Journal of Information and Knowledge (Formerly SRELS Journal of Information Management)

Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Subscription Access
Open Access Open Access Open Access  Restricted Access Restricted Access Subscription Access

Information Needs of Scientists and Engineers: A Case Study of Government, Public and Private Sector RDLICs Relating to Metallurgy & Materials Science


Affiliations
1 Information Management & Dissemination Centre, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur–831 007, Jharkhand, India
2 Department of Library & Information Science, Sambalpur University,Orissa, India
     

   Subscribe/Renew Journal


The present study encompasses a detailed survey of six organisations belonging to three sectors (Govt., Public and Private) having common areas of subject requirements, namely: metallurgy and materials science. The study reveals that highly qualified R&D users give more emphasis on electronic resources whenever available and prefer to access from their desktop, wherever they may be, to fulfill their R&D needs. The users visit RDLIC mostly to keep themselves updated with latest R&D Knowledge. Therefore, developments in a RDLIC infrastructure and the quality of technical manpower handling RDLIC services play a key role in the library usage. The study also revealed that the scientist and engineer differ - in seeking types of information requirements; need vis-a-vis their job profiles; and also in motivational factors as such, in all the categories. The young users visit more frequently to the RDLICs and a significant numbers are attracted toward e-resources and open access regimes.

Keywords

Information Needs, RDLICs, Metallurgical Organisations, Electronic Environment.
User
About The Authors

A. K. Sahu
Information Management & Dissemination Centre, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur–831 007, Jharkhand
India

N. G. Goswami
Information Management & Dissemination Centre, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur–831 007, Jharkhand
India

B. K. Choudhury
Department of Library & Information Science, Sambalpur University,Orissa
India


Notifications

  • CSIR-CIMFR. Annual Reports (2009–10, 2010–11 and 2011–12). [Accessed on 07.03.2012]. Retrieved from www.cmriindia.nic.in

  • CSIR-NML. Annual Reports (2009–10, 2010–11 and 2011–12). [Accessed on 07.03.2012]. Retrieved from www.nmlindia.org

  • Danielson, L.E. (1960). Characteristics of Engineers and Scientists: Significant for their motivation and utilization. 1st Edition MI: University of Michigan Press. 136p.

  • Das, B. (2005). Information needs of scientists and technologists of ONGC, India [PhD Thesis]. Bhubaneswar: Utkal University.

  • Ellis, David (1997). Modeling the information seeking patterns of engineers and research scientists in an industrial environment [electronic version]. Journal of Documentation. 53(4):384–403.

  • Garg, K.C. and Kumar, Ashok. (1988). Information gathering habits of R&D Scientists: a survey. Annals of Library Science and Documentation. 31(1):63–73.

  • Garvey, W.D. and Griffith, G. (1972). The role of national meeting in scientific and technical communication. Information Storage and Retrieval. 8(4):161–167.

  • Guruprasad, R. and Nikam, K. (2010). Effect of reading e-journals on the research of aerospace scientists and engineers. Annals of Library and Information Studies. 57, (Dec):373–379.

  • Hogg, H. and Smith, J.R. (1959). Information and literature use in a research and development organisation. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Scientific Information. 1958 Nov 16–21; Washington, DC-2: The National Academic Press. 131–162.

  • Jharkhand Government. [Accessed on 04.05.2012]. Retrieved from www.jharkhandonline.gov.in

  • MECON Limited (MECON) Ranchi. [Accessed on 07.03.2012]. Retrieved from www.mecon.co.in

  • Mishra, R. (2011). Information use patterns by scientists: a case study of NEIST, Jorhat, North East India. Library Philosophy and Practice (Open Access Journal). Retrieved from http://unlib.unl.edu/LPP

  • Nikam K. (2000). A Study of the information seeking behaviour of the users of select sectoral information centres in southern India [PhD Thesis]. Mysore: Mysore University.

  • Palmer, J. (1991). Scientists and information II: personal factor in information behaviour. Journal of Documentation. 47(3):254–275.

  • Ramesh, D.B. (2005). Information needs of engineering scientists with specific reference to engineering research group of laboratories of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research [PhD Thesis]. Bhubaneswar: Utkal University.

  • Raza, M.M; Fatima, S and Upadhyay, A.K. (2010). Information seeking behaviour of researchers in Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI), Lucknow. Library Philosophy and Practice, June. Retrieved from http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/~mbolin/raza-fatima-upadhyay.htm

  • SAIL–RDCIS. Performance Reports (2009–10, 2010–11 and 2011–2012). [Accessed on 07.03.2012]. Retrieved from http://www.sail.co.in

  • Satish Kumar, H.T; Gautam, J.N. and Vijayaraghvan, R. (2011). Approaches to information seeking by life scientists of defence research and development organization, India. Annals of Library and Information studies. 58(Mar):17–23.

  • TATA Steel formerly known as Tata Iron and Steel Co Ltd (TISCO), Jamshedpur. [Accessed on 07.03.2012]. Retrieved from www.tatasteel.com

  • Usha Martin Limited. (Accessed on 07.03.2012). Retrieved from www.ushamartin.com/aboutus


Abstract Views: 462

PDF Views: 18




  • Information Needs of Scientists and Engineers: A Case Study of Government, Public and Private Sector RDLICs Relating to Metallurgy & Materials Science

Abstract Views: 462  |  PDF Views: 18

Authors

A. K. Sahu
Information Management & Dissemination Centre, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur–831 007, Jharkhand, India
N. G. Goswami
Information Management & Dissemination Centre, CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory, Jamshedpur–831 007, Jharkhand, India
B. K. Choudhury
Department of Library & Information Science, Sambalpur University,Orissa, India

Abstract


The present study encompasses a detailed survey of six organisations belonging to three sectors (Govt., Public and Private) having common areas of subject requirements, namely: metallurgy and materials science. The study reveals that highly qualified R&D users give more emphasis on electronic resources whenever available and prefer to access from their desktop, wherever they may be, to fulfill their R&D needs. The users visit RDLIC mostly to keep themselves updated with latest R&D Knowledge. Therefore, developments in a RDLIC infrastructure and the quality of technical manpower handling RDLIC services play a key role in the library usage. The study also revealed that the scientist and engineer differ - in seeking types of information requirements; need vis-a-vis their job profiles; and also in motivational factors as such, in all the categories. The young users visit more frequently to the RDLICs and a significant numbers are attracted toward e-resources and open access regimes.

Keywords


Information Needs, RDLICs, Metallurgical Organisations, Electronic Environment.

References