PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE MODALITY OF USES A DOCUMENTATION SOURCES – QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

1. PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE MODALITY OF USES A DOCUMENTATION SOURCES – QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH Aurel PAPARI, PhD Andra SECELEANU, PhD ”Andrei Şaguna” University Constanţa

2. INTRODUCTION • the information as a process and the sources of information are under some extreme dynamics • the electronic environment causes modifications and deep changes of the society at all its levels • the “digital generation”, which has a predilection to absorb the new technology, spends less time in libraries • these transformations also led to some changes within the library system

3. Evolution of Library Concept

4. Objectives to identify the tendencies observed in students from “Andrei Şaguna” University of Constanţa concerning the use of documentation and information resources within the educational process and the role of the university library along this process

5. Hypothesis Hypothesis 1- There is a direct connection between the decrease of the importance of the university library as a source of information and documentation for students according to the raise of the internet importance Hypothesis 2- There are significant relations in the perceived variation according to age, biological gender, social background and study field

6. Methodology Questionnaire containing 25 items. Applied in period: November - December 2009. The sample was made up of 400 students from “Andrei Saguna” University of Constanta, The sample is multilayered according to specialization, level of studies and gender. The sample is formed by students with age between 18-28 years old The persons interviewed were randomly chosen, the questionnaire being applied through the interview method by operators Dimensions of the questionnaire 1. The first dimension refers to the way how the computer and the internet are used by the students 2. The second dimension refers to the way students look up for information and inform themselves within the educational process

7. The distribution of the sample

8. The distribution of the sample according to the faculty they registered

9. The distribution of the sample according to gender

10. 1. The first dimension refers to the way how the computer and the internet are used by the students • Internet frequency use • Internet like information sources • The purpose for internet use • Romanian sites vs foreign sites

11. 1. The first dimension … - Internet users in Romania

12. The first dimensions ..- national frame*) - • in the first place, the main reason Romanians go online is for private chat (email, chat/messenger), more than a half (52%) using it in this respect. • the internet being accessed mainly by young people from 18 to 24 years old, • the private communication playing an important part, 92% asserting they choose the internet for this reason *) 2009 – Mercury Research

13. 1. The first dimensions ..Internet Access Frequency

14. Internet Access Frequency, segregate by gender

15. Internet Access Frequency, segregate by social background

16. 1. The first dimensions ..Does the internet represent the main informational source?

17. 1. The first dimensions ..The main purpose for internet use

18. The main purpose for internet use, segregate by faculty

19. 1. The first dimensions ..What kind of sites prefer?

20. 2. The second dimension refers to the way students look up for information and inform themselves within the educational process • Compare internet with other informational sources • Information quality of the internet • Library frequency use • The main purpose of library use • The modality of uses of library sources • Comparison between informational sources according some criteria • Evaluation of special collection

21. 2. The second dimension … In comparison to other information sources, the internet is appreciated

22. 2. The second dimension … Information offered on the net are

23. 2. The second dimension … The frequency in going to the library

24. The frequency in going to the library – segregate by gender

25. 2. The second dimension … The main purpose in going to the library

26. The main purpose in going to the library –segregate by cycle of studies

27. 2. The second dimension … When you go to the library to prepare essays, presentations and paperwork’s, you use

28. 2. The second dimension … When compare the informational ways according to some criteria

29. Library vs. internet

30. Do you attend the special collection of the Library?

31. What you appreciate of them?

32. What purpose do you have to attend it?

33. RESULTS • 85% of the students are online at least once a week • For 53% of the interviewed students the internet represents the main informational source • 40% prefer going on Romanian sites while 60% access foreign sites • The main purpose for use internet is represented by online communication – 61%

34. RESULTS • Although those that consider the internet as the main source of information is almost 50% more than 58% assert that the information offered on the net does not accomplish the task of being informed • The worrying fact is that 69% of the interviewed students use exclusively the web pages (others than those offered by the informational resources of the library)

35. CONCLUSIONS • Hypothesis 1- There is a direct connection between the decrease of the importance of the university library as a source of information and documentation for students according to the raise of the internet importance • Confirmed. • Internet is the main informational source into students’ opinion, because he have the great informational volume, it is ease to be accessed and more accessible • Library maintained the’s traditional values: credibility, accuracy • Internet answers the human necessity: communication

36. CONCLUSIONS • Hypothesis 2- There are significant relations in the perceived variation according to age, biological gender, social background and study field • Partial confirmed • were not identifiedany significant differences between sub-sample concerning the way how the computer and the internet are used by the students and how students look up for information and inform themselves within the educational process • We identified significant differencesregarding frequency of internet use, between gender and environment of origin • The students from urban environment use more the internet then others (but is a problem of difference between technological level between urban and rural area) • The male students use on daily basis the internet more then female students; • We identified significant differencesregarding the purpose of internet use, between faculties • The students from Communication and political Science have the tendency to use internet more from online communication in opposite with students from Economical Science.

37. PROPOSAL • Increase of usage of IT in the content of activities of the library • Breaking the time-space barrier in communication and use of information • Elaboration of new electronic information products and services accessible by Internet • Transcription on an electronic format of some materials from special collections