Perception of Web-Based Tools and Services by College Library Professionals in South Tamil Nadu, India: A Case Study

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1 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: Perception of Web-Based Tools and Services by College Library Professionals in South Tamil Nadu, India: A Case Study Antony Isabella Mary Gandhigram Rural Institute India [email protected] S. Dhanavandan Gandhigram Rural Institute India [email protected] ABSTRACT: This paper focuses on the perception of web technology tools by library professionals in various engineering colleges in the South Tamil Nadu, India. The purpose of the study is to determine to what extent the library professionals there are familiar with web-based tools and use them in library operations. 0 copies of a questionnaire were distributed to library professionals in that region, of which were completed and returned. Simple percentage and weighted average maturity (WAM) were used to analyze the data collected. The findings show that of the college library professionals participated in the survey, a large percentage of them are expert users of many web-based tools such as digital library software, e-learning management systems, and content management systems. I. Introduction In the digital age, technology is playing a major role for dissemination of information in a networked environment. wadays, emphasis in libraries is shifting from collection to access. The increasing online environment (web technology) makes users more technology savvy and demanding and expecting their library to meet all their information needs not only on demand but also in anticipation of demand. The developments in information and communication technologies and their subsequent absorption in library and information science (LIS) have prompted information professionals to change the way they are functioning at present. Because of their popularity with the users, an overwhelming attention is being given to the web-based information services in libraries. Web technology is a part and parcel of life of a modern library Systems. In the good old days, librarians were deemed as resourceful people who provide information to those who need it. But today, librarians not only provide information resources to users but also develop the digital library in their own organization for their own people and others. In doing so, programming knowledge and computer skills are highly required. 0

2 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: II. Literature Review Dhanavandan, Mohamed Esmail, and Sivaraj (000) found that nearly fifty percent respondents use the digital resources to collect general knowledge and learned digital resources training provided by the librarian. Pandey and Mehta (00) observed that there was an awareness of educational technologies in open learning system and nearly half of the respondents were having medium media-ownership and more than half of them had medium media exposure. Ommani and Chizari (00) asserted that there was a significant relationship between the IT skill and knowledge, income, social participation, the extent of information-seeking motivation, level. Roy, Mukhopadhyay, and Biswas (0) stated that a digital repository is where digital content, assets, are stored and can be searched and retrieved for later use. Dhanavandan and Tamizhchelvan (0) affirmed that the users are acquiring knowledge from E-Books, E-Journals, Online resources, CD-ROMs, and Internet with related Databases. III. Objectives of the Study The objectives of the study are as follows:. To determine the frequency of web resources usage by college library. To assess the types of search and retrieval method used by college library professionals. To find out the degrees of familiarity of college library professionals to blogs. To ascertain the familiarity of content management systems by college library professionals. To measure the awareness of social networking sites by college library professionals IV. Research Methodology The survey method was used to investigate the awareness of web technology tools among the library professionals in various engineering colleges in South Tamil Nadu, India. A questionnaire was designed and distributed to college librarians and assistant librarians in those colleges. South Tamil Nadu consists of nine districts, that is, Dindigul, Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Ramnad, and Sivagangai. 0 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to the library professionals of engineering colleges in South Tamil Nadu. copies of the questionnaires were completed and returned. The response rate is.%. Simple percentage and weighted average maturity (WAM) were used to analyze the data collected.

3 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: V. Data Analysis and Interpretation. Distribution of the Questionnaire to College Library Professionals Table. Distribution of the Questionnaire to College Library Professionals Gender of Copies % Copies % Copies t % Respondent Distributed Returned Returned Male Female Total Table shows that 0 copies of the questionnaires were distributed to the college library professionals in various engineering colleges in the South Tamil Nadu. Of the 0, (0%) copies were distributed to the male professionals and (0%) to the female professionals. Moreover, of the completed and returned copies of the questionnaire, (.%) are from male professionals and (.%) from female professionals. It is concluded that the response rate is.%.. Frequency of web resources usage Table. Frequency of web resources usage Search Time Male % Female % Total % Daily.. 0. Twice a Week.0.0. Once a Week Fortnightly... Monthly...0 Total Table shows how frequently the respondents used web resources. (.%) male respondents and (.%) female respondents used web resources on a daily basis. (.0%) male respondents and (.0%) female respondents used web resources twice a week. It is worth pointing out that.% of the respondents used web resources daily.. Types of search and retrieval method used Table. Types of search and retrieval method used Types of Search Male % Female % Total % Federated search engines... Simple search in all fields...0 Boolean operator... Proximity function..0. Selectable truncation.0..0 Command language. 0..

4 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: Total Table shows the types of search and information retrieval method used by the respondents. (.%) male respondents and (.%) female respondents used Simple search in all fields. (.%) male respondents and (.%) female respondents used Federated search engines. Only (.%) respondents used the Command language to search for web resources.. Methods of learning Table. Methods of learning Method of Learning Male % Female % Total % Orientation programs by librarians...0 With the help of a friend or colleague...0 Self-learning.. 0. Trial and error.0.. Total Table shows the various methods of learning used by the respondents. (.%) male respondents and (.%) female respondents learned how to use web resources through the orientation program organized by librarians. It is worth pointing out that (.%) respondents learned how to use web resources through trial and error.. various types of blogs Table. various types of blogs Blogs Personal blogs Microblogging (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr) Corporate and organizational blogs By genre (political, health, travel) By media type (photoblog, microblog) By device (mobile, sousveillance ) Reverse blog (.0) (.) (0.) (.) (.0 (.) 0 (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) 0 (0.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.)

5 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: epals (.) (.0) (.) (.). Table shows how familiar the respondents were with various types of blogs. The familiarities of blogs are measured under a five-point scale (, Aware, Leaning, Fair, and Expert). Based on the WAM (weighted average maturity) calculation, blogs By genre ranks first, followed by Corporate and organizational blogs. It is worth pointing out that there were more expert users of blogs than other categories. Only a few respondents professed no idea about blogs.. content management systems Table. content management systems CMS WordPress Drupal DSpace DITA Joomla ExpressionEngine TextPattern Radiant CMS CushyCMS (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) SilverStripe (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (0.0) (.) (0.) (.) (.) (.0) (.0) (.0) (.) (0.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) Table shows how familiar the respondents were with various content management systems. Their familiarity with content management systems is measured with a five-point scale (, Aware, Leaning, Fair, and Expert). (.) respondents were experts in using DSpace and (.%) in using CushyCMS. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about content management systems.

6 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: digital library software Table. digital library software Digital Library Software DSpace Greenstone EPrints ACADO KnowledgeTre (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) 0 (.) (.) (.00) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (0.0) (.) (.) Table shows how familiar the respondents were with digital library software. Their familiarity with various brands of digital library software is measured with a five-point scale (, Aware, Leaning, Fair, and Expert). (.%) respondents were experts in using the Greenstone Digital Library software. (.%) were experts in using DSpace software. Overall, the respondents were fairly knowledgeable of digital library software. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about digital library software employed in library activities.. open source e-learning management system Open Source e- Learning Software System ATutor Canvas ASCENT Aviation E- training System AVANTI E-training System elearning Aptech Table. open source e-learning management system (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (0.0) (.) (0.) 0 (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.)

7 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: My elearning Store (.0) (.) (.).0 Table shows how familiar the respondents were with open source e-learning software. Their familiarities were measured with a five-point scale (, Aware, Leaning, Fair, and Expert). (.%) respondents were expert users of ATutor. Overall, the respondents were fairly knowledgeable of open source e-learning management systems. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about open source e-learning software employed in library activities. Based on the WAM scores, ATutor ranks first among the open source e-learning software listed in the questionnaire, followed by Aptech.. federated search systems Federated Search Systems Screen scraping Z.0 protocol ZING - SRW protocol XML gateway Table. federated search systems (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (0.) (.) (.) (0.) (0.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.).0... Table shows how familiar the respondents were with various federated search systems. (.%) respondents were expert users of the ZING-SRW protocol, followed by (.%) of the Z.0 protocol. Overall, the respondents were fairly knowledgeable of federated search systems. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about federated search systems. Based on the WAM scores, the ZING - SRW protocol ranks first with the respondents. 0. photo-sharing tools Photo-Sharing Tools Animus Art Limited DeviantART DropShots Table 0. photo-sharing tools (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.)

8 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: Flickr FocalPower Gallery ImageEvent KoffeePhoto (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.0) (0.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (0.0) 0 (.) (0.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0)..... Table 0 shows how familiar the respondents were with photo-sharing tools. (.%) respondents were expert users of the ImageEvent, followed by (.%) of Flickr. Overall, the respondents were fairly knowledgeable of photo-sharing tools. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about photo-sharing tools.. reference management systems Reference Management Systemd RefWorks Endte (desktop) Endte (Online Linked desktop) Endte (online with Web of Knowledge) Zotero Reference Manager Mendeley Table. reference management systems (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) () (.) Aware Learning Fair Expert Total WAM RANK (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) 0 (.) (.0) (.) (.0) (.0) (.) (0.0) 0 (.) (.) (0.) (.) (.) (.) (0.0) (.) (.) (.0) (.0) (.) Table shows how familiar the respondents were with reference management systems. (.0%) respondents were expert users of the Reference Manager, followed by (0.0%) of Endte (desktop). Overall, the respondents were fairly knowledgeable of reference management systems. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about reference management systems.

9 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: social networking sites Table. social networking sites Social Networking Sites Facebook Twitter Google + MySpace (.) YouTube 0 Flickr Picasa (.) 0 (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.0) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) (.) Table shows how familiar the respondents were with social networking sites. (.%) respondents were expert users of Facebook, followed by (.%) of Twitter. Overall, the respondents were fairly knowledgeable of social networking sites. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about social networking sites. Based on the WAM scores, Facebook ranks first with the respondents, followed by Twitter among all social networking sites.. web conferencing Table. web conferencing Web Conferencing Adobe Connect (.) (.) (.) (0.). Blackboard (0.) (.) (.). Citrix Online (.) (.) (.) (.). imeet 0 (.) (.). Skype 0 (.) (.) (.) (.). TalkPoint.

10 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: (.) (.) (.) (0.) TeamViewer 0 (.) (.) (.) VenueGen (.) (.) (0.).. Table show how familiar the respondents were with web conferencing tools. (.%) respondent were expert users of Skype, followed by (.%) of Citrix Online. Overall, the respondents were fairly familiar with web conferencing tools. It is worth pointing out that very few respondents had no idea about web conferencing tools. Based on the WAM scores, imeet ranks first, followed by Skype among web conferencing tools. VI. Conclusion The web-based tools and resources are used more prevalently than ever in academic institutions. More and more educational information needs are fulfilled with web resources and services. So college library professionals must be familiar with all type of web resources and services and promote web-based tools and resources through various library programs like orientation, workshops, library websites, ICT-oriented services, etc. References Dhanavandan, S. (0). Knowledge and utilization of e-resources and services in Annamalai University Library. International Journal of Information Dissemination and Technology, (), -00. Dhanavandan, S., & Tamizhchelvan, M. (0). An evaluation of e-resources in academic libraries in Tamil Nadu. Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences, (), -. Dhanavandan, S., Mohamed Esmail, S., & Sivaraj, S. (000). Use of digital resources among engineering professionals in Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Information Science and Services, (), -. Ommani, A. R., & Chizari, M. (00). Appropriateness of e-learning-based information technology to improve the productivity of crops. Journal of Extension Systems, ():0-0. Pandey, R., & Mehta, S. (00). Awareness of educational technologies in open learning system by target group. Indian Journal of Social Research, (), -. Roy, B. K., Mukhopadhyay, P., & Biswas, S. C. (0). An analytical study of institutional digital repositories in India. Library Philosophy and Practice, 0.

11 Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: Thangaraja, K., Karthikeyan, C., Asokhan, M., & Rajasekaran, R. (00). Study on the utilization behaviour of online journals by the students of TNAU. The Madras Agricultural Journal, (-), -. Selvi, M., & Dhanavandan, S. (0). A study on utilization of internet resources and tools by basic medical science professionals. Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences, (), -. Wikipedia. (n.d.). Web application. Retrieved from Authors: Antony Isabella Mary, PhD candidate, Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed University, Gandhigram- 0, Dindigul Dt. Tamil Nadu, India. [email protected] Dr. S. Dhanavandan, Assistant Librarian, Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed University, Gandhigram- 0, Dindigul Dt. Tamil Nadu, India. [email protected] Submitted to CLIEJ on October 0. Copyright 0 Antony Isabella Mary and S. Dhanavandan Antony, Isabella Mary; & Dhanavandan, S. (0). Perception of web-based tools and services by college library professionals in South Tamil Nadu, India: A case study. Chinese Librarianship: an International Electronic Journal,. URL: 0