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Faculty use of electronic library resources.

Article Excerpt
Abstract

This study examined the use of electronic library resources by teaching faculty to determine which were important to them. Survey responses show the resources faculty members used most often or plan to use, and those they don't use or don't plan to use. Results indicate the library needs to increase faculty awareness of resources beyond the library's online catalog and periodical databases. Faculty members indicated the need for training in the use of resources with which they are less familiar and the need to publicize these resources. The survey was conducted at Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama.

Introduction

Jacksonville State University (JSLD is a comprehensive regional university with a student enrollment of close to 10,000. Houston Cole Library is a thirteen-story red granite building with eight subject floors arranged mainly in Library of Congress call number order. Subject librarians, who are responsible for collection maintenance and development, liaison activities and instruction, manage each floor. Floor librarians also rotate duty at a central reference desk on the second floor. Librarians attempt to keep teaching faculty up to date on changes and new acquisitions that will be of value to them and their students. These efforts include communication with faculty about resources in their areas of interest, an e-mail liaison list, a twice-yearly print newsletter, and an online news site. In addition, the Houston Cole Library has a comprehensive Web site with many resources of potential use to faculty members. One example is an annotated list of databases to which the library subscribes or has access, and a quick list of the most frequently used databases

The purpose of this study was to find out what electronic resources or services were most important to faculty and which ones they used most often in the library, their offices, or from home. Interest in faculty usage and awareness of electronic resources grew out of discussions after instruction sessions or while talking to library liaisons, when we would hear "I didn't know you could do that." A survey was developed to assess faculty level of awareness and use of the library's electronic resources. Another objective was to see what the respondents thought we could do to increase their awareness of services that were of use, or potential use, to them.

Review of the Literature

A review of library science and education literature revealed that there has not been a great deal published recently on the topic of faculty awareness of library resources. In papers that have been published, a common theme was that libraries need to publicize and market their services and foster communication with faculty to increase awareness of library resources. Similar findings were expected...

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