Dominant Issues/Expectations Among E-Journal Users: A Study of User Experiences at University College of Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technologcal University, Kakinada

Abstract

The paper makes a critical attempt at analysing pertinent issues emanating from the e-journals usage perspective as experienced by final year students of B. Tech. as well as M. Tech. University College of Engineering, JNTU, Kakinada. A structured questionnaire throws up all the desired data out of a sample size of 100 students. A majority of the students rank high on the awareness level in relation to the availability of e-journals in the library. Interestingly, valuable inputs provided by library staff, peers, and faculty in general, is found as the biggest contributing factor to this higher level of awareness. Further, analysis puts the tag of ‘most favoured place’ to the central library as far as access to e-journals is concerned. Research requirements stand at the top of the e-journals’ search priorities among students. However, typical problems/snags, such as lack of uniform accessibility and abysmally sluggish downloading rate dampen the user spirits. Even though, widely perceived as a highly productive source of information by students, yet the students do not rate themselves as serious users of e-journals. They consider up-gradation of skills as a serious and urgent necessity. Besides, half of the students register satisfaction with the availability of e-journals in the library. However, a sizeable majority exudes optimism about the usefulness of users’ awareness programmes and look forward earnestly to such programmes.