Users’ Perception on the Application of Social Media in Library Marketing – A Study of Pondicherry University

Abstract

In the age of information explosion, social media are the important tools that occupy a vast area in human life to communicate with nearest to farthest one. The use of social media is increasing staggeringly day by day in all walks of life. Academicians including students are not exceptional. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to know the users' perception on the use of social media for marketing of library services at Pondicherry University. The study employed an online quantitative survey method. The semi-structured questionnaires were distributed using google forms among the students of Pondicherry University. One hundred and forty-six responses were received and analyzed. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents was of the opinion that social media as effective tool for promoting library products and services; more than 80 percent of the users (120 respondents) expressed desire to have the news regarding Library/University events/ program, sessions, etc. on social media while 75.34 percent required ‘New Arrivals’ (New collection of the library) and interestingly only 68 (46.57%) users shared that they would like to see social media tools as reference service for users’ query.