LIRBARY RESOURCES AND SERVICES IN VIGNAN’S GROUP OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: A USAGE PATTERNS AND SATISFACTION LEVELS AMONG FACULTY Smt. A. Rajani Kumari Librarian , NTR Vignan Library, Vignan University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh Email: rajanivu96@gmail.com   Dr. M. Doraswamy Professor & Head, Department of Library and Information Science, Dravidian University, Kuppam-517 426, Chittoor Dt., Andhra Pradesh Email: mdoraswamy@gmail.com Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY INTRODUCTION In any typical academic library, effective information service delivery becomes possible only when the information needs, preferences and behavioral patterns of the faculty are thoroughly and objectively analyzed. A library system can effectively offer its resources and services by mapping behaviour responses with a clear understanding of the information needs, preferences and behavioural patterns exhibited by its users. The overall growth and development of a learner is possible only when a library system is able to have proper strategies and updated resources for attracting students towards seeking knowledge. So, when the faculty’s behavior pattern is known, it helps in creating a good learning ecosystem by involving them in the planning and content development process. When the librarians and other personnel know the information-seeking pattern and actual usage by the faculty, it becomes possible to provide suitable information services, design advanced information systems so that faculty make optimum utilization of library resources and services for their academic needs. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY The study primarily seeks to find out the user performance gap among faculty at Vignan Group of Educational Institutions by analyzing the usage of various resources and services and their satisfaction levels. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY The study is user study The data was collected through questionnaire method The target is faculty members of VGEI Statistical technique used : Simple random method 550 questionnaires were distributed to the faculty members of VGEI. The investigator received 385 questionnaires for analysis The data was analyzed according to the objectives result of the outcome is presented in the form tables Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION Table 1: Overall usage level of print resources S.No Print resources Total Weightage Mean Rank 1 Books 1498 3.89 2 Seminar/Conference proceedings 1136 2.95 3 Reference sources 1109 2.88 4 Newspapers 1088 2.83 5 Theses/dissertations 1082 2.81 6 Periodicals 735 1.91 It is evident from this that the faculty members preferred to use books heavily as compared to other print resources, which is followed by conference/seminar proceedings, reference sources, and news papers at the second, third and fourth ranks respectively. . Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Satisfaction of library print resources Table 2: Overall satisfaction of print resources S.No Print resources Total Weightage Mean Rank 1 Newspapers 1073 2.79 2 Theses/dissertations 1047 2.72 3 Reference sources 4 Seminar/Conference proceedings 936 2.43 5 Books 951 2.47 6 Periodicals 693 1.80 It is evident from Table 2 that faculty members are more satisfied with newspapers as compared to other print sources. It is followed by theses/dissertations, reference sources, seminar/conference proceedings at the second and third ranks respectively. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Usage level of e-resources and services Table 3: Overall usage level of e-resources S.No e-resources Total Weightage Mean Rank 1 Internet 1423 3.70 2 Online lectures 1143 2.97 3 Intranet 1033 2.68 4 College website 968 2.51 5 OPAC 965 6 Online journals 768 1.99 7 Online books 760 1.97 8 CD-ROM database 759 9 Online database 734 1.91 It is evident from Table 3 that faculty members prefer using the Internet heavily compared to other electronic resources and services. It is followed by online lectures, intranet, college website, and online public access catalogues, which have got second, third, and fourth ranks respectively. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Satisfaction of e-resources Table 4: Overall Satisfaction of e-resources S.No e-resources Total Weightage Mean Rank 1 Internet 1034 2.69 2 Intranet 1002 2.60 3 College website 941 2.44 4 Online lectures 916 2.38 5 OPAC 768 1.99 6 Online books 695 1.81 7 Online journals 691 1.79 8 CD-ROM database 682 1.77 9 Online database 676 1.76 It is evident from Table 4 that faculty members are more satisfied with the Internet facility as compared to other electronic resources and services. It is followed by intranet, college website, online lectures, online public access catalogue, which have got second, third, fourth and fifth ranks respectively for their satisfaction levels. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Usage level of library services Table 5: Rank list of library services are using by the faculty members S.No Services Total weightage Mean Rank 1 Borrowing facility 836 2.17 2 IT based services 3 Reference service 694 1.80 4 Bibliographical service 612 1.59 5 Reprographic facility 502 1.30 6 Current Awareness service 489 1.27 7 SDI service 467 1.21 8 Inter library loan 431 1.12 It is evident from Table 5 that the faculty members are using borrowing facilities and IT-based services heavily compared to other services. It is followed by reference service, bibliographical service, reprographic facility, current awareness service, which have got second, third, fourth and fifth ranks respectively. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Satisfaction level of library services Table 6: Rank list of library services are satisfied by the faculty members S.No Services Total weightage Mean Rank 1 IT based services 728 1.89 2 Borrowing facility 717 1.86 3 Reference service 659 1.71 4 Bibliographical service 589 1.53 5 Current Awareness service 481 1.25 6 Reprographic facility 467 1.21 7 SDI service 463 1.20 8 Inter library loan 423 1.10 It is evident from Table 6 that faculty members are more satisfied with the IT based service as compared to other services. It is followed by borrowing facility, reference service, and bibliographical service which have got second, third and fourth ranks respectively for their satisfaction levels. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY Table 7: Performance Gap between usage level and satisfaction level of print resources Gap analysis of the usage level and satisfaction level of library resources and services The gap analysis identifies the performance of the libraries as perceived by users. Gap analysis identifies the gaps between the usage levels of the resources and services and the satisfactory level of the resources and services. The mean values are derived by subtracting the ‘mean score of usage of resources and services’ from the ‘mean score of satisfaction of resources and services’. This comparison reveals the gap analysis. S.No Print Resources Usage Level Satisfaction Level Performance Gap 1 Text Books 3.89 2.47 -1.42 2 Periodicals 1.91 1.80 -0.11 3 Reference Sources 2.88 2.72 -0.16 4 Theses/Dissertations 2.81 -0.09 5 Seminar/conference proceedings 2.95 2.43 -0.52 6 Newspapers 2.83 2.79 -0.04 Table 7: Performance Gap between usage level and satisfaction level of print resources Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY Gap analysis of the usage level and satisfaction level of electronic resources S.No E-Resources Usage Level Satisfaction Level Performance Gap 1 Internet 3.70 2.69 -1.01 2 Intranet 2.68 2.60 -0.08 3 College website 2.51 2.44 -0.07 4 Online lectures 2.97 2.38 -0.59 5 OPAC 1.99 -0.52 6 Online books 1.97 1.81 -0.16 7 Online journals 1.79 -0.20 8 CD-ROM databases 1.77 9 Online databases 1.91 1.76 -0.15 Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY Gap analysis of the usage level and satisfaction level of library services S.No Services Usage Level Satisfaction Level Performance Gap 1 Borrowing facility 2.17 1.86 -0.31 2 IT based services 1.89 -0.28 3 Reference service 1.80 1.71 -0.09 4 Bibliographical service 1.59 1.53 -0.06 5 Reprographic service 1.30 1.21 -0.15 6 Current awareness service 1.27 1.25 -0.02 7 SDI service 1.20 -0.01 8 Inter library loan 1.12 1.10 Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTION In the overall comparative analysis first discussed on the correlation between the usage levels of various library resources and services by faculty and their satisfaction levels shows an absolute negative performance gap. It is shown that faculty displayed lower satisfaction levels with library print resources, electronic resources and services than their usage levels. After analyzing the user survey outcomes and its conclusion, my study makes some suggestions for improving the usage and satisfaction of library resources and services among the faculty working in select engineering college libraries operating under the Vignan’s Group of Educational Institutions (VGEI). In view of already discussed issues and deficiencies identified in the study, that I have just discussed, the library should conduct user awareness programs in the initial stages of each academic session, which will create a positive orientation among newly-joined faculty about the significance of the library system in their academic requirements. The designed program must focus on providing valuable insights into the various resources and services offered by the library so that they become familiar with the process of their engagement with the library. In fact, this will help the faculty to optimize the utilization of their time in the library. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY The library personnel must be trained to offer better guidance to the faculty so that resources are optimally utilized for which the librarian must take the lead. While training and orienting the faculty towards better utilization of resources and services, the library professionals are expected to extensively and strategically use support tools like self-explanatory boards, labels on the shelves and tracks, proper signage for subjects, staff help, display of rules and regulations, location map, OPAC help menu. The study also points out the need to organize library orientation and information literacy programmes for enhanced awareness about the offered library resources and services. Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY

Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY THANK 'Q' Thursday, April 25, 2019 Mrs. A. Rajanikumari & Dr.M.DORASWAMY