Usage of library resources and services provided by agriculture library, University of Peradeniya

Abstract

The Agriculture Library serves the Faculty of Agriculture and the Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture of the University of Peradeniya. During the past few decades, the information seeking behaviour of students has changed due to the availability of electronic resources on the Internet. Therefore, it is important to examine the usage of different information resources and services. The main objective of the study was to examine the usage of print and electronic resources provided by the library. The specific objectives were to examine the effective usage of services provided by the library and the student expectations about the library resources and services. A random sample of 112 final year students from three-degree programmes were selected for the study. A structured questionnaire was distributed among the participants. The response rate was 83.03%. The data was analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The students‘ awareness of the library was through friends (53.53%) and lecturers (36.5%). Library orientations were conducted for the students in their first year, and 72.04% students have not participated in the library orientation programme. The main purpose of using the library is to borrow books (56.98%) and to read books (53.76%). The highest usage of print materials is lending books (68.81%) followed by project reports (61.29%). More than 75% students use e-resources provided through Internet. The highest number of students that use the database AGORA (34.4%). The percentage of students who learn about e-resources from friends (39.78%) teachers (34.4%) and participating in information literacy courses conducted by the library (24.73%). The students were not satisfied with the space provided for discussions and the number of computers available for students in the library. The number of student computers and discussion areas needs to be increased. More user awareness programmes should be conducted by the library.