Students Choice and Evaluation of Library Collections at University College of Science Library: An Explorative Study

Abstract

The present study focuses on information need and use patterns of undergraduate students of University College of Science, Tumkur University. The data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 200 students of PMC; PME; PCM and CBZ. The study focuses on the information needed and use patterns of science students. The study reveals that 89(44.5%) respondents are male and the remaining 111(55.5%) of respondents are female. Majority of the respondents are at the age of 20 years, the highest number of them belongs to PCM i.e. 83(41.5%), more than ninety per cent of the science students visit the library but number of students who visit the library daily is very less. The studious users normally stay in the library for longer hours and use different sources of information. The main purpose of visiting library is to complete assignments. 90.5% of students are aware of reference service, (98.5%) of the students are aware of books, (62.0%) of the students use reference service very frequently also 64% of the students use books very frequently, 68% of student's feels that book collection is excellent and 67% of the student's feels that reference service is excellent, 91.5% of the students read current issues of print journals to know the latest trends in their subject. Finally it examines problems faced by the students while seeking information and the study investigates the mode of information gathering and expectation of respondents towards ICT facilities in the library.