Scientific Information and Its Usage - Analysis of Master Theses [poster/contribution]

Author: Shvea Sogenbits,  Tallinn Pedagogical University, Estonia

Co-author: Jantson, Signe (MA) - manager of bibliografic division / Tallinn University of Technology Library

Fulltexts

 

Abstract

The subjects are: the importance of digital libraries (online databases) in university education and science projects; the use of online databases; the use of online databases in the context of master theses; the effectiveness/defectiveness of online databases.

The paper presents a study "Online databases as one output of digital library and their effectiveness in universities":

• 1.graphical analysis of the use of existing online databases of Estonian academic libraries based on the defended master theses 2003-2004
• 2.analysis of the reasons of the scarce use of online databases
• 3.model based on the above analyses representing possibilities to improve and increase the use of online databases

The researches were conducted in 2004. autumn semester and in the beginning of 2005. The authors analyzed the lists of sources and references in defended master theses in Tallinn Pedagogical University and Tallinn University of Technology. In order to find out the reasons why the online databases are used so scarcely, the authors conducted thorough interviews with specialists.

The need for this kind of research comes from the fact that libraries pay a lot of money in order to enable the use of electronical full text online databases for their readers. A lot of money is also invested in user training. But according to the research it turns out that the use of online databases is not at all active, the students do not have enough information, there is a little habitual use of databases and the requirements for scientific projects do not have high enough requirements for sources.

The aim of the research was to analyze the use of online databases provided by Estonian academic libraries based on the defended master theses in Estonian universities during the last two years. The main goal was to find out how many times the authors of the master theses referred to the sources available in the databases.

The following general tendencies occurred in the research and will be presented in the paper as well:

• the use of online databases is lesser than expected
• there are differences in the use of online databases depending on the universities
• there are big differences in the use of online databases depending on the subject and faculty

About the author

Sogenbits, Shvea (MA)

PhD student of Department of Information Studies; Institution: Tallinn Pedagogical University; Country: Estonia

Head of Library: Estonian Public Service Academy
From 2002 – 2004 MA student of Department of Information Studies
From September 1st 2004 PhD student of Department of Information Studies

Research interests:

Digital libraries and online databases; customer satisfaction and quality of services in library
Service quality as the base and outcome of library performance

Professional activities:

Member of the Estonian Librarians Association
Member of the Estonian Reading Association