Perception and Awareness Towards Usage of E-Books (A Study with Reference to Students in Thane City)

Abstract

Books are the most vital source of knowledge diffusion, personality development, and for leisure reading. In present-days, e-books have gained incredible acceptance due to numerous recompenses associated with it. E-resources too are now a fragment of every academic and research library. The study aims to understand the perception and awareness of students towards usage of e-books. It also attempts to understand the relationship between variable like gender, age, Area of Discipline level of course and Frequency of using E-books & Purpose of Usage of E-books. Demographic and other pertinent facts have been collected through a well-structured questionnaire and the chi-square test has been applied for analysis. The result of analysis, decipher that most of the students prefer e-books for the completion of assignments due to convenience of its usage, affordability and 24x7 accessibility. Some disadvantages associated with e-books use were: Difficult to read, eye strain, Costly and Compulsory smart device and Internet. The finding of this study will be useful to academic libraries and stakeholders to build closer communication with students to address their need in e-books assortment and to impart the skills for locating and using e-books and thus the study would contribute in development of composed and apposite library resources.