Effectiveness of UGC-Infonet:Effectiveness of UGC-Infonet:

A case study of Jaipur CentreA case study of Jaipur Centre

Dr Pawan Kumar Gupta Dy. Librarian

Rajasthan Univ. Library Jaipur - 302 004

Dr. M.R.Rawtani Head, Lib.& Inf. Sc.Univ. of Rajasthan

Jaipur - 302 004

Kamal kant Gupta Tech. Assit.Univ. Rajasthan CollegeJaipur

What is UGC-Infonet?What is UGC-Infonet?

University Grants Commission (UGC) has University Grants Commission (UGC) has initiated a programme called the UGC-initiated a programme called the UGC-Infonet E-Journals Consortium, to provide Infonet E-Journals Consortium, to provide online access to electronic journals and online access to electronic journals and databases in all disciplines to the databases in all disciplines to the universities in India.universities in India.

Continuous…Continuous…

What is UGC-Infonet?What is UGC-Infonet?

The UGC-Infonet Digital Library The UGC-Infonet Digital Library Consortium (one of the important Consortium (one of the important activities of the INFLIBNET Centre) activities of the INFLIBNET Centre) provides current as well as archival provides current as well as archival access to more than 4,500 core and access to more than 4,500 core and peer-reviewed journals and three peer-reviewed journals and three bibliographic databases from 23 bibliographic databases from 23 publishers and aggregators in publishers and aggregators in different disciplines.different disciplines.

Continuous…Continuous…

What is UGC-Infonet?What is UGC-Infonet?

The programme has been made The programme has been made possible due to the close and possible due to the close and understanding cooperation among understanding cooperation among the UGC, ERNET, the Inter-University the UGC, ERNET, the Inter-University Centres IUCAA, INFLIBNET and CEC, Centres IUCAA, INFLIBNET and CEC, and national and international and national and international publishers.publishers.

Objectives of study Objectives of study To assess the accessibility of the e-To assess the accessibility of the e-

consortium to users,consortium to users, To ascertain the preferred e-journals by the To ascertain the preferred e-journals by the

users,users, To find out the level of satisfaction of users To find out the level of satisfaction of users

to the facilities rendered by the UGC-to the facilities rendered by the UGC-Infonet,Infonet,

To know the frequency of access to the To know the frequency of access to the consortium,consortium,

To know the problems being encountered by To know the problems being encountered by the users from the system; and finally, the users from the system; and finally,

To draw opinions and suggestions from the To draw opinions and suggestions from the users towards improving the accessibility of users towards improving the accessibility of the e-journals.the e-journals.

scope of the present study scope of the present study

UGC-Infonet e-journal consortium,UGC-Infonet e-journal consortium, Major users of the Rajasthan Major users of the Rajasthan

University Library,University Library, Facility/service of the UGC-Infonet.Facility/service of the UGC-Infonet.

MethodologyMethodology

The study has been worked out by The study has been worked out by using a questionnaire as a tool for using a questionnaire as a tool for collecting data from 100 different collecting data from 100 different types of users.types of users.

Stratifying the users as Teachers, Stratifying the users as Teachers, Research Scholars and Staff of the Research Scholars and Staff of the University of Rajasthan.University of Rajasthan.

Sample CharacteristicsSample Characteristics

Catg.Catg. No.No. GenderGenderKnowledge of Knowledge of

InternetInternet

MaleMale %% FemaleFemale %% YesYes %% NoNo %%

TeacherTeacher 5555 4343 7878 1212 2222 4343 7878 1212 2222

RSRS 3030 2121 7070 99 3030 2424 8080 66 2020

StaffStaff 1515 1010 6767 55 3333 1010 6767 55 3333

TotalTotal 100100 7474 7474 2626 2626 7777 7777 2323 2323

N=100

Sample CharacteristicsSample Characteristics

As seen in table1, we have taken a sample As seen in table1, we have taken a sample of 100 users, out of them 55 were of 100 users, out of them 55 were teachers (78% male and 22% female), 30 teachers (78% male and 22% female), 30 were research scholars (70% male and were research scholars (70% male and 30% female), and remaining 15 were the 30% female), and remaining 15 were the members of staff (67% male and 33 % members of staff (67% male and 33 % female). In the total sample, 74% were female). In the total sample, 74% were male while remaining 26% were female. male while remaining 26% were female. Majority of them (77%) claimed to have Majority of them (77%) claimed to have the knowledge of internet access. the knowledge of internet access.

AccessibilityAccessibility

Catg.Catg.

NNoo.. DailyDaily %% WeeklyWeekly %%

Some Some TiTi

meme %%

TeacheTeacherr 4343 2424 55.8155.81 55 11.6311.63 1414 32.5632.56

RSRS 2424 1010 41.6741.67 44 16.6716.67 1010 41.6741.67

StaffStaff 1010 66 60.0060.00 00 00 44 40.0040.00

TotalTotal 7777 4040 51.9551.95 99 11.6911.69 2828 36.3636.36

N=77

Awareness about e-consortiumAwareness about e-consortium

ResponseResponse TeacherTeacher %% RSRS %% StaffStaff %%

YesYes 1010 23.2623.26 55 20.8320.83 00 00

NoNo 2020 46.5146.51 99 37.537.5 55 5050

Can't SayCan't Say 1313 30.2330.23 1010 41.6741.67 55 5050

TotalTotal 4343 100100 2424 100100 1010 100100

N=77

Purpose of use of UGC-Infonet / Purpose of use of UGC-Infonet / University SiteUniversity Site

Use of internet & Infonet Consortium

01020304050

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Bib

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Job

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Type of Information

us

ers

Teachers

RS

Staff

Purpose of use of UGC-Infonet / Purpose of use of UGC-Infonet / University SiteUniversity Site

Majority of respondents were using Majority of respondents were using internet services for e-mail purposes internet services for e-mail purposes only followed by full text e-journals only followed by full text e-journals and other information’s. Very few and other information’s. Very few respondents were using internet respondents were using internet services for searching bibliographic services for searching bibliographic information and university archives. information and university archives. No respondent is using internet No respondent is using internet services for searching information services for searching information relating to jobs.relating to jobs.

Question of Satisfaction with the Question of Satisfaction with the e-consortiume-consortium

ResponseResponse TeacherTeacher %% RSRS %% StaffStaff %%

YesYes 1010 23.2623.26 55 20.8320.83 00 00

NoNo 2020 46.5146.51 99 37.537.5 55 5050

Can't SayCan't Say 1313 30.2330.23 1010 41.6641.66 55 5050

TotalTotal 4343 100100 2424 100100 1010 100100

N=77

Question of Satisfaction with the Question of Satisfaction with the e-consortiume-consortium

It was alarming to note that 46.5 % It was alarming to note that 46.5 % teachers surveyed have shown their teachers surveyed have shown their dissatisfaction while only 23.3% of them dissatisfaction while only 23.3% of them appear to be satisfied. Almost 30% replied appear to be satisfied. Almost 30% replied can’t say, which negatively indicates that can’t say, which negatively indicates that either they were not aware of the e-either they were not aware of the e-resources or they never utilized the resources or they never utilized the services of UGC-Infonet. Similarly, 37.5% services of UGC-Infonet. Similarly, 37.5% research scholars surveyed have shown research scholars surveyed have shown their dissatisfaction while only 20.8% have their dissatisfaction while only 20.8% have expressed their satisfaction. 41.7% expressed their satisfaction. 41.7% research scholars surveyed expressed research scholars surveyed expressed their un awareness. their un awareness.

Major problems: Use of E-resources Major problems: Use of E-resources

They do not know about e-recourses,They do not know about e-recourses, Illiteracy of users about ICT and its Illiteracy of users about ICT and its

knowledge,knowledge, Problems in selection of desired title of Problems in selection of desired title of

journals,journals, Provision of up to date information,Provision of up to date information, Required Journals are not subscribed,Required Journals are not subscribed, Can not access full text,Can not access full text, Dak Portal Service is not effective,Dak Portal Service is not effective, Mostly Articles are with lock,Mostly Articles are with lock, Current Database is not available.Current Database is not available.

Preferred Format of JournalsPreferred Format of Journals

Users Total E-Journal %Printed Journal %

Teacher 43 15 34.88 28 65.11

RS 24 14 32.56 10 23.25

Staff 10 3 6.98 7 16.27

Total 77 32 41.56 45 58.44

N=77

Preferred Format of JournalsPreferred Format of Journals

Most of the teachers and staff preferred Most of the teachers and staff preferred printed journals whereas the research printed journals whereas the research scholars preferred e-journals. The scholars preferred e-journals. The assumption behind the low use of e-assumption behind the low use of e-journal among the teachers may be that journal among the teachers may be that they were not feeling comfortable and they were not feeling comfortable and friendly in using e-resources. It shows that friendly in using e-resources. It shows that they find some problems in accessing the they find some problems in accessing the e-recourses. They may need some basic e-recourses. They may need some basic training.training.

University website LayoutUniversity website Layout

Layout of University Website

020406080

100120

Ye

s

No

Ye

s

No

Go

od

Sa

tisfy

.

Ca

n'ts

Help Full UserFriendly

Aesthetic

%

Teacher 43

RS 24

Staff 10

Towards improving the E-Towards improving the E-consortium serviceconsortium service

UsersUsers Training Training

requiredrequired Training PeriodTraining Period

YesYes NoNoHalf Half

daydayfull full dayday 2 days2 days

TeacherTeacher 5555 4848 77 66 66 3636

RSRS 3030 2626 44 00 1010 1616

StaffStaff 1515 1313 22 00 88 55

TotalTotal 100100 8787 1313 66 2424 5757

Suggestion Towards improving Suggestion Towards improving the E-consortium servicethe E-consortium service

Regular user’s education programme Regular user’s education programme for e-journals consortium,for e-journals consortium,

Making the users aware of the e-Making the users aware of the e-journals available,journals available,

Circulate a guidelines on the access Circulate a guidelines on the access to e-journal.to e-journal.

Suggestion Towards improving Suggestion Towards improving the E-consortium servicethe E-consortium service

We feel that data of the survey and users We feel that data of the survey and users behaviour clearly indicate that there is a behaviour clearly indicate that there is a strong requirement of conducting strong requirement of conducting educational and publicity programmes in educational and publicity programmes in the University to create awareness of the the University to create awareness of the e-resources among the users for this e-resources among the users for this purpose at regular intervals the UGC-purpose at regular intervals the UGC-Infonet Centre should conduct short-term Infonet Centre should conduct short-term training programmes in the university.training programmes in the university.

Thank youThank you

Contact: Contact: kamalkantg@sify.comkamalkantg@sify.comURL: www/geocities.com/kamal_279URL: www/geocities.com/kamal_279