 2. To preserve and publish palm leaf Galemma cult, Mylaralinga cult, Balabasava manuscripts and rare ancient books. cult which exist to this day. This has been an 3. To search for and compile epigraphs important place for many kingdoms like relating to Kannada language and Hoysalas, Sindhs, Kapilas, not to speak of the literature, Kannada culture and history of Vijayanagar kingdom, which originated here the Kannadigas and publish them with its and reigned over most part of South India for findings based on research. more than three centuries. Vijayanagara 4. To compile and publish Kannada words, Kingdom has also been the icon of Kannada expressions, colloquial terms, words identity and has inspired the Karnataka peculiar to Industries and Agriculture, unification movement. Hampi has also been which are used by the Kannadigas in the abode of many a well-known Kannada Karnataka and in other countries where poets like , Raghavanka, the Kannadigas live. Kumaravyasa and Purandaradasa. Hampi is the treasure house of Indian architecture and 5. To provide for research in Kannada has been recognized by the UNESCO as a language and literature of the ancient times World Heritage Center. with an eye on future scientific developments. 6. To provide for research and determine the Stone Mantapas to Vidyaranya procedure regarding development of The University moved from the stone Kannada language and literature mantapas of Hampi, where it was initially embodying in itself all the educational located to the preset campus, Vidyaranya, in

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fields existing in the developing world and Faculty of Arts evolving suitable approach. • Department of Sculpture, Iconography, 7. To institute studies in Kannada language Painting and other Visual arts and literature in relation to other Indian • Department of Music and Dance cultures. 8. To organize advance studies and research programmes based on a deep Faculty of Social Science understanding of the trends in Kannada • Department of Folklore Studies language and literature. • Department of History 9. To promote archaeology in all its various • Department of Archaeology and Ancient aspects with a view to resurrecting and History rediscovering the ancient Kannada culture. • Department of Ephigraphy 10. To document the monuments in the state • Department of Tribal Studies so as to facilitate future research. • Department of Development Studies 11. To project Kannada culture, expressed through art, architecture, sculptures, Chairs for Focused Research Activities in the painting, iconography, epigraph, theatre, University dance, music, tribal, art, religion, philosophy of life, social movements; etc. 1. Chair for Studies in Dalit Culture 12. To document, analyse and preserve 2. Chair for Lohia Studies traditional tribal folk-art forms and 3. Chair for Studies on Shamba Joshi performing arts. 4. Chair for Studies on 13. To develop Kannada as a medium of 5. Chair for Hyderabad -Karnataka Regional instruction in relation to modern advances Studies in sciences and technology. 6. Chair for Valmiki Studies 14. To foster comparative studies of Kannada 7. Chair for Jaina Studies with other Dravidian and languages. 8. Chair for Dr. Rajakumar Studies 15. To build a museum that would store classic objects and artifacts of Karnataka. Specialized Research Centres Center for Women’s Studies was established The University has three main wings in the University in 2005 with funding from UGC, to conduct research in that area. 1 Adalitanga (Administrative wing) 2 Adhyayananga (Academic wing) The Kuvempu Research Centre has been established in 2002 at Kuppalli, the birth place 3 Prasaranga (Publication wing) of Kuvempu, a renowned Kannada poet.

Faculty of Language Profile of Kannada university libary • Department of Kannada Language Studies A library with a meaningful collection and • Department of Dravidian Studies effective library service is the fundamental • Department of Translation Studies requirements for the efficient academic functioning of any university. The • Department of Manuscriptology achievements of a university can be gauged • Department of Women’s Studies by the effectiveness of its library service. The

Indian Journal of Library and Information Science MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in 85 Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study library collection instead of being merely underway. Information on individuals, qualitatively rich must also be quantitatively institutions, which have contributed rich responding to the academic needs of the substantially for the development of Kannada, university. Such an institution would will be made available in this database. automatically attract good faculty and Kannada University has an MOU students. The Kannada University central (Memorandum of Understanding) with the library came into existence in the year 1991. state public library under this, one copy of the The central library is equipped with a good publication published in Karnataka and number of books and national and duplicated in the state central library under international book, journals related to the copyright act in being received in the university mandatory disciplines of the university. All out central library. efforts are being constantly made to procure all publications relating to Kannada and Karnataka. Though priority is given to Computerisation of Library Kannada publications relatively important To modernise the library the University and useful English publications are also Grants Commission provided financial grants procured for effective library development. of Rs. 25 lakhs which has been utilised for The main objective of the central library is to infrastructure development such as support staff and students of research by purchasing computers, providing Internet providing up-to-date information. service , Web page designing for the university The central library housed in Akshara a big and the library, etc. temple-like structure, has two distinct U.G.C sponsored INFLIBNET located at branches: Ahmedabad, (Gujarath) state has given 1 Library of modern texts additional grants of Rs. 6.50 lakhs for 2 Sirigannada (Special library for reference computerising the library ,for house-keeping studies). operations and training of the staff. The professional staffs of the library are regularly At present, total computerization of the deputed to undergo training at INFLIBNET library collection and connecting it to other center. The SOUL software developed by libraries via Internet has been taken up to INFLIBNET for computerization of library facilitate smooth and effective functioning. activities has been procured and implemented. The library offers on-line references and downloading facilities on payment from the ERNET. It has valuable audio video cassettes The users are making use of OPAC since of folk epics of Gonda, Kudubi, Myasa Beda, May 2004. Bar coding for the library collection Mansa, Lambani and Soliga communities. is under progress.

Sirigannad rederence library Internet & Digital Library Services Sirigannada reference library is housed in a Internet access is provided to all the users separate building ‘Sirigannada’ is a distinct of the university. C.D-ROM and DVD’ based library that exclusively stocks the source databases are acquired in the library on materials, both primary and secondary, various subject fields and are provided to necessary for anyone doing research on the users on demand. A multimedia regional Karnataka. The objective of this library is to language encyclopedia entitled “Kannada bring all the available sources and studies Vishvakosha “ and the Encyclopedia under one-roof. A database of descriptive Britannica are two of the most used CD bibliography of Karnataka Studies is presently databases in the library.

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Electronic Journals through U.G. C. Info-net Books procurement Statistics (2004-2007) Consortia Newspapers Subscribed Kannada University Library being the 1. member of U.G.C- Info-net programme avails the Internet Protocol authenticated Electronic 2. Economic Times Journals subscription facility extended by the 3. Hospet Times INFLIBNET center. 4. 5. New Indian Express Journals through Developing Library Network 6. Prajvani (DELNET) 7. Samyuktha Karnataka Kannada University Library is an institutional member of the DELNET. Through 8. this institutional subscription library user has 9. Times of India access to over 70 lakh records of books, journal 10. articles, non -print materials etc. This is a popular service in the library. 11. Vijay Karnataka

Journals Subscribed (In Kannada language) 1. Abhivruddi Adyayana 2. Achala Academic Year 2004-05 3. No. of Books Cost 4. Anikethana Rs. Ps. 5. Aseema Purchase 6880 4,78,732=00 Donations 17,520 9,30,273=00 6. Belagu Total 24,400 14,09,005=00 7. Budakattu Adhyayana 8. Cheluva Kannada Academic Year 2005-06 9. Deshakala No. of Cost 10. Diksuchi Books 11. Dravida Adhyayana Rs. Ps. Purchase 2978 4,50,456.00 12. Gandi Bazar Patrike Donations 2225 1,70,602.00 13. Gruhashobha Total 5203 6,21,058.00 14. Hai 15. Hambala Academic Year 2006-07 16. Hastaprati Adyayana 17. Hosatu No. of Cost 18. Veechara Books. Rs. Ps. 19. Janapada Jagattu Purchase 1496 2,47,297.66 20. Janapada Karnataka Donations 5925 4,29,539.90 Total 7421 6,76,837.56 21. Kannada Adyayana 22. Kannada Sahithya Parishatpatrike

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23. Karmaveera 14. Political and Economy Journal 24. Karnataka Lochana 15. Sanctuary 25. Kasturi 16. Social Action 26. 17. Social Scientist 27. Madipu 18. Southern Economist 28. Mahila Adhyayana 19. Sport Star 29. Mayura 20. The Week 30. Mogaveera 21. University News 31. Namma Kannada 22. University Today 32. Neenasam Mathu kathe 23. Ushas 33. Prapancha 24. Yogasudha 34. Priyanka 25. Yojana 35. Pusthaka Mahithi 36. Rangathorana International Journals Subscribed 37. Sankalana 1. Chain Report 38. Sankramana 2. Contemporary India 39. Sudha 3. Contemporary Review of Historical 40. Sujata Studies 41. Taranga 4. DESIDOC Bulletin Information Technology 42. 5. Developer I. Q. 43. Vijnana Sangathi 6. Economic and Political Weekly 44. Vikrantha Karnataka 7. Herald of Library Science 45. Viveka Prabha 8. Indian Epigraphy 9. Indian Journal of Applied Linguistics Journals Subscribed (In English Language) 10. Indian periodical literature 1. Art India 11. International Journal of Communication 2. Artha 12. International Journal of Rural 3. Report Management 4. Competition Success Review 13. Journal of Historical Review 5. Digit 14. Journal of Librarianship & Information 6. Down to Earth Science 7. Front line 15. Language 8. Health & Nutrition 16. Language Forum 9. India Today 17. Marg 10. Journal of Karnataka Studies 18. National Geographic 11. Kurukshetra 19. Quarterly Journal of Mythic Society 12. Manushi 20. Quarterly Review of Historical Studies 13. Men’s Health 21. Quest Historica

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22. Reader’s Digest 3. Encyclopedia Backward Castes: 23. Reserve Bank of India Bulletin Vol.4, 2004. 24. Seminar 4. Encyclopedia Indica: 1999. 25. SRELS Journal of Information 5. Encyclopedia Mundarica: 16 Vols, 1998. Management 6. Encyclopedia of Britannica: Vol.30,1981. 26. Text 7. Encyclopedia of Buddhist :Vol.2. 27. The Book Review 8. Encyclopedia of Communication Media: 28. Time 4 Vol. 29. Twentieth Century Literature 9. Encyclopedia of Library and Information Science: Vol.8, 1972. 10. Kannada Janapadha Vishvakosha: Electronic Journals accessed through U.G. C. Kannada Sahithya Parisat, Bangalore. Infonet Consortia programme 11. Kannada Vishvakosha: Mysore Kannada University Library being the University, Mysore. member of U.G. C- Infonet programme avails the I.P. authenticated E- Journals subscription 12. Kiriyara Vishvakosha: Perambar facility extended by INFLIBNET, Publishing, Bangalore. Ahamedabad. 13. Religion Encyclopedia. 14. Vaidhya vishvakosha: Kannada Some reference resources in the library University, Hampi. Dictionaries 1. English Konkani Dictionary Bibliography 2. Chamber’s English Dictionary 1. Analytical and Critical Bibliography. 3. English Dictionary 2. Bibliography of Dissertation Theses: New Delhi. 4. English Kannada Dictionary. 3 Vols. 3. British Books in Print: London, 1965. 5. Halagannada Niganttu 4. British National Bibliography: London, 6. Kannada English Dictionary 1950-1974. 7. Kannada- Kannada- Kasturi Kosa 5. Cumulative Book Index: Newyork, 1969. 8. Kannada Niganttu; Kannada Sahithya 6. Indian Books in Print: Delhi. Parisatu 7. Indian National Bibliography: Calcutta, 9. Law Dictionary 1957. 10. Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs Ed. 8. National Bibliography of Indian Literature: 3. 1975. New Delhi, 1901-1953. 11. Oxford English Dictionary. Vol. 3; 1961.

12. Oxford Thesaurus: A to Z dictionary of Year Book synonyms 1. Europa yearbook 1987. 2. India: a reference annual: 1985.Govt. of Tulu English Dictionary India. Encyclopedia 3. Press and Advertisers yearbook 1981. 1. Bharatha Samajakarya Vishvakosha: 1994 4. Reader’s Digest Almanac Yearbook 1981. 2. Encyclopedia America:Vol.10, 1965

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5. The Stateman’s Yearbook and historical Indexing and Abstracting annual of the states of the worldfor the 1. Biographical and Agricultural Index; year 1981. 1934: NewYork 2. Chemical Abstracts, 1907: USA Biography 3. Index India, 1976; Jaipur 1. Chambers Biographical Dictionary 1989: 4. Indian Library Science Abstract, 1976: New York. Calcutta 2. Current Biography 1940: London. 5. Indian science index, 1976: Gurugav 3. Dictionary of National Biography, 1972- 6. Library and Information Science 74; Calcutta. Abstracts: London, 1950. 4. India: Who’s who : New Delhi, 1969. 7. National Union Catalogue of Scientific 5. The International Who’s who, 1987: Serials, 1965: New Delhi London. 8. Social Science Index, 1974: NewYork 6. Webster’s Biographical Dictionary 1976. 9. Union Catalogue Periodicals INSDOC 7. Who’s who in India 1986: Bombay. 10. World list of Scientific Periodicals 8. Who’s who of Indian Writers , 1961: New Delhi. Statistics of the Kannada University, Hampi Library: (As on year 30.11.2007) Geographical Sources Number of books = 90,887 1. Gazetteer of India and Indian Women, Number of Reference books = 3,246 1965: India. Number of International Journals subscribed=11 2. Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1907: Oxford. Number of Journals subscribed = 82 3. Karnataka Gazetteer: Bangalore. Number of Theses/dissertation = 388

Questionnaires distributed: 150 Faculty members: 75 Research Scholars: 75 4.1 Languages known to read and write/ understand only Efforts have been made to check the efficiency and proficiency in languages. Table. 1 indicates the different languages known by the respondents.

Table 1 Read Write Read/ Understand Understand only Kannada 100% 100% 100% English 95% 67% 50% 45% Telugu 50% 35% 30% 49% 30% 39% Any Others 20% 15% 15% Tamil NIL NIL NIL NIL

Volume 7 Number 1, January - April 2013 90 MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study

Table 2 120% 100% Teaching 50% 80% Research 30% Read 60% Administration 10% Write 40% Others 10% 20% Read/Understand 0% Understand only

Teac hing Research Admi nistration Others Number of Projects Reports = 200 Number of CD-ROM = 150 Number of Floppies = 53 Activities Majorities of respondents were involved in Analysis and interpretation of data teaching activities (50%) followed by research (30%) as indicated in table 2. Utility of the library resources by the users is the main aim and purpose of the library. Modify the respondent were enviable in The use studies are more useful to understand tracing activities (50%) followed by research the psychology of the user in getting (30%). information. With this objective the user Table 3 group is studied to introduce modify the services and tools of the information handling Research 50% system. Teaching 40% In this chapter, an attempt has been made Others 10% to interpret and analyse the use of library resources by the faculty members and research scholars of Kannada University, Hampi. A Association with any other Institution(s) Questionnaire was designed and distributed In addition they were also associated with among 150 randomly selected sample other institutions in teaching and research population they were requested to go through activities table 3. each set of questions and to answer the questions along with their opinion towards the same. Table 4 The preliminary questions asked were about the background information of the individual M.Phil 60% regarding the name, sex, qualification, Ph.D 40% language known etc. Table 3 in addition they were also associated The table indicates that majorities of the with other institution in tradition and us, respondents are well versed with the Kannada activities. language followed by English, was alien to them.

Indian Journal of Library and Information Science MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in 91 Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study

Table 5 Diptychs the areas of specialization of the Kannada Li terature 30% respondent’s toped the list Folklore 12% (30%) followed by the folklore (12 %) and Anthropology 11% anthropology (10%). Tribal Studies 10% History 10% Research Scholarships/grants Sociology 8% Education 7% Financial assistance for research studies was Women Studies 7% in the form the grants 70% followed by the Social work 5% scholarship (20%) as received. Use of personal library collection Use of University Library

30% Use of the library 25% 20% Series1 Library resources are for use. They are 15% 10% known as Knowledge reservoirs. To check the 5% utility of these sources /collections a questions 0% Kannada History Social work has been posed to the is tabulated as under Literature table 7, 8 and 9. It was found that the make respondents use Research related information of the library gather information for their day To a question about the research students to day need. Majority of them (60%) visited under there guidance it was reviled that a the library almost every day while 15% used large majority had registered for M.Phil (60%) the library twice a week. degree programme table 4. The reason for this may be that they do not get sufficient time because of getting sufficient Table 6 Table 9 Grants 70% Fortnightly 35% Scholarship 20% Once in week 30% Any other 10% Once in a three days 15% Daily 10% Once in a Month 10% Notatall Table 7 Greatly 50% Considerably 40% information by surfing the Internet in their Moderately 5% home or at the cyber café. Still, some are in Scarcely 5% the habit of visiting the library regularly for Notatall -- accessing the traditional book collection. Areas of specialization

Table 8

Daily 60% Table 10: Library resources and its Once in three days 15% impact on user Once in a week 10% Greatly 60% Fortnightly 10% Considerably 15% Once in a Month 5% Moderately 10% Notatall -- Scarcely 5% Notatall

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Table 11 Table 13 Greatly 80% Biographical sources 1 Considerably 10% Books 1 Moderately 7% Dictionaries 1 Scarcely 3% Index and Abstracting sources 1 Table 12 Reports 1 Any other 2 5-6 hours 60% Current journals 2 3-4 hours 30% Encyclopedias 2 0-2 hours 10% Geographical sources 2 Handbook 2 Utility of other libraries Bibliographical sources 3 Use of other libraries It is fact that no libraries are self-sufficient. No single libraries can meet the needs of 200% requirements of its users. An open-ended 150% question was asked about utilizations and 100% 50% results are presented in Table 9. 0% Series1 Series1 Table 9 indicated the many of respondents Biographical Any other have a good personal library collection. In sources addition they make use of the university library and other libraries almost Eveready for collecting information.

Table 14 Impact of the library collection Publications of Kannada University research Scanning latest periodicals in 30% activities the library Utilizing institute’s current 20% These tables indicate that the library awareness service collection has a great impact on the users Participating in discussions 20% (60%) in them research activities. The with experts publications of the Kannada University have Utilizing personalized service 10% greater influence (80%) as they deals with on from external source going research activities as well as completed Participating in Conferences 10% research programs of the university. Participating in Seminars 5% Through Correspondence 5%

Reading habits of users the had informed that on this part they are It was observed that 5 to 6 hours were making provision for literature collection in utilized for reading and information gathering their project proposals seeking financial aids. purpose by (60%) of the respondents. Perhaps they are the research scholars and the faculty member who ever more involved in research Resources activities than the seniors who are engaged Utility of library reference sources (rank wise) mostly in teaching functions these active users suggested that the library should have Update of knowledge practice optimum collection print and non print An analysis of the utilization of the library sources of information in all the fields of the reference collection (Table 13) indicated that specialization under taken by the university bibliographical resources were the list

Indian Journal of Library and Information Science MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in 93 Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study

and correspondences formed the other 35% 30% practices for keeping one self abreast of the 25% 20% Series1 latest developments (Table 14). 15% 10% 5% 0% Awareness of library services Libraries are always eager to provide different services to save the time of the users and to keep them abreast about the latest developments in their subject fields. consulted sources for the information Library’s success lies in its user satisfaction. collection. It is the user not the manager of the library Books, Dictionaries, Reports, Indexing who judges the efficiency of the library. sources were the first priority followed by Therefore the user opinion is very much Encyclopedias and current journals. important to develop the library. Open-ended question was formed in this regard and the However while updating the knowledge in respance is presented in Table 15. the respective fields of specialization latest issues of the journals formed the primary source (30%). The next practice was discussion Use of Library Services with experts (20%). Participation in seminar Even though the analysis reveled that the and conferences, utilization external sources respondent were using the library collection effectively in their information collection ac- Table 15 tivities it was on their personal endevours Majority of them were not making use of the Reference services/Referral services 20% sources available within the library as can be Reprographic Services 20% seen in Table 15. The general demand was for Circulation services 15% reprographic service (20%). The Internet ser- Reader Guides Assistance 10% vices (10%) on-line database services (5%), and Internet Services 10% Current Awareness service 8% inter-library loan service (2%) were not fully Selective Dissemination of 5% utilized. Information services Library is mainly known by its collection Bibliographic Services 5% rather than its building. Efficient collection of On line Data Base Services 5% the library helps the users to satisfy their Inter Library Loan services 2% information needs. Any Other, Please Specify

Need For instructions and assistance in the use 20% of library resources 18% 16% Introducing the library to the new comers 14% 12% and explaining the rules and regulations, 10% 8% providing the instructions to maintaining 6% 4% library decorum and discussing the do; and 2% 0% Series1 don’t activities in the library needs a lot of support from the library staff. A question was asked in this regard and it was found that not many represents aware of the sources as offered to use the library resources. They expressed the urgent need of assistance by

Volume 7 Number 1, January - April 2013 94 MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study the staff in this matter by way of orientetion force to maximize the library service to the cources. academicians at the lowest cost and with reasonable effort. Findings and Suggestions 6. Presently most of the academic institutions in Karnataka are trying to build their own Suggestions data banks or repositories in digital form 1. The changing nature of Information and for many purposes with the help of their Communication Technologies (ICTs) has digital library. brought in challenges for information 7. Academic librarians in Karnataka have an users and organizers. This has completely inherent potentiality, as many of them are changed the way in which users access trying hard to gain new knowledge from and use information. world wide digital libraries. World Wide 2. There is a growing demand from the Web is used as communication media for student’s community for accessing the the modern digital library from where all digital information on various subjects users are able to access unlimited resources fields. To cater to this demand sufficient in their desired areas of knowledge. financial aids, technology and place must 8. All modern gadgets like computers, be allocated by the authorities to establish printers and other facilities must be made a good digital library with good number available for the effective and potential in of digital collection. house operations of the library. 3. Most of the academic libraries in 9. For designing a digital library prototype Karnataka have not got a reasonable there is a lack of Organisational Models in strength of the traditional multimedia Indian context. The LIS professionals must products like audio, visual or audio-visual try hard to solve this problem. aids and of course microforms except the collection of maps and atlases. In this 10. Specialized organizational skills or apentid situation a digital library is a powerful to bring semblance between the user alternative to have all kinds and different demands and the varieties of information formatted information sources. sources. The profession of Librarianship is encountering this contemporary 4. Present day academic library is ever in transformation in the media change as transition due to many reasons including well as meeting the equally changing the budgetary constraints and non- demands of the users. voluntary demands of its non-committal users and the centralized organization set 11. The variety of materials held by the up. All these factors must be considered libraries also demands their handling and before setting a digital library. Adequately maintenance skills. For example, in the qualified and trained staff must be traditional as well as in emerging trends recruited to handle the media. the library personel needs the knowledge and skill to demonstrate the use of 5. Modern academic libraries do not run by microforms as well as surfing and themselves; they require a lot of navigating Internet. organization and administration strategies to run with multifarious activities and 12. Library finance should represent effective resources. An array of responsibilities is portion towards the digital/multimedia vested upon the librarian as an sources. entrepreneur in the industry of knowledge. This demand’s him to have an adequate Conclusion knowledge of the management techniques for adjusting the working force to the working environment and the working Information is generated through a number of communication channels through print and

Indian Journal of Library and Information Science MS Lohar et al / Utilization of Information Resources by the Faculty and Research Scholars in 95 Kannada University Library Hampi: A Study electronic media viz, books journals, websites, The user studies involve study of information etc. These sources generate a large quantity of seeking behaviour of users in a particular information, which has led to the phenomena discipline and environment. Several studies of information explosion/ deluge. It is have been undertaken in the areas of estimated that the growth of literature is information needs and use and information roughly three times faster than the growth of seeking behaviour of various groups of users population. This phenomenon of information such as scientists, technologist, social scientists, flood has created various problems for economist, students etc,. All the studies have information workers in respect to retrieval of reveled that the information need use and information exhaustively, expeditiously, pin- information seeking patterns of groups of users pointedly and with precision. The essence of varied depending upon level, areas study or information is a critical factor not only for the research and field of study. The methods and countries, but for the individuals also besides channels used by them also vary depending its multiplier effect on the efficiency and on the parameters. effectiveness of an entity for which it is being The electronic or Internet era has brought utilized. An individuals need for information in far reaching changes in how users seek arises, when his stock of knowledge does not information. With the advent of Information give any answer to a particular concept. The and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and information needs of human beings are to a their massive use in libraries, patterns of large extent affected by the environment in information seeking behaviour of users have which they work. To understand the experienced a changed phenomenon. The information needs of a particular group of users find it interesting and easy to browse users, it is essential to undertake user’s studies. web for required information than to search The purpose for conducting user studies in the the library documents. The availability of field of library and information science are Internet based information sources and varied in number, important among them are: successful use of search engines guides the to know the users and their information behavioural pattern of information seeking. needs; to identify the levels and kinds of user The growing popularity of the Internet has needs; to identify the approach, perception given wide variety of choices for users to and information-seeking behaviour of users in browse and seek information from a wide the parent library environment; to identify, by variety of resources. However, it has also given the results, the real strength and weaknesses a concern of accuracy and quality of of the existing library resources and services; information, as Internet is not a controlled to specify the limitations or problems which medium of information like scholarly might appear to discourage the use of the publications.the libraries and library library; to perceive the level of involvement professionals have a greater roll to play in this and participation of the users in building a ever changing nature and types information good library environment; and to improve the to meet the information needs of library users library system as a whole. User studies are effectively. essential not only for planning and designing information systems but also for their efficient References and effective operation. User studies would help to improve the relation of the library with user community in an objective way. The 1. Abels Eileen G et al A user-based design process success of any information system depends for web sites. OCLC systems and Services 1999; 15: 35-44. considerably on how best the system design is based on a close and accurate understanding 2. Abels Eileen G et al A user-based design process for web sites. OCLC systems and Services 1999; of the users. The concept of information need, 15(1): 35-44. information seeking and use studies are synonymously used in the area of user studies. 3. Angadi, Mallikarjun and Koganurmath, Mattayya, Access to e-resources at TISS: A case

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