Azra Rafique Khalid Mahmood

Introduction “To learn each and everything in a limited time frame of degree course is not possible for students”. (Mahmood, 2013) Librarians can play very important role in improving information literacy skills of users especially students for their long life learning.Mahmood, 2013 The findings may be helpful for library professionals to design an instructional program to improve students’ such skills for better utilization of available printed and online sources.

Objectives of study To measure the perceived level of Information Literacy Skills of the engineering students To identify the relationship between selected personal & academic variables and the level of information literacy skills

Methodology Research Design Quantitative research design was selected for study. Method Survey method was used. Population All students of 15 engineering disciplines of UET’s campuses of Lahore, Kala Shah Kaku, Faisalabad and Rachna were population of this study.

Sample Size Convenient representative sample of total 500 engineering students. Data collection instruments ACRL standards based questionnaire was developed and used as instrument. The instrument was consisted of six sections. Continuation of Methodology

Data Collection Questionnaire was self administered by the researcher and 500 questionnaires were distributed out of which 460 were returned back. Thus responding rate was 92 per cent of the total. Data analysis The data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 20.

Reliability The coefficient of internal reliability for this scale, Cronbach’s Alpha, was.967 which demonstrates that the scale was highly dependable.

Personal Profile of RespondentsFrequencyPercent Gender Male Female Age or more years 2.4 Social Background Urban Rural Table # 1

(Fig.1) Social Background, Gender and Age

Profile of Respondents FrequencyPercent Campus Lahore KSK Faisalabad Rachna Home Internet Access Yes No English Language Ability Weak 71.5 Average Good Excellent Not Answered 1.2 Table # 2

N = 460 (Fig2) Campus, English Language Ability, Home Internet Access

Descriptive Statistics Performance Indicators to:NMeanStd. Dev Define and articulate the need for information Identify a variety of types and formats of potential sources for information Has a working knowledge of the literature of the field and how it is produced Consider the costs and benefits of acquiring the needed information Valid N (listwise)410 Avg..62 Scale: 5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Weak, 1=Not at All Concept Identification

Descriptive Statistics Performance Indicators to:NMean Std. Dev Select the most appropriate investigative methods or information retrieval systems for accessing the needed information Construct and implement effectively designed search strategies Retrieve information using a variety of methods Refine the search strategy if necessary Extract, record, transfer, and manage the information and its sources Valid N (listwise) 425 Avg..81 Scale: 5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Weak, 1=Not at All Search Strategy

Descriptive Statistics Performance Indicator to:NMeanStd. Dev Summarize the main ideas to be extracted from the information gathered Select information by articulating and applying criteria for evaluating both the information and its sources Synthesize main ideas to construct new concepts Compare new knowledge with prior knowledge to determine the value added, contradictions, or other unique characteristics of the information Validate understanding and interpretation of the information through discourse with other individuals, small groups or teams, subject-area experts, and/or practitioners Determine whether the initial query should be revised Evaluate the procured information and the entire process Valid N (listwise)383 Avg..79 Evaluation of Needed Information Scale: 5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Weak, 1=Not at All

Descriptive Statistics Performance Indicator to:NMeanStd. Dev. 41- Understand many of the ethical, legal and socio-economic issues surrounding information and information technology Follow laws, regulations, institutional policies, and etiquette related to the access and use of information resources Acknowledge the use of information sources in communicating the product or performance Apply creativity in use of the information for a particular product or performance Evaluate the final product or performance and revise the development process used as necessary Communicate the product or performance effectively to others Valid N (listwise)413 Avg..83 Ethical use and Dissemination of Information Scale: 5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Weak, 1=Not at All

Descriptive Statistics Performance Indicator to:NMeanStd. Dev Recognize the value of ongoing assimilation and preservation of knowledge in the field Use a variety of methods and emerging technologies for keeping current in the field Valid N (listwise)447 Avg..76 Lifelong Learning Scale: 5=Excellent, 4=Good, 3=Average, 2=Weak, 1=Not at All

Group Statistics GenderNMeanStd. Deviation Std. Error Mean 1- Concept Identification Male Female Search Strategy Male Female Evaluation of Needed Information Male Female Ethical Use and Dissemination of Information Male Female Lifelong Learning Male Female Independent Sample T Test – Gender

Descriptive of ANOVA for Degree Programs NMean Std. Deviatio n Std. Error 95% Confidence Interval for Mean Minim um Maxi mum Lower Bound Upper Bound 1- Concept Identification B.Sc M.Sc PhD Total Search Strategy B.Sc M.Sc PhD Total Evaluation of Needed Information B.Sc M.Sc PhD Total Ethical Use and Dissemination of Information B.Sc M.Sc PhD Total Lifelong Learning B.Sc M.Sc PhD Total ANOVA for Degree Programs

Findings and discussion The engineering students were asked questions about 24 variables of information literacy skills. All the students perceived their skills good according to means score which remained between 3.92 and The results revealed that there is no significant difference between male and female in five major variables of information literacy skills. There is no significant difference seen between level of degrees that is B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD regarding information literacy skills.

Recommendations 1.More research on this subject for developing the information literacy culture in Pakistan. 2.An effective instruction program should be designed. 3.Librarian should play an active role for developing such skills. 4.Librarian should try to coordinate with the faculty members for designing and implementing an effective orientation or instruction program. 5.An effective policy or framework should be designed at national level for information literacy skills for all fields of life in Pakistan for schools, colleges and universities students.

Conclusions The study shows that engineering students perceived their skills overall good in all five variables of information literacy. Moreover, there is no significant difference regarding information literacy skills between male and female students. Further, no significant difference was seen in information literacy skills between levels of study like B.Sc., M.Sc. and PhD.

THANKs