An evaluation of the second survey on electronic databases usage at Ankara University Digital Library
| Date | 11 April 2008 |
| Published date | 11 April 2008 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/02640470810864136 |
| Pages | 249-259 |
| Author | Cemal Atakan,Doğan Atılgan,Özlem Bayram,Sacit Arslantekin |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
An evaluation of the second
survey on electronic databases
usage at Ankara University
Digital Library
Cemal Atakan
Statistics Department, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey, and
Dog
˘an Atılgan, O
¨zlem Bayram and Sacit Arslantekin
Department of Information and Records Management, Ankara University,
Ankara, Turkey
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to encompass the assessment of the effectiveness of the
digital library and the value of multidisciplinary databases in terms of user preferences and use
frequency by academic ranking.
Design/methodology/approach – This paper compares the results of two survey questionnaires
carried out in 2002 and 2005. It examines the level of awareness by academic staff of digital library
resources along with their use rate and to evaluate the preferences of faculty for specific electronic
databases case studies were undertaken by means of separate questionnaires in both years.
Findings – Findings were consistent that positive results have been observed in two studies
conducted in two years, 2002 and 2005. According to the results of the current survey, increased
numbers of the faculty members of Ankara University know about the existence of the digital library.
Another result of the survey is that many of the faculty members, although not all, use electronic
databases. The most preferred databases have been Web of Science, Science Direct and Ebsco. When
use of the electronic databases is analyzed, in respect of faculty rank and level of awareness, associate
and assistant professors, assistants are ranked first.
Originality/value – The study presents the first case study in the field in Turkey that compares the
current situation of the digital library usage with the initial survey data.
Keywords Digital libraries,User studies, Databases, Turkey
Paper type Case study
Introduction
Ankara University was founded in 1946 and provides education to 48,000 students in
15 faculties, eight high school and research centres with 3,600 academic personnel. The
education branches include almost every field of art, social and human sciences such as
medicine, mathematics, biology and engineering, as well as education, law, language
and communication. The university that teaches at a very wide spectrum and the
language of the education is Turkish. However, all academicians are expected to know
English at a level that they can follow the literature and write articles regarding their
field since English is accepted to be the common language of science. Publishing
articles in foreign platforms is a requirement for appointments and promotions of the
academicians; this is one of the main reasons that make foreign language skills so
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at
www.emeraldinsight.com/0264-0473.htm
Electronic
databases usage
249
Received 14 August 2006
Revised 4 May 2007
Accepted 24 May 2007
The Electronic Library
Vol. 26 No. 2, 2008
pp. 249-259
qEmerald Group Publishing Limited
0264-0473
DOI 10.1108/02640470810864136
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