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VOL. 3, NO.

3, March 2012 ISSN 2079-8407


Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisjournal.org

421
An Evaluation of E-Resources in Academic Libraries in Tamil Nadu
1
S. Dhanavandan,
2
M. Tamizhchelvan

1
Assistant Librarian,
2
Deputy Librarian
Gandhigram Rural Institute - Deemed University, Gandhigram-624 302, Dindigul Dt. TN.
dhanavandan@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
E-resources are resources in which information is stored electronically and it can be accessible through electronic systems and
network environment. E-resources are a very broad term that includes a variety of different file formats. Instant access is quite
possible with E-resources within a fraction of second. Acquiring knowledge from E-Books, E-Journals, Online resources, CD-
ROM, Internet with related Databases are the impact of E-Resources. The purpose of this paper is to identify the availability of
E-resources facility and accessing mode in the engineering institutions in Tamilnadu. A well structured questionnaire was
distributed among library professionals in engineering institutions in Tamilnadu to evaluate the E-resource facility.
Keywords: E-Resources, Electronic, Self financing Engineering Institutions, Access Mode
1. INTRODUCTION
Today libraries are providing electronic access to
a wide variety of resources, including indexes, full-text
articles, complete journals with back files and Internet /
Web resources. In fact, libraries have been moving
towards an electronic environment, in which sufficient
computers are necessary for patrons to access information.
The array of electronic resources available in libraries
today is an outgrowth of the changes in information
delivery made possible through advances in both computer
technologies, such as powerful personal desktop
workstations, and information storage and delivery
mechanisms, such as CD-ROMs and user-friendly
graphical user interfaces (GUIs). These advances made the
ongoing efforts to replace other traditional services and
processes with electronic versions attractive and
economically feasible for many libraries.
2. E-RESOURCES
An electronic resource is defined as a resource
which requires computer access or any electronic product
that delivers a collection of dada, be it text referring to full
text bases, electronic journals, image collections, other
multimedia products and numerical, graphical or time
based, as a commercially available title that has been
published with an aim to being marketed. These may be
delivered on cd rom , on tape, via internet and so on. Over
the past few years, a number of techniques about related
standards have been developed which allow documents to
be created and distributed in electronic form. The e-
resource on magnetic and optical media has a vast impact
on the collections of university libraries.
Electronic publishing has lead to new era of
communications and information sharing. It creates
opportunities for users as well as authors and publishers.
Many of the electronic books or electronic publishers web
site freely permit and encourage readers to provide
feedback on works, often directly to the author rather to
the publisher. Nevertheless users may establish their own
accounts, charge services to credit cards or to pay by
prearranged method, and have requested material delivered
directly to them by fax, e-mail, etc. today, libraries of all
kinds have been spending larger and larger shares of their
budgets to adopt or gain access to electronic resources
from publishers and vendors. This is due to the fact that e-
resources have enabled libraries to improve services in a
variety of ways. First, most e-resources come equipped
with powerful search and retrieval tools that allow users to
perform literature searches more effectively and
efficiently. Moreover, since most relevant e-resources are
now available through the web, users can have desktop
access to them 24 hours a day.
There are several forms and types of electronic
resources which are available on the internet, some of the
popular ones that are gaining ground are the electronic
journals, standards, technical specifications, reports,
patents, full text articles, trade reports and hosts of other
document sources. Also the printed editions of scholarly
journals are available on the web. The publishers of
journals are themselves providing services like contents,
abstracts of articles, full text, before the actual printed
edition is put on the stands. Majority of this kind of service
providers are those publishers who have several journal
publications to their credit, e.g., Elsevier, Academic Press,
Springer, Oxford University Press, Taylor and Francis
Blackwell Science and others. Their services are available
VOL. 3, NO. 3, March 2012 ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisjournal.org

422
to anyone having access to RSS feed with free of cost.
Some of the journals are only available on commercial
basis for which to pay and use the required amount, and
for these journals, users have to pay for the view and if
needed, per copy for the print also. UGC-INFONET and
INDEST- Consortium are two major initiatives that have
come to the rescue of academic libraries so that they can
cater to the needs of academia with reasonable
subscription fee.
Organising e-sources is one of the important and
crucial works to provide services to the users of the library
information system. In a modern digital library
information system, the professionals should have skills
like computing, database management, networking, and
other management skills relating to IT environment.
Therefore, library information professionals should keep in
mind the followings points while organizing the e-
resources.
1) To include those resources either in OPAC or to
make difference list for browsing
2) Organized to access the e-resources either by
alphabetical or under specific subject headings for
browsing.
3) To se up gateway to e-resources for easy access.
4) To develop the institutional repositories for the
institutional publications journal and proceedings
papers.
5) To check the method of access to e-resources,
abstracting or full, since most of the users search
the resources under subject heading predominantly,
organization of e-resources should be in a such a
way that the users could be able to retrieve
different sets of information records.
3. REVIEW OF LITEARTURE
Asemi and Riyahiniya (2007) conducted a survey
to investigate the awareness and use of digital resources by
250 students in the libraries of Isfahan University of
Medical Sciences, Iran. The results were that 70 percent of
students were aware of digital resources, but only 69
percent of them have used them; 62 percent were aware of
offline databases, whereas only about 19 percent used
them through the Central Library LAN network. In total 87
percent of students felt that the available data resources
met their information needs. Users are faced with problems
like low speed connectivity and shortage of hardware
facilities. An exploratory study by Vezzosi (2009) at the
University of Parma (Italy) on information behaviour of
doctoral students showed that, doctoral students rely
heavily on the internet for their research work. Students
demonstrated progress throughout the years of their
doctorate course in terms of awareness and information
competence. Parameshwar and Patils (2009) paper
highlights a large portion of user population in the
university are aware about the internet, but they do not
know all its techniques and applications. Further, a few
users of the university still have no knowledge about the
internet and related applications. For this purpose, there is
need for effective user education, to develop awareness
and knowledge of the users. More efforts by librarian at
Gulbarga University are needed to educate users to
effectively use the internet and its techniques and
applications.
Umesh Kumar Agarwal and Rajesh Kumar Dave
(2009) have studied the use of internet by the scientists and
research fellows of Central Arid Zone Research
Institute(CAZRI), Jodhpur (Rajasthan) was assessed on the
basis of a questionnaire survey in CAZRI. Further, it also
attempts to assess the frequency of use, location where
used; search engine accessed; purpose of use, etc. The
study revealed that the respondents accessed Google
search frequently (100%) followed by Yahoo (85.29%). It
is also observed that equally (97.06%) respondents use the
internet for education and research. The strong desire of
respondents is that the library initiate various functions and
services like e-portals, on-line information, abstracts
retrieval along with internet. Govinda raju (2010) found by
his survey that the use of electronic resources is found to
be significant among the users of the Andhra University.
This is quite natural and expected in the present day
implementation environment. Some of the resources such
as e-book, e-encyclopedias, e-dictionaries are less used. He
also felt that to further maximize use of the e-resources,
wide publicity and imparting trainings were found to be
necessary. Kattimani and Kamble (2010) made a study on
awareness of Internet and online information resources.
His study is confined only to the Honey well library,
Bangalore. Data collected from the administrative staff,
supportive staff and software engineers. The response rate
is 80%. The study revealed that about 80.2% of the library
users have quality awareness on Internet information
resources.
4. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
This study is to identify the evaluation of E-
Resources and facilitates. Library services to ensure that
the information needs of the user community are met,
regardless of their location. It enables libraries to deliver
valuable information that already exists within library
walls electronically to patrons out side the wall.
5. OBJECTIVES
1. To assess the availability of library E-Resources
2. To identify availability of different E-Resources
VOL. 3, NO. 3, March 2012 ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisjournal.org

423
3. To assess the types of Electronic Accessing Mode

6. METHODOLOGY
This study analyse the assessment of e-resources
facilities in the libraries of engineering institutions in
Tamil Nadu. 200 questionnaires were distributed among
the library professionals of the engineering institutions
libraries in Tamil Nadu. 140 responses were received. The
relevant data are collected from the librarians of the
concerned institutions by employing mailed questionnaire
method. The data collection was carried out from January
2011 to May 2011. The respondents have properly
answered the queries posed by the researcher. After
completion of answering, they returned the questionnaires
to the researcher. The general data interpretation is done
with the application of percentage analysis, analysis of
variance.
7. CLASSIFICATION OF
ENGINEERING INSTITUTIONS
The engineering institutions in Tamil Nadu have
been classified based on the year of establishment for the
purpose of analysing. The categories are Long, Medium
and Short duration institutions. Long Duration Institutions
denotes the engineering institutions in Tamil Nadu which
were started 15 years ago i.e., prior to 1995. Medium
Duration Institutions denotes the institutions which were
started in the last 10 years. i.e., before 2005. And, Short
Duration Institutions denotes the institutions which were
started in the after 2005.
8. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATIONS
8.1 Distribution of Questionnaires of engineering
institutions libraries
Table 1: Questionnaire distributed among libraries
Sl.No.
Questionnaire
Distributed
Questionnaire
Received
%
1 200
140
(70.00)
60
(30.00)

As per the above Tale 1, the 200 questionnaires
were distributed to the various self financing engineering
institution libraries in Tamil Nadu.140 respondents are
replied out of 200 libraries. But, rest of the 60 (30%)
libraries from the self financing engineering institutions in
Tamil Nadu are not replied.

8.2 Availability of E-Resources at Engineering Institutions Libraries in Tamil Nadu
The duration wise status of aavailability of E-Resources in engineering institution libraries in Tamil Nadu has been
presented in Table 2.
Table 2: Availability of E-Sources at Engineering Institutions Libraries in Tamil Nadu
Duratio
n
e -Journals e- Books Online Database
CD ROM
Database
Internet
Tota
l
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No
Long
18
(100.00)
0
10
(55.56)
8
(44.44)
11
(61.11)
7
(38.89)
18
(44.44)
0

18
(100.00)
0 18
Medium
65
(92.85)
5
(7.14)
25
(35.71)
45
(64.29)
35
(50.00)
35
(50.00)
45
(64.29)
25
(35.71)
68
(97.14)
2
(2.86)
70
Short
44
(84.61)
8
(15.38)
15
(28.85)
37
(71.15)
21
(40.38)
31
(59.62)
37
(71.15)
15
(28.85)
47
(90.38)
5
(9.62)
52
Total
127
(90.71)
13
(9.29)
50
(35.71)
90
(64.39)
67
(47.86)
73
(52.14)
100
(71.43)
40
(28.7)
133
(95.00)
7
(5.00)
140
(Figures in parentheses denote percentage)
VOL. 3, NO. 3, March 2012 ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisjournal.org

424

From table 2, it could be noted, all the 18(100) long
duration institutions, 44 (84.61) short duration libraries
and 65 (92.85) medium duration institution libraries have
e-journals in their libraries. In the case of e-books, long
duration institutions take the first place with a 10(55.56)
and second in medium duration institution libraries ie
35.71%. The 35 (50.00) of medium duration libraries have
on-line dada bases, 21 libraries of short duration institution
libraries but 11(61.11) libraries of long duration institution
libraries have the on-line data bases facility. Out
of the 140 sample libraries, 100(71.43%) libraries have CD
ROM data bases in their collection. All the long duration
institution libraries have CD ROM databases. Out of the
100 libraries, 45 (64.29) belong to medium duration
institution libraries.


Figure 1: Availability of E-Resources Engineering Institutions Libraries
Table 3: ANOVA (Two Way) test for E-Resources Vs Institutions
ANOVA Summery Result
ANOVA
Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Rows 424.3333 2 212.1667 0.431254 0.658039 3.73889
Columns 2569.333 9 367.0476 0.746068 0.638776 2.764196
Error 6887.667 18 491.9762

Total 9881.333 23
Source: Computed

ANOVA two way model is applied for
availability of E-Resources vs Institutions. At one point
the computed ANOVA value is 0.43 which is less than its
tabulated value at 5 percent level of significance. Hence,
variation with respect to possession of number of the
availability of E-sources in the library is statistically
identified as in significant. At another point the computed
ANOVA value is 0.74 which is less than its tabulated
value at 5 percent level of significance. Hence, the
duration wise variation among the institutions is
statistically identified as insignificant with respect to
distribution of E - Sources in the libraries of the selected
engineering institutions.

VOL. 3, NO. 3, March 2012 ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisjournal.org

425

8.3 Electronic Access Mode Available at Engineering Institution Libraries in Tamil Nadu
The duration wise status of availability of Electronic Access Mode at Engineering Institutions Libraries in Tamil Nadu
has been presented in Table 4.
Table 4: Electronic Access Mode Available at Engineering Institutions Libraries
Duration
OPAC WEB OPAC
SUBJECT
GATEWAYS
Web sites
Total
Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No
Long
17
(94.44)
1
(5.55)
10
(55.56)
8
(44.44)
4
(22.22)
14
(77.78)
3
(16.67)
15
(83.33)
18
Medium
58
(82.86)
12
(17.14)
25
(35.71)
45
(64.29)
6
(8.67)
64
(91.43)
35
(50.00)
35
(50.00)
70
Short
40
(76.92)
12
(23.08)
15
(28.85)
37
(71.15)
12
(23.18)
40
(76.92)
30
(57.69)
22
(42.31)
52
Total
115
(82.14)
25
(17.86)
50
(35.71)
90
(64.39)
22
(12.86)
118
(87.14)
68
(48.57)
72
(51.42)
140
(Figures in parentheses denote percentage)

A study of data in table 4 indicates institutions
duration wise electronic access mode availability in the
libraries of selected self financing engineering institutions
in Tamil Nadu. It could be noted that most of the long
duration institutions (94.44) have OPAC, WEBOPAC
have in 10(55.56 %) of the libraries and only 4 (22.22%)
libraries have subject gateways. In the case of medium
duration institution and short duration institution libraries,
OPAC is available in more than 75 percent of the libraries.
But WEBOPAC is available only in 25(35.71%) medium
duration institution libraries and 15 (28.85%) short
duration institution libraries. The same result in the case of
medium duration institution libraries out of 70 and 12
(23.18%) short duration institution libraries out of 52 have
subject gateways. From the table, it could be observed that
irrespective of the duration of the institutions all the
libraries should develop WEBOPAC and subject gateways.


Figure 2: Availability of Electronic Access Mode at Engineering Institution Libraries
VOL. 3, NO. 3, March 2012 ISSN 2079-8407
Journal of Emerging Trends in Computing and Information Sciences
2009-2012 CIS Journal. All rights reserved.

http://www.cisjournal.org

426

Table 5: ANOVA (Two Way) test for Electronic Access Mode Vs Institutions
ANOVA Summery Result
ANOVA
Source of Variation SS df MS F P-value F crit
Rows 2789.333 2 1394.667 17.83678 0.000141 3.73889
Columns 3155.333 7 450.7619 5.764921 0.002694 2.764196
Error 1094.667 14 78.19048

Total 7039.333 23

Source: Computed
ANOVA two way model is applied for electronic
access mode. At one point, the computed ANOVA value
is 17.83 which is greater than its tabulated value at 5
percent level of significance. Hence variation with respect
to possession of electronic access modes in the libraries is
statistically identified as significant. At another point the
computed ANOVA value is 5.76 which is greater than its
tabulated value at 5 percent level of significance. Hence,
the duration wise variation among the institutions is
statistically identified as significant with respect to
availability of electronic access modes in the libraries of
the selected self financing engineering institutions.
9. CONCLUSION
More number of libraries subscribes to e-journals
and e-books and few libraries have online database and CD
ROM database collection. Most of the libraries have
internet facility in their premises. Majority of the
institution libraries have OPAC. Contrastingly they are in
the process of developing WEBOPAC, subject gateways
and websites.
REFERENCES
[1] Asemi, Asefeh and Riyahiniya, Nosrat, (2007)
Awareness and use of digital resources in the
libraries of Isfahan University of Medical
Sciences, Iran. 25(3) , The Electronic Library.
316-327.
[2] Parameshwar,S., & Patil, D.B., (2009). Use of the
Internet by Faculty and Research scholars at
Gulbarga University Library. Library Philosophy
and Practice.
From<http://digitalcommon.unl.edu/libphilprac/2
78>
[3] Umesh Kumar Agarwal, & Rajesh Kumar Dave
(2009). Use of Internet by the Scientists of
CAZRI: A survey. Indian Journal of Library and
Information Science. January-Aprij 3(1).2009
[4] Govindaraju, Nemani., Use and user awareness of
E-resources in Andhra University library: A
study. PEARL: A journal of Library and
Information Science, 4(3), 183-188. 2010.
[5] Kattimani, ParasuramS & Kamble, V.T.,
Awareness of Internet and Online Information
Resources: A study. PEARL: A Journal of
Library and Information Science, 4(3), 147-150.
2010.

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