The use of electronic databases and electronic journals by the Medical Faculty at Hacettepe University: A case study

Abstract

As a result of the rapid development of Internet and Internet technologies, electronic information sources have become widely available. Such developments have impact on information seeking behaviours of the users. Researchers in the field of medicine are affected and also benefit from this opportunity of having rapid access to electronic information sources. Changes on the information seeking behaviours of the users urge libraries to conduct user studies in order to develop their colections and services accordingly. As opposed to numerous user studies done in the western countries, it is hard to refer to few similar studies in Turkey. This study aims at analysing the use of electronic data bases and electronic journals by the medical faculty at the Hacettepe University Medical School. It is the purpose of the present study to depict the tendencies and preferences of the medical faculty who use electronic data base and electronic journals. The findings clearly revealed that the respondents prefer electronic versions of medical journals rather than printed issues. It is also found out that there is a relation between computer literacy and the use of electronic journals and/or electronic data bases; the respondents prefer using electronic resources personally and there are statistically significant differences with respect to the use of electronic resources and the academic rank. With special reference to the findings of the survey conducted, the present thesis also makes suggestions regarding the user studies and the Hacettepe University Medical School Library