International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277AND (Print) INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIBRARY 3533 ISSN:

: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

INFORMATION SCIENCE (IJLIS)

ISSN : 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN : 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August (2012), pp. 01-10 IAEME: www.iaeme.com/ijlis.html

IJLIS
IAEME

USAGE OF ICT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES FOR RESEARCHERS IN KALAIGNAR KARUNANIDHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (KIT) LIBRARY

N. Sivakumar1, Dr. P. Sivaraman2, Dr. N. Tamilselvan3 and Dr. R. Sevukan4

1

Librarian, Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology, Coimbatore Email: sivakitlib@gmail.com

2

Associate Professor, Library and Information Science Wing, DDE, Annamalai University, Annamalainagar Email:psraman.p@gmail.com
3

Librarian, Rathinam Technical Campus, Coimbatore Email: tamilsre@yahoo.co.in

Associate Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry Email: sevukan2002@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT The paper is a finding of a study of the impact of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology, Coimbatore. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has transformed Library and Information services totally worldwide. The Internet has provided universal access to information. The study shows that researchers use a variety of ICT products and services for their research work as these products prove very helpful in finding needed information fast and easily and also help the researchers to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information more simply. The paper justifies the proper computer training and guidance for use of ICT-based technologies will made optimum utilization of these services by the users. Keywords: ICT, Information Technology, Researchers, Internet KIT. INTRODUCTION Libraries and Information centers are source of power in academic, research and industrial setups. Information being an essential resource. Library would become an electron and just like an electron in the orbit, it will work ceaselessly for its users. The library is the fulcrum of support for the entire range of academic activities in an educational campus. In 1

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

todays high-tech learning environment, the library as a learning resource is taking up increasingly more academic space and time in the life of a learner. Information and Communication Technology (ICT).enabled products and services, and the availability of online information resources have changed the way the services academic institutions and libraries now provide to their researchers. Academic libraries for centuries have played important role in supporting research in all subjects and disciplines within their host universities and colleges. But the last decade has brought a sea change in relationships between users and libraries. ICT is the integration of computer and communication technology used to process, store and disseminate information. It has changed the usual practices of library and information centers in delivery of services to the end users. Now users can have access to a variety of information and scholarly journals online. It also helps the users to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information more easily than ever. Significant envelopments in ICT have forever changed the way information is gathered, processed and disseminated. While processing, storage and retrieval facilities are provided by computers, telecommunication provides the facilities for the transfer or communication of data or information. PERFORMA OF KIT The Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology educational institutions, driven by a single minded focus on imparting quality education to make students sharp. Established in 2008, with a mission to redefine the system of education, KIT is a professionally managed, multi-disciplinary and multi-faceted oasis of knowledge. Its premiere educational institutes conduct university courses.

Why Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology

KIT is having world class Infrastructure and fabulous networking all over 25 Acre. It has total 647 computers for students only, 970 KM optic fiber, 2 -Routers, 20 - MBPS internet lease lines, 1 Point to point lease line to line for KIT- Coimbatore. It spends near about 10 lakhs per annum for single lease line. Kalaignar Karunanidhi Institute of Technology was established in 2008 .KIT has well-equipped computer centers, broadband as well as high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity in campus, a well-stocked library and faculty par excellence, straight from the industry, with vast experience, knowledge and achievements. The campus in Coimbatore also houses coerces Management. The presence of the ICT at the KIT has changed the teaching, learning and research environment. ICT is playing a vital role in meeting information and communication needs of the users of the KIT. Students have access to Internet at various points such as Knowledge Retrieval Centre, Computer Centre as well as the departments and departmental laboratories. Students and staff of the KIT can now access a wide range of journal databases in various academic disciplines .Such access includes full-text journal articles, abstracting and indexing services. To access the scholarly literature, relevant URLs and passwords are provided as and when needed.

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

OBJECTIVES The objectives of the study were: 1. To find out the level of use and purpose of using various ICT products and services. 2. To know the frequency of use of ICTs and time spent. 3. To find out the level of expertise of users regarding the use of ICTs. 4. To determine how ICT has impacted research work. METHODOLOGY This study used questionnaire to collect the data from users. Ninety Questionnaires were personally distributed among the randomly selected users of KIT out of which 65(72.22%) filled questionnaires were received back. Overall 43(66.15%) respondents were male and 22(40%) female. The well structured questionnaire comprised the following questions: use of ICT products and services, purpose for which these ICT products and services was used, frequency of use of computer and Internet, their level of expertise in using ICT, preferred search engines, and major impact of ICT on their research work. DATA ANALYSIS

Use of ICT Products Total No. of Respondents (n=65) ICT Products Male(n=43) % of Male Female(n=22) users Computer Laptop Internet MS-Word MS-PowerPoint MS-Excel Printer Scanner DVD/CD/Pen Drive 41 17 38 29 20 21 22 17 30 95.34 39.53 88.37 67.44 46.51 48.83 51.16 39.53 69.76 20 9 18 15 6 7 9 10 17 % of Female users 90.90 40.90 81.81 68.18 27.27 31.81 40.90 45.45 77.27

Table 1.Use of ICT products

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME
120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Male Female

Respondents were asked to express their level of use various ICT products for their research work. Table 1 show that 95.53 % male and 90.90 % female users used computer for their research work. A majority of male (88.37%) and female users (81.81 %) use Internet. As far as various application software are concerned ,it was found that while 67.44 % ,male users used MS Word,46.51 % used MS Power Point, and 48.83 % MS Excel. In comparison 68.18% female users used MS word, 27.27% MS Power Point, and 31.81 % MS Excel.

Purpose of Using ICT Products and Services Total No. of Respondents (n=65) Purpose of Using ICT Male(n=43) % of Male users E-mail and document exchange Electronic journals Electronic books Locate, collect data using Internet Online databases For career Development Preparing presentations, documents Preparing manuscripts, 35
4

Female(n=22) % of Female users 19 86.36

38

88.37

40 23 38

93.02 53.48 88.37

18 7 16

81.81 31.81 72.72

36 36 26

83.72 83.72 60.46

15 14 12

68.18 63.63 54.54

81.39

16

72.72

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

proposals, and papers To update knowledge Search Web OPAC/OPAC Discussion Forums Blogging Casual Internet Surfing 39 28 27 38 41 90.69 65.11 62.79 88.37 95.34 17 11 12 7 20 77.27 50.00 54.54 31.81 90.90

Table 2.Purpose of using ICT products and services

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Male Female

Users were asked to indicate the purpose for which they used various ICT products and services. Table 2 shows that 88.37 % male users used e-mail and document exchange ;93.02 % for electronic journals ;88.37% to locate and collect data; 83.72 % for online databases ;83.72% for career development ;81.39 % for preparing manuscripts, proposals and papers ;90.69% to update Knowledge; 88.37% for blogging; and 95.34 % for casual internet surfing .As far as female users are concerned 86.36 % used ICT products for e-mail and document exchange ;81.81 % for electronic journals;72.72 % to locate and collect data;68.18% for online databases ;63.63% for career development;72.72% for preparing manuscripts, proposals, and papers;77.27 % to update knowledge; 31.81% for blogging; and 90.90 % for casual internet surfing and other data. The less used services among both male and female users were Web OPAC/OPAC, blogging, and electronic books. The investigators feel that the users might not have got proper training /guidance and assistance from the staffs/librarians which are very necessary for the effective use of ICT products and services.

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

Frequency of Use of Computer and the Internet Percentage Frequency Daily 2-3 times in a week Weekly Monthly Occasionally Male 46.51 11.62 23.25 11.62 6.97 Table 3.Frequency of use of computer and Internet Female 45.46 27.27 9.09 9.09 9.09

50 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Daily 2-3 Times in a Week Weekly Monthly Occasionally Female Male

To find out the frequency of use of internet the time gap was divided into five categories, viz., daily, two to three times, weekly, monthly, and occasionally. Table-3 shows that 46.51% male and 45.46% female users used internet daily; 11.62% and 27.27 % male and female for two to three times in a week; and 23.25 % male and 9.09 % female weekly. A few users used it monthly and occasionally.

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

Expertise in Using ICTs Percentage Level of Expertise Very expert Expert Average user Poor Very poor Male 34.88 23.25 20.93 9.09 6.06 Table 4.Expertise in Using ICTs
40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Very Expert Expert Average User Poor Very Poor Male Female

Female 31.81 22.72 22.72 9.09 13.63

The questionnaire asked the user to indicate their overall expertise in handling various types of ICTs. Table 4 shows those only 20.93% male users and 22.72% female users indicated that they are very expert in using ICTs, while 23.25 % male and 22.72% female indicated that they are expert users of ICT. Forty per cent male and 32% female users indicated that they are average users of ICTs. The reasons for less expertise in using ICTs are that a majority of the users do not have a formal knowledge or a computer training programme.

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

Preferred Search Engines Total No. of Respondents (n=65) Search Engines preference Google MSN Yahoo! Alta Vista Excite 43 28 21 16 14 Male(n=43) % of Male users 100 65.11 48.83 37.20 32.55 22 12 7 3 2 Female(n=22) % of Female users 100 54.54 31.81 13.63 9.09

Table 5.Preferred Search Engines

120 100 80 60 40 20 0 Google MSN Yahoo! Alta Vista Excite Male Female

Regarding the use of search engines respondents were asked to indicate multiple answers according to their use. Table 5 shows that 100% users both male as well as female use Google. Besides Google, 65.11% male users also use MSN, 48.83% Yahoo!, 37.20 % Alta Vista, and 32.55 % Excite. In the case of female users no major differences were found as 54.54 % use MSN, 31.81 % Yahoo!, 13.63 % Alta Vista, and 9.09% Excite.

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

Impact of ICTs on Research Work Percentage Impact of ICT Expedite research process Improve professional competence Access to current information Access to wider range of information Fast access of information Male 58.13 53.48 65.11 44.18 48.83 Female 54.54 50 68.18 77.27 72.72

Table 6.Impact of ICT on research work

90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Expedite Research Process Improve Professional Competence Access to Current Information Access to Wider Fast Access of Range of Information Information Male Female

The ICT has proved to be a great asset to many of the users of KIT .Table 6 shows that the impact of ICTs on research works and academic efficiency of the users of the KIT. Majority of male as well as female users were of the view that ICTs have enhanced the access to current information, improved professional competence, access to wider range of information and quick access of information. The users feel that the emergence of ICT has a great impact on every walk of research and has improved the quality of research.

International Journal of Library and Information Science (IJLIS), ISSN: 2277 3533 (Print) ISSN: 2277 3584 (Online) Volume 1, Issue 2, May- August 2012, IAEME

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION 1. Majority of the respondents (95.34%) male and (90.90%) female users use computer for their research work. 2. Majority of the respondents (93.93%) male and (90.90%) female users use ICTs for Casual Internet Surfing. 3. Majority of the respondents (46.51%) male and (45.46%) female users use computer and Internet daily for their research work. 4. Majority of the respondents (34.88%) male and (31.81%) female users are having Expert level of expertise in using ICTs due to formal knowledge of computer and training programmes adequately provided by the Management. 5. Majority of the respondents prefer Google (100%) as their search engine to search their desired information. 6. Majority of the respondents (65.11%) male have impact of ICT on searching current information and (77.27%) female users to access wider range of information. The study investigated that respondents used a variety of ICT products and services for their research work as it is helpful in finding information quickly and also helps the users to access, manage, integrate, evaluate, create, and communicate information easily. The study identified that users are not getting proper training/guidance and assistance from the staffs/librarians, which is very necessary for the effective use of ICT products and services. The library should arrange and organize training programmes related to ICT. REFERENCES 1. Kumar, R.P. An overview of modern technologies application in Indian libraries. Intern. Inform. Lib. Rev., 1994, 26(1), 327-39. 2. Dilevko, J. & Harris, R.M. Information technology and social relations. J. Ameri. Soc. Inform. Sci., 1997, 48(8), 718-27. 3. CyberAMU.http://www.cyberamu.com/test.html. 4. Ahmad Naved and Fatima Nishat, J. 2009. Usage of ICT Products and Services for Research in Social Sciences at Aligarh Muslim University. DESIDOC Journal of Library &Information Technology, 29(2), pp.25-29. 5. Koganurmath, M.M., and Jange, S. 1999. Use of Internet by social science research scholars: A study in academic libraries in the Internet era. In National Convention on Academic Libraries in the Internet Era, INFLIBNET (pp.478 - 83). Ahmedabad. 6. Mishra, O.P., Yadava, N. and Bisht, K. 1005. Internet utilization pattern of undergraduate students, University News, 43(13), pp. 8-12. 7. Kaur, A. 2000. Internet facility at GNDU: A survey. In national Seminar on Academic Libraries in the Modern Era, IASLIC, 4-6 December 2000, Bhopal, pp. 119-24

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