Information seeking behaviour of library users at Metropolitan College of New York

Purpose – This paper seeks to comment on the information seeking behaviour of Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) library users.Design/methodology/approach – The paper is based on studying database usage patterns from January 2007 to December 2010, as well as a literature review.Findings – The results of the study suggest the position that database usage statistics can give insight into information behaviour and help inform collection management decisions, but on their own are not sufficient to give the complete picture.Practical implications – The outcomes may be useful in the design of library instruction sessions in future student groups in the College as well as in postsecondary settings, in addition to informing collection management decisions.Originality/value – A study of library database use patterns by library users brought out relevant information relating to the tailoring and enhancement of library service.

[1]  M. Heitor,et al.  Infrastructures, incentives, and institutions: Fostering distributed knowledge bases for the learning society , 2003 .

[2]  S. P. Singh What are we managing – knowledge or information? , 2007 .

[3]  Erika Linke,et al.  Scholarly use of information: graduate students' information seeking behaviour , 2006, Inf. Res..

[4]  C. Gregory,et al.  But I Want a Real Book : An Investigation of Undergraduates' Usage and Attitudes toward Electronic Books , 2008 .

[5]  Han Woo Park,et al.  Convenience or credibility? A study of college student online research behaviors , 2011, Internet High. Educ..

[6]  Elaine Martin,et al.  Academics’ experiences of understanding of their subject matter and the relationship of this to their experiences of teaching and learning , 2005 .

[7]  Filip Dochy,et al.  ‘Teach as you preach’: the effects of student‐centred versus lecture‐based teaching on student teachers’ approaches to teaching , 2010 .

[8]  Hannelore B. Rader Information Literacy and the Undergraduate Curriculum , 1995, Libr. Trends.

[9]  Ari Sutinen Constructivism and education: education as an interpretative transformational process , 2007 .

[10]  A. P. Williams Conceptualizing Academic Library Use: Results of a Survey of Continuing Education Students in a Small Canadian Undergraduate University , 1995 .

[11]  Patricia A Iannuzzi ACRL Standards for Libraries In Higher Education 2011 , 2011 .

[12]  Karen A. Coombs Lessons learned from analyzing library database usage data , 2005, Libr. Hi Tech.

[13]  Ruth Ivey,et al.  Information literacy : how do librarians and academics work in partnership to deliver effective learning programmes? , 2003 .

[14]  Philip M. Nufrio,et al.  The Theory and Practice of Action Learning in the MPA Program at Metropolitan College of New York , 2008 .

[15]  Filip Dochy,et al.  Students’ likes and dislikes regarding student-activating and lecture-based educational settings: Consequences for students’ perceptions of the learning environment, student learning and performance , 2008 .

[16]  S. McCoy,et al.  Investing in education: combating educational disadvantage. , 2009 .

[17]  W. Mammo Demise, renaissance or existence of LIS education in Ethiopia: Curriculum, employers’ expectations and professionals’ dreams , 2007 .

[18]  Liwen Vaughan,et al.  Usage Data for Electronic Resources: A Comparison between Locally Collected and Vendor-Provided Statistics. , 2003 .

[19]  Edd Pitt,et al.  Students’ approaches to study, conceptions of learning and judgements about the value of networked technologies , 2010 .

[20]  Priti Jain,et al.  An empirical study of knowledge management in academic libraries in East and Southern Africa , 2007 .