Enhancing Engineering Faculty’s Use of Online Databases for Improved Academic Performance: A Comprehensive Study

Enhancing Engineering Faculty's Use of Online Databases for Improved Academic Performance: A Comprehensive Study

Lakshmi Udayan

MlibISc Student, Dept. of Library and Information Science, St. Berchmans College(Autonomous),Changanacherry, Kottayam Dist., Kerala, India

Sheejamol Mathew

Assisstant Professor, Dept. of Library and Information Science , St. Berchmans College(Autonomous),Changanacherry, Kottayam Dist., Kerala, India

Abstract

In this era of rapid technological advancement, the use of online databases has become indispensable for faculty members in engineering colleges. These databases, offering a wealth of information in the form of full-text articles, e-books, e-journals, and more, are pivotal to keeping pace with the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation. This study set out to explore the utilization, awareness, and availability of online databases, shedding light on their impact on the academic performance of faculty members in Sree Buddha college of Engineering, Alappuzha. To attain a comprehensive understanding, a structured questionnaire was meticulously prepared and distributed among faculty members. They were afforded a two-day window to respond, after which the collected data were subjected to rigorous statistical analysis. It is evident from the study that faculty members actively engage with online databases, leveraging them as vital resources to augment their research and teaching endeavours as well as exhibit a high level of awareness concerning the diverse databases accessible through the library .Inadequate training programs, untimely database renewals, limited database collections, and a shortage of access terminals pose notable hindrances to the full utilization of these resources.

Keywords: Online databases, search strategies, electronic journals