The impact of engineering library online databases on academics in selected universities in Malaysia

Abstract

Libraries in most of the academic university always strive to serve the customers research needs. This include by investing on library online databases. Library online databases subscribed by the library were regarded as a main source for researchers. Many researchers investigated on the effectiveness of the electronic resources in the library. However, little is known on the impact of library online databases among academic members in Malaysia. The objective of the research, mainly is to evaluate the library online databases' effectiveness and their impacts on academic members. The participants of the study are from the Faculty of Engineering and Science in University of Malaya (UM), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM). The research used a quantitative descriptive research design using the survey as a principal approach for data collection. A set of questionnaires comprised of three parts are used in the research. The data was analyzed using SPSS. As for data analysis, Descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, percentage, standard deviations) and analytical techniques such as correlation, regression and cross-tabulation were used. In correlation analysis, academic members’ satisfaction relationship with each factor was examined separately to measure the direction and strength of each relationship. In the second technique, regression analysis was used to ascertain which of the strongest explanatory power factors has when those factors are combined in a regression model. The findings of this research provide useful information on the impact of library online databases among academic members. Findings from this research can be used by university administrators in planning, evaluating and executing the use of library online databases. The findings conclude that there is a positive relationship between satisfaction and information quality, system quality and service quality.