Awareness and usage of E-library services by members of academic staff in University of Kelaniya

Abstract

Modern Libraries have transformed in to digital and virtual libraries where books, journals, and magazines have changed into e-resources. Therefore, libraries intend to disseminate their information through e-library platform. Accordingly, University of Kelaniya library initiated an E-library with number of E-databases, E-books, E-journal articles and necessary study materials. The purpose of this paper is to find out level of awareness and usage of E-library by members of academic staff in the University of Kelaniya. A questionnaire was used as the main method for data collection and was supplemented by interview. 178 questionnaires were distributed using stratified random sampling method and also a probabilistic equation to measure the sample size and the proportion of strata. Most of academic members use E-databases and E-journals to full fill their research needs and E-books are used for their learning and teaching activities. The findings revealed that the academic members of faculty of Sciences show the highest awareness and use of e-library services and lowest results belongs to the faculty of Humanities. It is observed that high awareness had led to high levels of usage of e-resources. It is recommended that more awareness programmes and hand on trainings should be arranged for the faculties identified.