Abstract

Author(s): P. SEKHAR, V. PULLA REDDY

Analysis of data collected from a stratified random sample of 1,650 users of libraries of Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati, and University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, with regard to their use of Internet using questionnaire method, reveals that most of the users (94.36%) have knowledge to use computers and Internet. Most of the users (96.61%) replied that they have access to Internet facility in their libraries. More than one-third of the users (34.91%) use Internet facility daily and 29.92 per cent of the users spend on an average 2 hours per week for using Internet. Majority of the users (78.69%) are using Google search engine. Majority of the users (78.69%) are either satisfied or highly satisfied with regard to Internet facilities available in their respective libraries. ‘Insufficient number of computers’, ‘insufficient time slot’, and ‘lack of awareness on search techniques’ are the major problems faced by the users in the use of Internet facilities. Significant differences have been found among the various groups of users viz., users of SVU and UH, arts and science disciplines, men and women, rural and urban, and research scholars and students, regarding certain aspects of Internet usage. A number of suggestions have been made to increase the usage of Internet facilities in the libraries of Sri Venkateswara University and University of Hyderabad.