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http://unllib.unl.edu/LPP/Library Philosophy and Practice 2011ISSN 1522-0222 Internet Use by Social Scientists at the Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan, Pakistan: A SurveyDr. Rubina Bhatti Mrs. Mahe Bushra Asghar Mrs. Sarwat Mukhtar Tariq M. Chohan Introduction
Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan South Punjab, PakistanBahauddin Zakariya University Multan was established in 1975 by an act of the Punjab Legislative Assembly. To pay tribute to the Great Saint Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya, the name was changed in 1979. The University offers a wide range of programmes: M.A., M.Sc. MBA, M.Com., MCS, M.Phil and Ph.D. It is divided into seven faculties: Faculty of Arts and social Sciences, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Business Administration, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Islamia Studies and Languages, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Veterinary Science (Prospectus, 2009 p.14). Bahauddin Zakariya University Library, MultanThe library collection support not only every course in the curriculum but also include selected stock of general reference books, periodicals, publications, newspapers etc. Most of the departments have their own departmental libraries situated in their own buildings. The total number of books in the Central and Departmental libraries is 1,66,583. The BZU Library offers online access to latest material through internet and Higher Education Commission Digital Library Pakistan as well. The Internet facilities are provided in the main library, departmental libraries and computer laboratory. The administration of the Library is vested in the Library Committee, which is responsible for efficient management of the Library. Important research questions:The present study was conducted to find out the answers of the following questions:
Research DesignA survey questionnaire was applied. It was piloted on 12 social scientists with the purpose to ascertain reliability of the data collection instrument. A comprehensive review of related studies was conducted. The population of the study comprises 70 social scientist from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Department of Economics, Education, History, Geography, Pakistan studies and Gender Studies, Political Science and International Relations, Mass communication, Sociology, Applied Psychology, Philosophy, Multan College of Arts, Undergraduate Studies in Social Sciences) in Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan. Author’s friends in Multan helped in distributing and collecting the responses. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics: frequency counts and percentages. Several relevant studies and a few available questionnaires were used to develop a questionnaire with closed-ended questions. It is important to note that the simmilar questionnaire was used to assess infromation needs of faculty members in the Islamia University of Bahawalpur by the same author. Why Internet? Libraries in developing countries, Pakistan included
have been facing problems of acquiring and providing latest sources of
information to foster teaching and research activities in all kinds of
academic institutions. Universities are responsible for supporting its
faculty, researchers and students in their academic ventures, but the
escalating cost of reading materials and space problems are the major
obstacles. In the prevailing situation, the Internet has solved the
problems of accessing current and relevant piece of information in less
time to a great extent. It provides right information to the right user
at the right time. It provides access to numerous sources of
information and search engines and it eases and increases access to a
large amount of data, saves time and money, and gives an opportunity to
consult several experts with a single request (via discussion groups),
and greater independence from specific times and places for information
seeking ( Review of relevant literature shows that Internet is being utilised in academic institutions worldwide A library is responsible for providing all kinds of information resources in whatever format i.e. book, non-book and electronic. At the same time, it is imperative that users’ internet use pattern must be studied together with library usage activities. This paper is an attempt to assess the same that helps in providing relevant collection, services and designing suitable library operations and systems. Literature Review A review of the related research was conducted with the purpose that these studies would help the researcher in doing the present study into Pakistani context. It must be noted that present author found these studies by using internet resources due to the unavailability and inadequacy of research material in printed format in the academic libraries of Pakistan. Journal articles and conference proceeding found on the internet proved very useful. Internet use by the Chinese faculty, researchers, and
students was studied by Internet use by 218 faculty members of the University of
Rajshahi, Bangladesh was analysed by In 2006, Al-Ansari assessed Internet use by the faculty members of Kuwait University. This study was designed to investigate the patterns of internet use by the faculty including purposes for use, its impact on teaching and research, internet resources used, and the problems faced while using the internet. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the faculty coming from four colleges of Kuwait University, i.e. Arts, Social Sciences, Sciences, and Engineering. The study revealed that the internet is mostly used for communication, research, and publication by saving time, find up to date information, and cooperate with their colleagues. Slow speed, lack of time, and lack of access from home are the major problems. Data Analysis and Discussion Demographics of respondents An analysis of the demographics of the respondents reveal that 42 male and 28 female social scientists took part in the study. It showed that 12 respondents (17%) hold PhD degree, 17 (24%) M.Phil and 41 (58%) have M.A. in their fields. Of the twelve respondents holding Ph.D, four professors and eight were associate professors. Seventeen respondents’ designation was assistant professors and fourty one were lecturers. Purposes for using internet by social scientistsThe data shoed that social sceientists have a variety of purposes for using the internet A vast majority use intenet for for teaching (48%), followed by (31%) for resaerch. Of seventy respondents (34%) use it for doing Mphil and PhD, 25% social sciectists consult inter for guiding research studnets and 17% for writing a resaerch paper for a journal or conference. Frequeccies are presented in Table 1. Sources of information used on Internet The responses regarding the use of internet sources revealed that databases, e-journals, online indexing and abstracting services are used by 35%, 34%and 28% respectively. Most social scientists also prefer to use E-books, E-encyclopedias and E-dictionaries. Online workshops are less preferred by the social scientists (07%) in BZ University, Multan. The frequencies of responses are shown in table 2. Internet Services Utilisation (multiple choice) E-mail service is being utilised by a large majority (85%) followed by WWW (78%). Social scientists use Academically-oriented mailing lists, Listservs, and News group 38%, 32% and 47% respectively. Electronic translation service is used by none. Other responses are presented in Table 3. Time Spent on Internet per Week (single choice) Time spent on internet per week showed that 28% respondents spend 10-8 hours a week, followed by 6-4 hours by 25%. The lowest percentage of internet usage by 22% social scientists in BZ University is 2-4 hours per week. Other responses are presented in table 4. Preferred Places for Internet Usage Social scientists in BZU were asked about their preferred placed of consulting internet resources. 34% use their university main library whereas 31% prefer home for inter usage, this response was received by mainly female respondents may due to cultural problems. In addition, ladies have to look after home and family that is why home is the most suitable place for female social science faculty members. Cyber cafés are used by only 05%. Table 5 can be consulted for detailed responses. Search Engines Used Social scietist were asked to indiacte their fvauourite serch engine. Data pointed out that Goggle is widely used search engine by social scientists (68%) followed by yahoo 55%. It is interesting that Infoseek, Altavista are significantly less used whereas WebCrawler is used by none. See table 6 for other frequencies. Benefits of Internet as perceived by social scientists. This important question solicited the social scientists opinions regarding the benefits of Internet. The responses revealed that they perceive it very beneficial as 48% think that they have to spend less time in searching for their required information. 35% consider it very useful for accessing distant publications followed by 34% saying fast access to unlimited resources. 31% said that they have to make less effort on internet and for 21% it is useful for developing up-to-date knowledge. The detail is given in table 7. Sources of learning the Internet use The interesting responses revealed through this question. 50% social scientists learn through their personal effort using trial and error technique. 14% online instruction, 11% courses taught at the university, almost 06% help by library staff and 17% by reading books, articles on the internet respectively. About 26% attend refresher & short courses, awareness programmes, workshops etc. outside the University, the reason for going outside the university may be inadequacy of help provided by the University and its library and stated above only four respondents mentioned that they received help from library staff. It is worth mentioning here that there is lack of formal training for library staff in using internet resources for themselves and helping users at the BZ University. 28% learn their own children and 21% get help from colleagues and friends. See table 8. Difficulties while seeking information A question was asked regarding the difficulties faced by them while using the internet. Majority (57%) complained for the shortage of computers in the university library and their departments. They demanded for more computers and internet facility so that internet resources and services can best be exploited by them. Respondents were asked to identify any problems that they might have faced while using the internet. 38% pointed out that lack of knowledge and training about internet information retrieving techniques is a major problem. 34% pointed out that the subscription of e-journals is expensive. Lack of awareness, expensive subscription, English language material, slow speed and lack of time are the other problems mentioned by the respondents. Their responses are presented in Table 8. ConclusionThe study pointed out that that Internet in academic institutions has changed the way social scientists seek, retrieve and use information. Due to fact that the Internet delivers better, faster, more timely communication with colleagues and sources of information social scientists in BZU tend to moving towards internet rapidly. . The data acquired through this study showed a more realistically positive picture of internet use by social scientists than expected. In order to survive in new information era they are willingly ready to cope with the challenges posed by new information and communication technologies. Social scientists is Bahauddin Zakariya University do not rely only on print sources of information any more rather exploiting the internet for teaching, research, doing MPhil and PhD, guiding research students, writing and submitting articles to journals and conferences. Another factor that is leading them towards internet is the inadequacy of latest books, journals and reference material in the university main and departmental libraries. Social scientists understand the value of it for keeping themselves up-to-date and well informed of the latest trends in their fields of interests. Though not totally satisfactorily, but a reasonable number of respondents are aware of the usefulness of E-journals E-books, E-encyclopedias, E-dictionaries, Online abstracting & indexing services, Online bibliographical services and databases for teaching, research and other purposes. Keeping in view the current responses, it is envisaged that if the internet services and facilities be improved in the BZU, the social scientists would make the more positive and effective use of it. This study has implications for the university authorities, library management and IT section of the BZU Library. The sources of learning internet portray an interesting picture as half of respondent use their personal effort using trial and error technique. Some of them learn from their own children and seek help from colleagues and friends. University and its library give no provision in this regard. The problems reported include inadequate number of computers, lack of awareness and any formal training, slow speed, lack of time, shortage of latest e-books and e-journals and English language material. These are the indication for Bahauddin Zakariya University Multan, South Punjab to take steps to improve the current situation to provide the proper facilities to foster teaching, learning, research plans. It must develop a proper university and library’s home page. Considering the findings of the study it may be suggested that the Bahauddin Zakariya University and its library need to improve it IT infrastructure in order to bring its services and resource provision at par with the countries with developed education and library systems, services, operations and facilities. There is a continuous need to study the composite education, research, information and other demands of all categories of library users. University authorities should facilitate and encourage the users by allocating sufficient budget to main and departmental libraries for maintaining and developing IT infrastructure and facilities. Tables:
Sources of information used on Internet
Internet Services Utilisation (multiple choice)
Time Spent on Internet per Week (single choice)
Preferred Places for Internet Usage & time spent
Search Engines Used
Benefits of Internet as perceived by Social Scientists
Sources of learning the Internet use (multiple responses)
Difficulties while seeking information
References Al-Ansari, (2006), “Internet use by the faculty members of Kuwait University”,The Electronic Library, Vol. 24, No. 6 pp. 791-803 Dong, X. (2003), "Searching information and evaluation of internet: a Chinese academic user survey", International Information & Library Review, Vol. 35 No.2-4, pp.163-87. IRISS, (1998) “The Internet Research and Information for Social Scientists (IRISS) conference”, Bristol University, UK Savolainen, R. (1999) “The role of the Internet in information seeking: Putting the networked services in context”. Information Processing and Management, 35(6), 765-782. Nasir Uddin, M. (2003), "Internet use by university academics: a bipartite study of information and communication needs", Online Information Review, Vol. 27 No.4, pp.225-37. |