Use of ICT based resources and services in special libraries in Kerala

Abstract

Presents results of an investigation to study the contemporary use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based resources and services in special libraries in Kerala. The study was performed via a questionnaire survey of the library users and confined only to special libraries with ICT based resources and services. The study also investigated further areas, including library professionals’ help in the use of ICT based resources and services; any change in speed in academic/research work by using ICT; users’ satisfaction with the application of ICT; reasons for their dissatisfaction; users’ suggestions for training; and their opinion about the user education on ICT. The data collected were analysed and inferences made based on standard statistical methods. The results of the study revealed that the ICT based resource used by the largest percentage of users was the e-mail. The next most widely used resource was WWW, which was being used by nearly 60 per cent of the library users. A good number of the users were not satisfied with the application of ICT in their libraries and indicated ‘inadequate ICT infrastructure’ as their reason for dissatisfaction. Users proposed a variety of measures of formal orientation and training in ICT based resources and services to become more effective users.