Management of Library Websites of Engineering Colleges in Bangalore:A Content Analysis

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1 Library and Information Services for All 391 Management of Library Websites of Engineering Colleges in Bangalore:A Content Analysis Nagesh R. Librarian, Library and Information Centre,Govt. First Grade College, Hirisave, Hassan District M. Chandrashekara Professor, Department of Library and Information Science,University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysore Abstract: To meet the new challenges and multifaceted information demands of the users in digital era, libraries are incorporating new technologies to meet their users demands and to achieve objectives and goals.the library website can and by default does play a variety of roles. It can play a major role in promoting library services and products.a study was conducted to investigate websites of engineering college libraries in Bangalore city and analyzed their coverage of content, strength and weakness etc. This paper gives a detailed study of website content and offers suggestions for better management of library websites towards reaching the objectives and goals of the library. Keywords: Library Website, Website Management, Content analysis, Engineering Colleges. Introduction The ICT tools have given the library a new dynamic role to play. There has been a definite transition in the conceptual foundation and nature of the library over the recent years, the main reason being the technological advances which have influenced the whole area of Library and Information Science(Swapna & Francis, 2014). Website is considered as the most popular medium to catch the recent updates therefore, every institution has given more importance to have its own website to give exhaustive details to staff and students about the institution. Every education institution has given more focus on library, because it is considered as heart of the institution to promote and attract students to get admission in their institution. The advent of webpage has revolutionized the process of college publicity and dissemination of information pertaining to college activities, services, rules and regulations, admissions, various sections, staff, etc. Engineering Colleges in Bangalore City Since Bangalore is considered as capital city of information technology in the country, many educational institutions are established in the field of engineering and technology. The engineering colleges are given more importance for growth and development of engineering and technology in India. There are 62 Engineering colleges were listed in the website of All Indian Council of Technical Education (AICTE), the professional body of technical and management education in India. The engineering colleges are offering courses at various levels like under graduate, post graduate, post graduate diploma and Doctoral Research. These institutions have developed well structured websites for providing detailed information about libraries including its services which are offering to users in the institutions. Roles of Library Website The library website plays a variety of roles towards reaching the objectives of library.

2 Literature Review Library and Information Services for All Library website serves as a tool to promote library services and products. 2. The library website has allowed LIS professionals to find new roles as information generators, as well as to continue the functions of information gathering, organization, and access. 3. Library website gives detailed information about library such as, vision, mission, objectives, goals, collection details, work timings, staff details, contact information, OPAC, library services, new arrivals, gallery, and user awareness program 4. A library website can become an agent for archiving and retaining information that comes and goes on other sites. 5. Through the library website users can send their feedback about library functions and services. 6. Finally library website is to serve as a communication tool for a library and its users. Many studies have been conducted to analyze the content of academic library websites in different areas of educational institutions. Francis and Swapna (2014) conducted a study of content analysis of 12 agriculture university library websites of South India. The study examines the content covered in library website and listed strength and weakness. Vasatharaju and Harinarayana (2010) in their study performed an analysis of 135 Indian university library websites. The study analyzed applications of web 2.0 in developing and managing library websites.poll (2007) explains the quality of a library website with different aspects, such as contents, structure, design, navigation and accessibility.the most popular suggestion made by McMullen (2001) based on usability study for improving the site was to reduce the amount of text and make links more significant. Objectives The present study has been given more focus on the following objectives. Methodology 1. To identify the status of library websites inengineering colleges of Bangalore City. 2. To know the different features in the engineering college library websites. 3. To find out different types of information provided in the library website. 4. To know, whether library websites covered details about library vision, mission, objectives, goals, services, rules, timings, collection and staff. 5. To analyze the content provided in the library websites. 6. To suggest measures for the improvement of the library websites towards reaching the objectives and goals of the library. For achieving the purpose of the present study and to conduct an in depth study of library websites, visited all 62 engineering college websites in Bangalore city. The entire study depends

3 Library and Information Services for All 393 on the content provided in the library websites. A structured checklist was designed, keeping in view of the stated objectives to analyze the library websites. The collected data in the library websites was entered in the pre defined checklist of MS Excel for the purpose of analysis. Scope of the study The study is restricted to engineering college library websites in Bangalore city. The study analyses the content uploaded in the library websites. The scope of the study includes the evaluation of engineering college library websites for their assessment and thereby ranking/rating top 05 engineering college library websites in the Bangalore city. Evaluation of Engineering College Library Websites Table 1: General information provided about library in the library website Sl.No Contents Frequency Percentage % N=62 1. About Library/History Vision and Mission Goals and Objectives Library Collection/Statistics Library Collection Dept. Wise Library Timings Staff Details Library Committee Library Rules and Regulations List of Journals, Magazines and Newspapers Contact details Table 1 revealsthat, thegeneral information about library, library collection, library timings, staff details, library rules and contact details were common features of all library websites. Other features like vision, mission, goals, objectives, library collection department wise, library committee and list of journals, magazines and newspapers were found less. Table 2: Information provided about library services Sl.No Contentss Frequency N=62 Percentage % 1. Reference Service Inter Library Loan OPAC facility Photocopying service Availability of e resources Availability of old question papers on web/library New Arrivals Information User awareness program Web links to other important websites Career information portals

4 Library and Information Services for All 394 Table 2 depictsthe library services such asthe photocopy service, availability of e resources, reference services and inter library loan services were common features of all library websites. Other services like OPAC facility, availability of old question papers, new arrival information, user awareness program, web links to other important websites and career information portal services were found less. Table 3:Facilities provided in the library Sl.No Contents Frequency N=62 Percentage % 1. Availability of Wi Fi RFID My library Account Upcoming events/announcements Gallery: Photos/Videos Discussion rooms for staff and students Library building structure Feedback through the web Users online membership Search Tab within the library website Recommendations for books/journals purchase Online Reservation for resources Resources for disabled users Table 3 revealsthe library facilities such as photo/video gallery, upcoming events/announcements and search tab facilities were found common features of many library websites. Other facilities like Wi Fi, my library account, discussion room for staff/students, library building structure, feedback through the web, users online membership, recommendations for resources, online reservation and resources for disabled users were found less. Rankin g Number Table 4: Top 05 engineering college library websites in Bangalore City Engineering Colleges in Bangalore Acharya Institute of Technology me P. E. S. Institute of Technology New Horizon College of Engineering R. V. College of Engineering B. M. S College of Engineering information center Total points achieve d out of 34 items Percentag e %

5 Library and Information Services for All 395 Table 4 depicts the top five well structured engineering college library websites based on content analysis of their websites and achieved total points in general information of library (number of items 11), Library services (number of items 10) and facilities provided in the library (number of items 13). Total items in general information of library, library services and facilities provided in the library are 34. As per above table Acharya Institute of Technology got first rank andp. E. S. Institute of Technology stood second place based on well structured library website and evaluation of content. Suggestions For better and effective management of library websites, some of the suggestions are recommended as per evaluation of content in the library websites. 1. A majority of library websites are not updated frequently, hence it is good to update frequently, display the date of last updating that will add more credibility to the websites. 2. Many libraries have not given link to OPAC in their library website; it could be more effective and useful to users if libraries are going to make a link to OPAC in the website. 3. Many libraries in their websites given more importance to general and administrative information but they should focus attention to fulfill the information seeking needs of the users. 4. Only 19% of libraries in their website given link to suggest/recommend books by users for the library collection, to make a good collection, all libraries should make a link in their website to recommend books by users. 5. Library websites should focus attention to make regular updating to have new arrivals and announcements/upcoming events information. 6. There was no single library website designed to show the number of people visited to website, it could be better to have visitor statistics in their library websites. 7. There was no single library website given list of printed journals with the title of articles, it could be more useful to users if all library websites make a list of journals with the title of articles. 8. It is also suggested to conduct periodic user studies on web usability; this will help the colleges to improve their website according to the user needs. Conclusion Library website can provide a lot of services to the users, especially to the remotely located people. As modern ICT applications have immense potential to offer a lot of dynamics and online services, libraries can adopt these applications to design their websites to make effective use of available resources by the users. The information provided in the webpages of engineering college library websites need to be evaluated periodically by using established criteria like web design, accessibility, arrangement, navigation, quality of content etc.

6 References Library and Information Services for All 396 Connell, R. S. (2008). Survey of web developers in academic libraries. The Journal ofacademic Librarianship, 34, Michalec, M. A. (2006). Content analysis of art university library websites. Art Documentation, 25(2) Pareek, S., & Gupta, D. K. (2013). Academic library websites in Rajasthan: an analysis of content. Library philosophy and practice (e journal). Poll, R. (2007). Evaluating the library website: Statistics and quality measures. In World Library and Information Congress, 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council (pp ). Vasantha Raju, N., & Harinarayana, N. S. (2010). Looking at Indian academic library websites: A content analysis approach. In Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Webometrics, Informetrics and Scientometrics(pp ). Swapna, V. S., & Francis, A. T. (2014). Management of library websites of agricultural universities in South India: a content analysis. Library Progress (International), 34(2),