Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2021
Document Type
Article
Abstract
Objectives of this study were to investigate the usage of subscribed and open access resources, preferences, level of awareness, reasons to utilize subscribed & open access information resources, and problems being faced while using the information resources by Library and Information Science (LIS) research scholars. Quantitative method followed by survey research design was used to conduct this study. Self-administered questionnaire validated by field experts was used to gather the data from the participants. The population of this study was postgraduate LIS research scholars from Punjab, who were enrolled in M. Phil. (2015-2017) and Ph. D. (2015-2018) programs. The survey was administrated personally. The data was gathered from 78 research scholars of Library and Information Science from the five LIS schools in Punjab. The data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software. This study found that LIS participants preferred both resources like, subscribed and open access resources. The use of subscribed resources by Library and Information Science research scholars was preferred to open access resources for finding the articles and accessible anywhere of the world. There is a tendency among the researchers that due to lack of awareness, limited knowledge about existing research facilities, they do not fully utilize open access resources for their research and the database developed by the institution(s). A bunch of scholars does not aware of open access resources and due to this their utilization of this facility is quite low. Most of the libraries and the organization(s) do not have the facility and resources to have access to “subscribed electronic resources” due to heavy cost. Present study concludes that the LIS scholars prefer to use open access resources because of free availability on internet as compared to subscribed resources. Subscribed resources have a limited access only within the campus.