READING IN DIGITAL AGE: A STUDY OF READING HABITS AMONG STUDENTS OF NESS WADIA COLLEGE OF COMMERCE, PUNE 1 Manojkumar Thakur 2 Surekha R. Khare 3 Rashmi Makhare

This Paper is an attempt to ascertain the reading habit among students, and their preferences to the sources of information of Ness Wadia College of Commerce, Pune. It is not only useful for evaluating available resources but also for acquiring new resources. For collecting necessary data a questionnaire based survey method was adopted for present research. It can be conclude that reading is the second popular habits among students. They not only read fiction book but also current affairs, Entrance Examination and Competitive examination books. Students give preference to search Internet rather than books. There is a strong need of orientation regarding open access journals, Institutional Repositories and Open access courseware. Key Words: Reading Habits, Information Seeking Behavior ABSTRACT

SCOPE AND OBJECTIVES The scope of present study is limited to the T.Y.B.com students of Ness Wadia college of Commerce Students. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the reading habit among students. To ascertain the reading of e-books, devices use for reading e-books and purchasing trend of e-books. To find the frequency of reading. To ascertain the awareness of audio books, Free e-books, free e-journals and free course material. To find the popular author among the students.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY For collecting necessary data a questionnaire based Survey research method was adopted. Keeping in view the objectives of present study a multiple choice questionnaire was prepare and distributed to the Third year B.Com. students on 12 th August, questionnaires distributed and 167 respondents respond to the survey.

What do you do in your spare times? SR. NO. ActivityRESPONDENT% 1Reading Listening Music Travelling Visit Book Exhibition Watching Movies Any Other Activity Table No. 4.1

Do you read e-books and if yes what type of device do you use? Table No.4.2 Sr. no. Response% 1Yes No NO RESPONSE 01 E-BOOK READER 2.99% DESKTOP LAPTOP 23.35% CELL PHONE 32.93%

Do you prefer print book, magazine or internet to read? Figure 4.3 INTERNET 45.50% MAGAZINES 27.54% BOOKS 44.91%

How often do you read books? Table No.4.4

What Type of books do you like to read? Table No. 4.5

How do you get the information about books? Sr. no. Information About Books RESPONDE NT % 1T.V FAMILY MEMBERS NEWSPAPERS FRIEND BLOGS MAGAZINES TEACHERS INTERNET BOOK DISPLAY ANY OTHER SOURCE Table No.4.6

How do you access / get the books? Sr. no. Access the Books RESPONDE NT % 1Purchase Borrow From Friend/ Neighbour Borrow From Library Suggest Library To Buy The Books Public Library Search Internet Table No.4.7

From where you collect the information when you assign the project in the college? Table No.4.8

Why do you read? And which factors attracts you to a book? Table No.4.9

TOP TEN AUTHORS AND TOP TEN BOOKS SR. NO TOP TEN AUTHORSTOP TEN BOOKS 1CHETAN BHAGATTWO STATES 2APJ ABDUL KALAMTHREE MISTAKES OF MY LIFE 3 WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR REVOLUTION J.K. ROWLINGHARRY POTTER 5SHEDNEY SHELDONWINGS OF FIRE 6PREMCHANDFIVE POINT SOMEONE 7JEFERRY ARCHERTHE SECRET 8RAVINDRA SINGHGODAN 9DAN BROWNSHERLOCK HOLMES 10SHIVAJI SAWANTCHAVA (MARATHI NOVEL) Table No.4.10

FINDINGS: Reading is the second popular hobby followed by listening music; Visiting Book Exhibition is the least popular hobby among students. Cell Phone is the largest popular devices to read the e-book.16% students purchase book on line and 41% students purchase book from book shop. The collection of periodical and magazine is underutilized % student prefers to read on weekends and holidays % students listens audio books. Novel is the most popular form of literature. Book on current affairs, Entrance Exam, Competitive Exam and works of great persons are read more than the books on poetry and religious. Internet is widely use by students community to know the information about books followed by friends, family member and teachers. Blogs are least popular among the students. Library is the main sources of access to books followed by purchase, borrow from friends and neighbor. Public Libraries were underutilized. Students first search the internet and then search books, Reference sources such as encyclopedia; magazines, open courseware, free e-books and free e-journal were underutilized. The purpose of reading is shifted from recreational to well informed, preparation for Entrance Exam and Competitive Exam % students participate in online book appreciation forum and discussion groups. The title of the book is the most popular motivation to read. Very few students read the Book reviews to choose the book for reading % students agree there is decline of reading habits among the student. 80% student prefers to English language books, and 20% students prefer to read regional language.

CONCLUSION: Internet is the most powerful and speediest facility available for communication and information. Students prefer to search internet before visiting library for information. A library should adopt a flexible acquisition policy which will meet the need of information by acquiring most suitable reading material. Students should orient to fare use of Internet plagiarism, authenticity of information on internet. Students should motivate to use free e- journals, free e-books, and open courseware. They should encourage using conventional reference sources such as encyclopedias. Libraries should have to consider students as customer and library staff must be trained for customer care. Libraries should have to inculcate reading habits among students by arranging book discussion and book review competitions, by displaying the books on current topics.

THANK YOU READING IS A BASIC TOOL IN THE LIVING OF A GOOD LIFE MORTIMER JEROME ADLER