Study of Usage Pattern of Information Retrieval Features of Online Databases in University Libraries in India

Abstract

Most of the Indian University Libraries are presently based on the model of providing access to organized collections, assist the users in information search and circulate documents within the stipulated period of time. Though every university library functions and undergoes changes according to its own mission, objectives, environmental scanning, funding, leadership and staff. With 294 universities/institutions, 13150 affiliated colleges, 88.21 lakh students and 4.27 lakh teachers, it is a great challenge to ensure effective coordination and communication. Under this initiative UGC is modernizing the University Campuses with state-of-the-art campus wide networks and setting up its own nationwide communication network named UGC-INFONET. The UGC-Infonet, INDEST consortium radically changed the conceptual literature search service in the present libraries. The routine users education program, changed the attitude of information search through the online databases among the library users. The present study intended to see different IR features of online databases, response pattern of users on IR features of online databases, users response among the available online databases in Indian university, response rates on subject based online databases and of users response on IR features of online databases. The universities are selected through the frequency bandwidth utilization, it has grouped from lower to higher, and from the each group single university has been chosen. The online databases are selected on the basis of the total; users response.  Different Retrieval Features are recorded by analyzing the online databases and accordingly it is also categorization in common to specific. The user’s response has been taken through the laboratory testing as well as questionnaire. The analysis of the response data has been done though statistical methods, the t-test has also conducted for the fulfilment of the requirement of the hypothesis. The major finding has been taken into account Information Retrieval features and its impact on subject based online databases and its users.