Library Herald Year : 2014, Volume : 53, Issue : 2 First page : ( 152) Last page : ( 167) Print ISSN : 0024-2292. Online ISSN : 0976-2469. Article DOI : 10.5958/0976-2469.2015.00020.2
Use of Search Engines for the Retrieval of Scholarly Information: A study of the Kerala University Library
Sudhier K G*, Anitha C K**
*Librarian, Library & Knowledge Centre, School Of Distance Education, University Of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-695 034, Kerala. E-mail: kgsudhier@gmail.com
**Librarian, Sree Buddha College of Engineering for Women, Elavumthitta, Pathanamthitta-689 503, Kerala E-mail: anitack2009@gmail.com
Abstract
This paper focuses on the use of search engines by the users of the Kerala University Library. A survey was conducted through a structured questionnaire circulated among 250 library users taken from different categories and the response rate was 96 per cent. Stratified accidental random sample method was used for selection of respondents and interacting with them. The study revealed that students browse Internet for social, academic and professional purposes. All the researchers and teachers are using search engines for the retrieval of scholarly information for research purposes. Google is the most widely used search engine followed by yahoo and scirus. Majority of the students and teachers use search engines mainly for their study purposes and most of the research scholars use them for their research work. Most of the respondents are using search strategies and majority of them preferred field searching methods. Retrieval of too much unwanted information is the major hindrance faced while using search engines. The study highlights the practicality of the awareness and use of search engines for the retrieval of scholarly information and it will assist the policy makers, planners and the librarians to understand the user's awareness of the search engines and their use in the academic study and research.
Keywords Search engines, Information retrieval, Internet, Scholarly information, Kerala University library,Sudhier K G, Anitha C K.