A qualitative study of the use of networked software and electronic information services at Glasgow Caledonian University Library

Abstract

Although electronic services including electronic information services are well established in British universities there has been surprisingly little evaluation of the use of electronic services and the qualitative level of use which they receive. The opening of an electronic floor with 166 wired PCs and Macs at Glasgow Caledonian Universitys Caledonian Library and Information Centre prompted a study of the use being made of the facility. Because of the lack of reliable pre-existing performance indicators on which to base a reliable strictly quantitative questionnaire, a qualitative methodology was adopted consisting of:

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several focus groups facilitated by a professional facilitator with experience of LIS evaluation

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a semi-structured questionnaire administered to students in the process of using workstations

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some supplementary data emanating from the ongoing ESEP (Evaluating the Student Experience) Project

The analysis of the data is ongoing but the methods chosen show a strong measure of agreement. Conclusions include:

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There was little understanding of the difference between ‘general’ IT services and electronic information services

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Few part-time students use the Electronic Floor (this will be linked to some other work of mine on part-time students)

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Email is the most widely used service

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Much of the Internet use is for recreational purposes

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Services used vary with the time of the academic year (e.g. word processing)

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The overall qualitative level of use is low

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The performance indicators identified in the study should make it possible to devise a reliable questionnaire.