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Academic Social Networking Sites (ASNSs) like ResearchGate, Academia.edu, Google Scholar, LinkedIn, etc., are created predominantly for scholars to set up their profiles, upload their scholarly publications, and convey among peers. The prime objectives of the present study are to explore their awareness and use of ASNS amongst the research scholars of science and social science discipline of a prestigious central university in north India, i.e., Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). The survey method was employed, and a simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample by using a structured questionnaire administered to the sample population. Further, it explores its individual use across two dimensions i.e., “Collaborative Research” (CR) and “Information Sharing and Consumption” (ISC) with respect to the gender and discipline. Different hypotheses were framed which signify that there was a significant difference with respect to the gender and discipline across the dimension “CR” with p-value = 0.624 and 0.968, respectively. Moreover, there was again a significant difference with respect to the gender and discipline across the dimension “ISC” with p-value = 0.127 and 0.828, respectively. Further, there is a positive but weak correlation between the constructs CR and ISC, whereas weak to moderate association between their respective items. The implications of the present study would be helpful for regulatory bodies in recognizing the academic activities of the researchers with the use of possible metrics.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to assess the familiarity and utilization of open access resources among library users of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi, and Pondicherry University (PU), Puducherry. Design/methodology/approach Data for the study were collected via a well-structured questionnaire. For this study, 250 questionnaires were administered among library users of each CUSAT and PU through incidental sampling. From CUSAT and PU, 180 and 160 questionnaires, respectively, were considered for data analysis. Findings The study reveals that majority of the respondents, i.e. 77.78 and 80 per cent of CUSAT and PU, respectively, believe that they are familiar with the concept of open access (OA). 70.56 per cent respondents from CUSAT and 71.88 per cent users from PU are aware that their library has an OA repository. However, majority of the respondents, i.e. 65 and 70.63 per cent users from CUSAT and PU, respectively, use OA resources. Among OA resources, electronic theses and dissertations are the most preferred ones consulted by 56.67 and 62.50 per cent respondents, respectively, from CUSAT and PU. 60.56 per cent respondents from CUSAT followed by PU (52.50 per cent) cited “screen reading” as a main barrier in accessing OA resources. Originality/value Both the universities under study have created and maintained the OA institutional repository for disseminating their institutional intellectual output. This study explores awareness and use of OA resources among library users of CUSAT and PU. The study concludes with some suggestions for utmost utilization of OA resources among library users.

The aim of this research paper is to investigate the knowledge management strategies adopted by the libraries of central universities in India. Review of literature, reveals that codification and personalisation have been considered knowledge management strategies for sharing explicit and tacit knowledge within the library system. To determine the most used knowledge management strategies in libraries, 14 tools (seven each for codification and personalisation) were recognised from the literature review and taken for examination. A total of 116 library and information science professionals of 23 central universities spread across India were surveyed through a web-based questionnaire to explore the knowledge management strategies followed and data analyses were conducted by using SPSS version 22.0. The findings of the research show that both codification and personalisation have been used in libraries, though the balance of codification and personalisation was not in 80-20 ratio. Between codification and personalisation, codification was found to be the most useful strategy with collective mean difference, i.e., 0.312. This study has practical implications for those who are not fully aware of the prominence of knowledge management and how knowledge management strategies can be used to gain a competitive advantage.

Libraries being the learning hub, have a responsibility to safeguard their collection and building from various security issues thrown at them by their users and nature in the form of theft and mutilation of documents; and natural disasters, respectively. This article aims to discuss the various security issues faced by the libraries in general and tools to provide adequate security measures along with some security guidelines or standards published by ALA, NAAC, ACRL, etc. The security of library materials is an issue of utmost importance for the librarians in the contemporary time. Apart from the environmental issue, terrorism and war are also becoming a significant threat to libraries. So, there is a need to ruminate about library safety and security.

This paper explains in detail about the methodology for the development of a scale to measure Attitude towards using Web-based Information Resources (ATWIR). Predominantly, it is found that few researchers play very significant role in teaching and learning. To understand the psychological and behavioural aspects that influences the use of Web-based Information Resources. This study presents the rigorous process in developing a scale that is valid and reliable for measuring the ATWIR. The psychometric properties of the scale include: validity < 1.75(t value) and Cronbach Alpha = 0.81, which is highly valid and reliable. The end part of the paper also discussed about the significance of the scale and how to use it in different context to promote the use of Web-based Information Resources.

The purpose of this paper is to determine the awareness of electronic resources or e-resources among library users and promote the usage of electronic resources available at the Kalasalingam University Library (KLUL). A structured questionnaire was designed for collecting data, the same was administered to 210 randomly selected faculty and students at the Kalasalingam University and 156 completed questionnaires were returned. The study revealed several issues, including inadequate user account, lack of speed in accessing, the lack of knowledge in searching techniques and lack of time. Eighty four respondents (53.84 percent) felt that the publicity of e-resources is essential and they listed the publicity method of creating links to the library Web pages from the institutional homepages in the first rank. As far as purpose of use of e-resources is concerned, majority of them utilize e-resources for their project work and preparing papers for presenting conferences and seminars. This study has widely held view that low awareness and poor skills are among the primary reasons for their under utilization. The paper also provides suggestions derived from the analysis of data which help to enhance the use of eresources services and fulfill the needs and requirements of the faculty and students in Kalalalingam University, Tamil Nadu.

The purpose of the study is to asses the effect of training and development programmes on capacity building of library and information professionals of various university and special libraries in Delhi, India. Data for the study were collected via a well-structured questionnaire that was administered to almost all information professionals of selected university and special libraries in Delhi. The study reveals that majority of the library professionals have attended training programmes to improve their skills and update their knowledge. They applied technical knowledge/skills gained through training programmes to a moderate extent in their work place to provide better services to their users, but they strongly believe that training and development programmes do not make any impact on their status and designation. The article concludes with some suggestions to the betterment of library and information services of libraries under study through capacity building of library staff.