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Abstract
Purpose - The paper seeks to examine the use of electronic information services (EIS) among the users of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Library in Delhi, India.
Design/methodology/approach - Both questionnaire and observational methods were used for data collection where 300 valid samples were collected. The analysis of data collected covers awareness of EIS services, use of e-journals, advanced search facilities, acquaintance with electronic information sources, the purpose of using e-information, problems faced by the users while using EIS, infrastructure facility available and satisfaction level of users.
Findings - The study found that Boolean logic and truncation are the most often used search facilities by IIT users. Lack of printing facilities, terminals and trained staff are the major reasons that would discourage users from accessing the EIS. The survey also reveals that some 60 per cent of users face difficulties while browsing e-information.
Originality/value - The paper provides suggestions for the further improvement of EIS to fulfill the information needs and requirements of users at the IIT Library, Delhi.
Keywords India, Libraries, User studies, Information searches, Communication technologies
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD), established in the year 1963, is one of the six institutes of technology in India created as centers of excellence for higher training, research, and development in science, engineering and technology. The IIT Library supports the teaching, research and development programs of institutes through one central library and 17 department libraries. Its collection exceeds more than three lakhs ($0.3 million) comprising books, periodicals, reports, and CD-ROM databases. The library subscribes to 850 current printed journals and has access to more than 1,300 electronic journals.
The central library IITD has recently switched over to Silver Platter's Electronic Reference Library (ERL) technology for providing access to bibliographic databases subscribed on CD-ROM. The technology facilitates simultaneous and integrated access to ERL complaint reference databases, journals and course materials to multiple users across the LANAVAN via TCP/IP distributed across the campus of IITD. The access is easier and faster since the contents of CD-ROM database have been transferred to the hard disc of server in one step process (www.iitd.ernet.in/acd/ library/index.html).
Purpose of the study and methodology
The main purpose of the study reported here was to...