Asian Research Thesis Index

Abstract

The underlying research study explores effectiveness of the resources for the users in the Central Library, UoP under topic ‘‘Information Seeking Behaviour (ISB) of Teaching Faculty (TF) and Master (Previous/Final Year Students) (MPFYS) Using Central Library, University of Peshawar.’’ The main objectives of this inquiry were to investigate information resources used by the TF & MPFYS of the UoP in the Central Library and to analyze the extent to which the existing information resources met their needs. It was presumed that the TF & MPFYS were dependent on and faced some problems in using resources in the Central Library. The current investigation is based on a population of 5474 from all the six faculties under stratified random sampling of 890 TF & MPFYS. A sequential and quantitative method approach was adopted to collect the research data through questionnaire as in the earlier similar studies most frequently used methodologies were questionnaires and interviews based surveys. An extensive amount of literature available on information needs and information seeking behaviour of the users was reviewed. The past readings also showed that the determined investigation would influence on the information style of the TF & MPFYS. However, literature relevant to the staff and students using Central Library of the University of Peshawar was not available. Information needs and its seeking behaviour had effects in one way or the other on the learning process that the TF & MPFYS used. All the participants of the study were overall dependent on resources of the Central Library of University of Peshawar. These resources were important, satisfactory and preferable to some extent for the respondents. The printed materials and e-resources available in mother or in non-mother languages in the Central Library appealed to a maximum number of users to accomplish their desired pursuits. The respondents were highly satisfied with the subject books, e-resources, reference books and newspapers. They visited the library as frequently as they felt the need of information. They stayed 2-3 hours per week in the library for using the resources in a peaceful environment. Although the findings indicated that the respondents faced several problems, causing anxiety while using resources in the Central Library, yet they could find 50% of their desired information. The respondents had ‘good’ skills to seek help of the library staff in search of information resources in the Central Library, UoP. They could not be satisfied fully with the staff’s help. It was suggested that the Central Library, University of Peshawar should have designed information system, like orientation programme measures, enrolling high qualified and experienced staff to balance development of collection, manage system for human resources development, addition of computers in the laboratory, provision of secondary services and to arrange alternate power supply. This study may well be repeated after every ten years. No such study like the present one in the University of Peshawar has been conducted so far. This study will, therefore, be of great importance for this university, may for any university in the country.

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