Usage of library and the social media by the new entrants in 2015: a provincial analysis based on Arts, Management and Law streams at University of Peradeniya

Abstract

The paper discusses the use of a school library by new entrants to the University of Peradeniya in 2015. Arts (BA), Management (BBA) and Law (LLB) streams were taken for consideration. Survey research method was applied using a structured questionnaire. Objectives are to identify their school library usage, the use of social media and the use of other digital messaging systems by province. Two day library registration of new entrants' (877) were analysed by using SPSS version 13. Regarding the subject teachers' influence on the use of the library, majority of students were asked by the teacher to use the library in BA, BBA, and LLB. In the use of social media, most of them were not using face book to get information. Twitter indicated a very low usage in the overall three streams. Regarding Skype, again a very low usage has been indicated. Average expressed their desire to communicate with these media with the library. Below fifty percents of new entrants had email accounts. Average number of students (34.4%) had mobile phone with Internet connection and this is a little higher (27.1%) than the use of social media. More than fifty percent like to get library messages to their mobile phones. According to the overall results, students from the all streams not considerably used the library in all provinces and although, they like to have the library messages to their mobile phones, they are not familiar with the social media and with other communication technology. Therefore, training programmes and other library awareness methods relating to the use of all kind of resources and communication methods are necessary for them to increase the library usage in all provinces.