Library use and Information – Seeking Behaviour of Faculty Members of Government Arts and Science Colleges in Salem

Abstract

It is a common belief that we live in an Information Age. Meeting our needs, from the most basic to the most sophisticated, is information-dependent. In a complex and highly structured world, the need for information is felt at all levels of society, regardless of an individual’s location, social condition or intellectual achievement. Over the years, libraries have become organized as information centers. Rapid developments in the information and communication technologies in the last few decades have enabled libraries to transform themselves from storehouses of printed materials into gateways to the world of information, which is evidence of the human need for information. The purpose of this study is to identify the information channels used by the Government Arts and Science College, Salem faculty members, information sources preferred by them, methods employed for getting the needed information and their library use pattern. A questionnaire was distributed to 75 faculty members and 60 filled in questionnaires were returned, giving an overall response rate of 80 percent. It was found that respondents used various sources for acquiring the needed information. Books were ranked as the most important source for teaching and research purposes, followed by reference books and periodicals. Respondents preferred to first consult their personal collection before resorting to other information providing sources and agencies. On the whole, respondents perceived the Government Arts and Science College library collections, services and facilities as adequate to meet their information needs effectively.