Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

This study investigated the information-seeking behaviour of African students at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) library. The study attempted to understand students’ awareness of services available to them in the library, and the main sources of information consulted by them. It also investigated students’ perceptions of the library effect on their information-seeking behaviour. Twenty students were interviewed. Participants were found to be aware of the services available to them in the library. However, only one respondent appeared to be using interlibrary loan. Respondents also were found to be relying heavily on library books, periodicals, the Internet, and textbooks for course works, project or research papers. All of them agreed that the library has changed their information-seeking behaviour.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Adedibu, L. O. and Adio, G. (1997). Information needs and information seeking patterns of medical students at Lautech, Ogbomoso. Aslib Proceedings, Vol. 49, no. 9. 238–242.

Atkinson, J. D. and Figueroa, M. (1997). Information seeking behaviour of business students: a research study. Reference Librarian, Vol. 58. 59–73.

Brown, C. M. (1999). Information literacy of physical science graduate students in the information age. College and Research Libraries, Vol. 60, no. 5 (September). 426–438.

Coombs, M. and Houghton, J. (1995). Information skills for new entry tertiary students: perceptions and practice. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, Vol. 26, no. 4. 260–270.

Fidzani, B.T. (1998). Information needs and information-seeking behaviour of graduate students at the University of Botswana. Library Review, Vol. 47, no. 7. 329–340.

Ford, N. (1986). Psychological determinants of information needs: a small-scale study of higher education students. Journal of Librarianship, Vol. 18, no. 1. 47–62.

Grosser, K. (1988). Library usage habits amongst Melbourne tertiary students. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, Vol. 19, no. 1. 1–14.

Hoffman, I. and Popa, O. (1986) Library orientation and instruction for international students: the university of California-Davis Experience. RQ, Vol. 25, no. 3. 356–360.

Lee, J. W. and Read, R. L. (1972). The graduate business student and the library. College and Research Libraries, Vol. 33, no. 5. 403–407.

10.

Lewis, M. G. (1969). Library orientation for Asian college students. College and Research Libraries, Vol. 30, no. 3. 267–272.

11.

McCullagh, L. and O’Connor, S. (1989). Overseas students, full-fee paying students and the utilization of library resources in Australian tertiary institutions. Australian Academic and Research Libraries, Vol. 20, no. 2. 100–112.

12.

Pelzer, N. L. et al. (1988). Library use and information-seeking behaviour of veterinary medical students. Bulletin of Medical Library Association, Vol. 76, no. 4. 328–333.

13.

Razak, F. A. (1999). Information seeking behaviour of preuniversity Madrassah students in Singapore. MA thesis: International Islamic University Malaysia, Department of Library and Information Science.

14.

Wildemuth, B. M. et al. (1994). Information-seeking behaviour of medical students: a classification of questions asked of librarians and physicians. Bulletin of Medical Library Association, Vol. 82, no. 3. 295–304.

15.

Wood, F. et al (1996). Information skills, searching behaviour and cognitive styles for student-centred learning: a computer-assisted learning approach. Journal of Information Science, Vol. 22, no. 2. 79–92.

Information-Seeking Behaviour of African Students in Malaysia: a research study

Abstract

Get full access to this article

References