Awareness of Electronic Information Resources among Integrated Postgraduate Students: A Study of the University of Hyderabad

Abstract

Contemporary higher education is increasingly shaped by digital technologies, leading to a substantial shift toward electronic information resources (e-resources) in academic libraries. This study examines the level of awareness and utilization of e-resources among fourth- and fifth-year integrated postgraduate science students at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Library, University of Hyderabad. A structured questionnaire was administered to 215 students, of which 200 valid responses were analyzed. The results reveal high awareness of e-books (96%), e-journals (95%), and e-databases (89.5%), whereas familiarity with open access resources, institutional repositories, and e-research reports remains limited. Interpersonal communication is identified as the primary source of awareness (69.3%), while librarian assistance contributes minimally (12.2%). The study further indicates that participation in library awareness programs significantly enhances students’ ability to retrieve relevant information and utilize digital resources effectively. The findings highlight the need to strengthen user education initiatives, improve librarian engagement, and promote lesser-known resources to maximize the effective use of e-resources.