EXAMINING UNDERGRADUATES’ ENGAGEMENT WITH ACADEMIC LIBRARIES: A STUDY OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN KERALA
Keywords:
Library, College, Undergraduate, Information Seeking, E-Resources, Kerala. 1. IntroducAbstract
Academic libraries are said to be the heart of any academic institution as they
help in enhancing the academic and research capabilities of their users by enriching
their information and knowledge. In order to accomplish its role effectively, it is
assertive for any library to serve its end users with adequate resources and services that
fit with the objectives, mission and vision of its parental institution. Several studies are
conducted by researchers in order to discover the awareness and utilization level of
library resources by different types and levels of library users and in order to find out
the awareness and utilization of college library resources and services by undergraduate
students in the Malappuram district of Kerala, this study was taken up by the
investigator. The study was conducted through a quantitative survey method using a
well structured questionnaire in online format. The analysis shows that undergraduate
students, irrespective of gender or programme, are generally aware of the existence of
their college libraries and their basic resources. However, awareness and utilization of
advanced resources like e-resources, online databases, and OPAC services remain
significantly low, indicating a digital awareness gap. The study recommends to review
the collection periodically, expand the collection of e-resources and establish a
feedback system for continuous improvement and to design student-centric library
policies.
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