Use of Digital Library Resources among Postgraduate Students in Bhopal: A Survey-Based Study
Keywords:
Digital Library Resources, Postgraduate Students, Information Access, Digital Literacy, Academic Libraries.Abstract
The present study investigates how postgraduate students in Bhopal use digital library resources using a descriptive survey research approach and a sample of 100 respondents. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect information on awareness, access patterns, objectives, preferences, motivating factors, challenges, and satisfaction levels. The findings show that 82% of postgraduate students are aware of e-journals, which are the most widely used digital library resource. Coursework and exam preparation emerged as the primary objectives, with easy accessibility and time-saving being the primary motivators for use. However, there are still significant challenges, including slow internet (68%), ignorance (55%), and insufficient training (52%). Just 42% have received official training, despite 68% saying they need it. Hypothesis testing revealed a substantial correlation between awareness/usage and demographic variables (discipline and institution), whereas a strong negative correlation (p<0.05) was found between challenges and satisfaction. The study concludes that optimizing postgraduate students' usage of digital library resources in Bhopal requires enhancing internet infrastructure, increasing subscriptions, and providing targeted training sessions.
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