Information-seeking behaviour among Junior College humanities students

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating the information seeking behaviour of Junior College students. The questionnaires lying at the heart of this study was designed to target both Formal and Informal information seeking behaviour. Also the questions delved into addressing the use of various sources of information and the pattern of use. Since at the Junior College students have available both the Library premises and a computer Lab for their information seeking purposes, a separate questionnaire was designed for each location. This also has been done since at the Junior College library only two computer points are available and one is strictly limited to view the library OPAC. This makes information seeking via the internet in the library very restricted, when nowadays the internet is such a popular source of information. Data from the questionnaires was collected and analysed separately for first year male and female students as well as for second year male and female students. By observing the various results obtained the Junior College principal and the governing board, have at their hands a tool which can help them into moulding the library and computer lab premises together with the services offered, according to the students' information needs. This would also help in fulfilling the Junior College mission statement that is that of providing a holistic quality education to their students.