This document summarizes a study on the information needs and usage patterns of faculty members at Sri Parasakthi Arts and Science College for Women in Tirunelveli District, India. The study surveyed 169 faculty members and found that: 1) Nearly half of the faculty visit the library daily and 45% visit weekly, seeking current information as their primary purpose. 2) Faculty found books and current contents to be the most useful information sources. 3) Over 74% of faculty were highly satisfied with reference services, while satisfaction levels varied more for other services like reprographics. 4) The study concludes the library should invest in technology and training to better serve the information needs of faculty.

1. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIBRARY AND
INFORMATION SCIENCE (IJLIS)
International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 – 3533 (Print),
ISSN: 2277 – 3584 (Online), Volume 3, Issue 1, January - June (2014), © IAEME
ISSN : 2277 – 3533 (Print)
ISSN : 2277 – 3584 (Online)
Volume 3, Issue 1, January - June (2014), pp. 49-53
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NEED AND USE OF INFORMATION BY THE FACULTY MEMBERS
OF SRI PARASAKTHI ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
(CUTTRALAM) IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT- A STUDY
*R.Saravana Subbu Selvan
Assistant Librarian DRBCCC Hindu College, Chennai-72
**Dr. K.Sridhar
Librarian, (Govt.Aided Stream) DRBCCC Hindu College, Chennai – 72
ABSTRACT
This article is made to determine the need and use of information pattern by among
the faculty members and student of Sri Parasakthi Arts and Science College for Women. The
sample of 169 library users selected randomly was studied. The results revealed that the
faculty and students are almost in same platform in information use pattern on the basis of
visits, purpose of visits, useful of information sources and utilization of library services.
Both the faculty and students are having more knowledge to utilize the library and library
resources. Nowadays library users are very much interested to seek the information in
different ways. They are also obtaining more information on internet and Social Networking
and so on.
Keywords: Information, Need, Use, Purpose, Internet, Resources, Library, Visits.
INTRODUCTION
Knowledge is strength, Information interacts with knowledge and it is the power that
drives knowledge. This is age of knowledge and information revolution. We must make a
practical distinction and define knowledge and information. Information is the essential
element for the progress of higher education. There are kinds of information such as
knowledge, fact data news and message etc. The implicit assumption of user studies,
behaviors-studies and information-flow-studies is that if one understands the needs and
problems of user, one can design effective information systems for him.
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2. International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 – 3533 (Print),
ISSN: 2277 – 3584 (Online), Volume 3, Issue 1, January - June (2014), © IAEME
Information is an essential ingredient in decision making and the need for improved
information systems in recent years has been made critical by the steady growth in size and
complexity of organizations and data.
Information is the message conveyed or intended to be conveyed by a systematic
body of ideas or its accepted substitutes. Information is a notion comprehending, discussing
information, or a unit fact, again a notion comprehending qualitative unit fact and
quantitative unit fact.
Profile of Sri Parasakthi Arts Science College for women
Sri Parasakthi College was started in 1964 at courtallam. This is the first the only rural
college which earned autonomous status in our country in the year 1978. Under autonomy,
the college has been empowered with academic freedom to march a head academic
excellence and there by achieving its objective to change the present society to better and
happier one by offering useful and meaningful education to the young women of this rural
area. The college has hostel facilities and college offered UG/PG courses
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
There have been a number of literatures published so far emphasizing the need for the
study of the information and need User Studies.
A user study carried out by Crist and etal (1) in the University of Michigan Library to
understand the use of the and their satisfaction of the users with library collections, services,
Staff and Physical facilities etc.
Geetha and Others (2) reported in their study that students are the largest single group
of users.
A study conducted by Accamma(3) on the scientists of to ascertain their information
needs and use pattern of information sources.
Roshan Raina(4) reports that the findings of feedback survey conducted to find out
the effectiveness of services rendered by the library of the institute of Management, lucknow.
Kawatra(5) conducted a study of research scholars of three universities Rajasthan to
know the views of scholars on the adequacy of library resources and services.
NEED OF THE STUDY
The present study also intends to study the satisfaction of the users regarding Certain
services and certain aspects of the library such as the arrangement of books and so on. And to
know the reasons for their dissatisfaction if any, so that measures can be adopted to satisfy
them.
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
To assess the library visit
To assess the purpose visit of the library
To useful of information sources
To assess the user satisfaction of Library services.
Hypothesis
Based on the aforementioned the following hypothesis to be tested in the present
study. Respondent’s visit to the other libraries is independent of the colleges. There is no
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3. International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 – 3533 (Print),
ISSN: 2277 – 3584 (Online), Volume 3, Issue 1, January - June (2014), © IAEME
significant difference among the views of respondents for the purpose of visiting library.
There is no significant difference the views of the respondents from the use of channels.
Sources of bibliographical information, utilization of library services, user satisfaction of the
library services. Information technology, to reduce the work load, Library have insufficient
fund, lack of adequate trained staffs.
Table .1.Respondent’s visits to Library
Library visit
No.of
Respondents
Percent
Every Day
82
48.5
Once in a Week
76
45.0
One a Fort Night
5
3.0
Once in a Month
6
3.6
169
100.0
Total
The above table No. 1 represents the frequency of visits to the library by the
respondents from the table 45.5% of respondents visit to the library every day and 45% were
once in a week, very few 3.6% of the respondents are visiting the library once in a month and
3.00% onece a fortnight.
Purpose of visit
Table 2. Purposes of visits to the Library
No
Large
Some
Less
comment extend
extent
extent
Total
For relaxation
49
(29 %)
18
(10.7%)
44
(26%)
58
(34.3%)
169
(100%)
To Get Bibiligraphic
information
54
(32.0%)
36
(21.3%)
50
(29.6%)
29
(17.2%)
169
(100%)
To Get current
information
9
(5.3%)
106
(62.7%)
52
(30.8%)
2
(1.2%)
169
(100%)
To get statistical
information
52
(30.8%)
26
(15.4%)
46
(27.2%)
45
(26.6%)
169
(100%)
The above table No.2 presents the respondents view related to the purpose of visiting
the library from this table 62. % of the respondents opinion regarding the purpose of the
visiting the library is to get current information.
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4. International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 – 3533 (Print),
ISSN: 2277 – 3584 (Online), Volume 3, Issue 1, January - June (2014), © IAEME
Table 3. Useful of information sources
Information sources
No
Highly
Satisfied
Comments
Useful
Not
useful
Total
Books
7
(4.1%)
135
(79.9%)
27
(16%)
-
169
100%
Journals
16
(9.5%)
73
(43.2%)
79
(46.7%)
1
(0.65)
169
100%
Encyclopedia
38
(22.5%)
64
(37.9%)
56
(33.1%)
11
6.5%
169
100%
Current contents
37
(21.9%)
82
(48.5%)
47
(27.8%)
3
1.8%
169
100%
The above table No.3 Presents the views of the respondents that the usefulness of
information sources. From the table it is clear that most of the usefulness information
received by the respondents through the books and current contents.
Library services
Table 4. Utilization of Library Services
No
Highly
Satisfied
Not
comments
satisfied
satisfied
Total
Reference
4
(2.4%)
126
(74.6%
36
(21.3%)
3
(1.8%)
169
(100%)
Current
24
(14.2%)
79
(46.7%)
66
(39.1%)
-
169
(100%)
Reprographic
47
(27.8%)
14
(8.3%)
78
(46.2%)
30
(17.8%)
169
(100%)
Paper clipping
42
(24.9%)
31
(18.3%)
62
(36.7%)
34
(20.1%)
169
(100%)
The above table No.4 Presents the view of the respondents that the utilization of
library services. From the table it clear that 74.6% if reference service are highly satisfied by
the by the respondents and 1.8% of not satisfied by the respondents. Regarding current
services 46.7% of the respondents are highly satisfied.
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5. International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 – 3533 (Print),
ISSN: 2277 – 3584 (Online), Volume 3, Issue 1, January - June (2014), © IAEME
MAJOR FINDINGS OF THE STUDY
The respondents, 48.5% of the respondents visit the library every day and 45% were
once in a week, very few i.e. 3.6% of the respondents are visiting the library once in a month.
The respondents 62.7% of the respondent’s opinion regarding the purpose of visiting
the library is to get current information.
The respondents of 79.9% for Books, 73% of respondents for Journals, and 38%
respondents referring of Encyclopedias
The respondents are clear that most of the useful information received by the
respondents 79 % respondents through current contents. And 74 % respondents are reference
service.
CONCLUSION
The library should be computerized, for this the librarian should be properly and
adequate trained. The library in functioning even on Sundays, so only the public and others
also will be benefited. Current and latest editions standardized authors and publications
should be recommended. The awareness of using the library frequently should be
recommended. Libraries are very important therefore adequate technological services must be
used to improve the quality and quantity of information offered by the academic library.
REFERENCE
1. Crist(M) et al User Studies : Reality check and future perfect Wilson library bulletin.,
68;1994;38-41.
2. Geetha(s c) et al Readers and their reading trends in the British council Library, Delhi,
Annals of Library science and documentation, 27(1-4) 1980; 66-71.
3. Accamma(c) Information needs and use pattern of ILA Bulletin,36(1);1997;89-94.
4. Roshan raina. Annals of the feedback on the library resources, faculty services at
national level management institute. A case study, Annals of Library science and
documentation,42(3);1995,106-112.
5. Kawatra(P S) Attidues of research scholars towards resources and service of three
University Library in Rajasthan. A study of Library science and documentation.
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