Awareness of library resources and services among the University student community : a case study of the University of Malta Library

Abstract

This study’s aim was to elicit the opinion of the student community with regards to resources and services provided at the University of Malta Library. The aim of this study was mainly to focus on the knowledge, usage and awareness of electronic resources but to also try to discover the students’ research strategies when utilising services such as the online catalogue HyDi. This study aimed to provide a direct insight which also involved the students’ voicing their feedback of the current library resources and services. This was done to explore the strengths and weaknesses of the current situation at the UM Library, thus providing a margin for continued improvement. It was found that many students are highly appreciative of the current services, particularly finding resources online. However, it was noted that some students find collection gaps particularly in aspects such as international literature and thus seek other resources beyond the Library. This research has also shed a light on the way in which students utilise the online catalogue HyDi. This catalogue has proved to be a constant companion in the students’ research endeavours. However, many students are not so knowledgeable about the other features that it offers beyond Advanced Search. In addition to this, it was revealed that many students make use of the catalogue as a point of reference to ensure the validity and credibility of resources found elsewhere. From the feedback gathered from students it was also discovered that many students would appreciate lectures focused on introducing Library resources and services. Students also showed a highly positive reaction for having more library resources integrated into VLE. It was also discovered that students appreciate the library spaces for their communal role but give priority to using such spaces for studying and research purposes.