A study on Information Needs of Academic Staff Members of Rajarata University of Sri Lanka by S.K. Illangarathne, Assistant Librarian, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka and C. Shirani Dharmarathne, Senior Assistant Librarian, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, - 3rd LIS Research Symposium, Dept. of Library and Information Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

1. By:
S.K. Illangarathne
Assistant Librarian, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
C. Shirani Dharmarathne
Senior Assistant Librarian, University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Dept. of Library and Information Science
University of Kelaniya
Sri Lanka
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2. 1. Introduction
2. Purpose and objectives of the study
3. Survey Questions
4. Conceptual framework
5. The Design – Methods and procedures
Sampling, Instrumentation, Data collection, Data Analysis
6. Major Findings
7. Suggestions
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3. • Present era called as “Information era”.
• Therefore Information is considered as;
• an important tool in every aspect of human life
• the fifth need of human life (Kemp, 1976)
• Very common phenomenon of information is outdating
• The need for information differs from person to person
• As a result of this; "Information seeking has become a natural
and necessary mechanism of human existence” (Patitungkho
and Deshpande, 2005)
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4. • The “library” is
• a growing organization
• facilitates to their users to access information in correct
format and in time (Ranganathan, 1996).
Information sources  1. Printed vs. non – printed
2. Magnetic vs. optical
3. Online vs. offline
4. Analog vs. Digital
5. Etc.
1. kids vs. children
2. Youngers vs. adults
3. Professional vs. non prof.
4. Academic vs General
5. Etc.
 Library users Employees 1. Professional
vs.
Supportive
• an information hub which links people with of information
sources
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5. • As an organization the library should maintain the
• efficiency
• effectiveness and
• cost minimization (core management skills of any
organization)
• It should strive to satisfy its customers' wants and
needs while meeting the organization's goals.
• In simple terms, “The customer is the king" (Henley, 2010).
• Therefore, satisfy the users is essential need of the
Library
The only way of satisfy library users is investigate their
current Information Needs day by day.
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6. • To identify the information needs of Academic Staff in RUSL
• To examine their purposes of getting information, current
needs and methods of obtaining information
• To identify the use of different types of information resources
by the Academic Staff.
• To find out solutions for difficulties indicated in order to
enhance the library services of RUSL.
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7. •kinds of information sources organized by the RUSL library?
• information needs sought out by the Academic Staff in
RUSL?
• Why they seek information from the library system?
• How they satisfy with information sources available at library?
• How the library professionals aware about user needs?
• What are the alternatives ways to recognize their needs?
•Tendency of library users’ information seeking behaviors?
• What are the feeds backs of library users’ regarding their satisfaction?
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8. Information Needs
Information Conclusions
Usage of
needs information
sources
Of Statistical
Seeking behavior
and
when access to
ASMs’ descriptive
the information analyzes
sources
of
Do not fulfill need
RUSL
Suggestions made
by the ASM for Suggestions
efficient
information
services
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9. • Survey method
• Instrumentation
• The main research instrument - questionnaire.
• Other instruments - secondary data and Interviews
with the Users + Librarians.
•Population – ASM of RUSL
• Sampling
• stratified random sampling
• Population = 216, Sample = 158, Respond rate = 94.3%
• Data Analysis
• Quantitative vs. Qualitative methods
•“P” values -to check the accuracy of the results
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10. Distribution by Designation
Professor
Senior Professor
7.40% Librarian
0.70%
0.70%
Senior Lecturer
17.40%
Temporary Lecturer Senior Assistant
51.70% Librarian
1.30%
Lecturer
(Probationary)
Assistant Librarian
18.80%
2.00%
Source: Survey data, 2007
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11. Information needs of academics
100 91.9 %
86.4 %
90
80
70
58.4 %
60
50
40
30 21.0%
16.1%
20
10
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Source: Survey data, 2007
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12. Source: Survey data, 2007
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13. Information sources usage by format
59.1%
60
47.7%
50
40 32.2%
28.9% 28.2% 27.5%
% 30 22.1%
20.1%
20 14.8%
10 2%
0
0
Books Thesis Journals Abstracts Citation Gateways
Indexes
Information Source
Print format (very high =5) Electronic format (very high =5)
Source: Survey data, 2007
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14. Internet usage by academics
Very low (1)
Low (2) 3.72%
18.38%
Very high (4)
44.09%
High (3)
33.81%
Source: Survey data, 2007
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15. Usage of information search tools by academics
Bibliographies
Indexes
11.13%
0.00%
Abstracts
6.02%
Computer
Based
Catalogue Shelf guides
11.13% 70.68%
Card Catalogue
1.05%
Source: Survey data, 2007
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16. Information sources usage according to language
Tamil
0.67%
Sinhalese
22.82%
English
76.51%
Source: Survey data, 2007
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17. User satisfaction about the RUSL Library
Highly satisfied
14.09%
Not satisfied
85.91%
Source: Survey data, 2007
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18. Reasons for not satisfaction
Priority
Reason
(mean)
Unavailability of Electronic
Information Sources at the library 4.59
No systematic way at library to
aware about fresh information 4.41
No proper search tool at the library 4.25
No proper intercommunication
method through main library and
faculty libraries 4.22
Insufficient internet facility at the
library 4.18
Insufficient opening hours 3.94
No proper classification scheme at
the library 3.94
Source: Survey data, 2007
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19. Suggestions made by the academics for efficient information service at
RUSL
No of Percentage
Suggestions respondents (%)
N=149
Acquire fresh information sources to
the library 110 73.82
Increase Electronic Information
Sources 49 32.88
Start a special orientation program
for academics 13 8.72
Expand Internet facility at RUSL 141 94.63
Reduce fines or revise fine system
for academics 92 61.74
Organize information sources
properly 63 42.28
Source: Survey data, 2007
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