OPAC and User Perception in Law University Libraries in the Karnataka: A Study.

This paper sets out to provide an overview of online public access catalogue (OPAC) and Law University libraries in Karnataka state. The aim of this study is to learn about OPAC users' affirmative perception, post affirmative perception and level of satisfaction with library OPAC search. This paper deals with the user perception towards the use of OPAC in Law University libraries in Karnataka. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 300 users including LLB students, LLM students, Research Scholars and Teaching Staff. The sample population was chosen by using the convenience sample method and the researcher received only 256 filled - in usable questionnaires. The research questionnaire applied the five point Likert's scale. Statistical tests like mean and standard deviation (SD) were applied for the purpose of accuracy. The results of the survey indicated that users have different levels of perceptions with regard to OPAC search. On the whole, there is a positive perception towards OPAC search, but the survey also underlines that not all users are fully satisfied with the OPAC system's an ability to assist in finding books and with the results of OPAC searches. Only 17.2% users indicated 100% rate of success in locating the document of their interest from the OPAC search. This research paper produces findings of relevance to any law University library to develop and implement a user - oriented or user friendly OPAC service. There have been no previous published research studies of OPAC and user perception in law University libraries in the Karnataka state of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]