Academic Library Websites and User Satisfaction in the Digital Information Environment
Keywords:
Academic Library Websites, User Satisfaction, Digital Information Environment, Digital Library Services, Electronic Resources, Website UsabilityAbstract
The websites of academic libraries have emerged as an important tool for accessing information resources in the digital information age and for promoting teaching-learning and research activities. This paper is a study on the level of user satisfaction with the academic library websites in the digital information environment by analysing the perception of the users about the website features and the digital library services. A quantitative descriptive research approach was used for the study, and primary data was collected with the help of a structured questionnaire from 150 respondents, which included postgraduate students, research scholars, and faculty members. Data collection was followed by the descriptive statistical analysis of the data collected through frequency and percentage analysis. It was found that 70.0% of the respondents were using the academic library websites daily or weekly, signifying their regular usage for academic purposes. High level of satisfaction was reported for digital resource availability, navigational ease, search facility, and access to e-journals and e-books; however, comparatively less satisfaction was recorded in mobile compatibility and website loading speed. Thus, it can be concluded that academic library websites effectively cater to the information requirements of the users through digital services. The findings highlight the importance of continuous improvements in website usability, mobile responsiveness, and digital service quality to further enhance user satisfaction and strengthen the role of academic libraries in the evolving digital information environment.
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