A STUDY ON THE USE OF ELECTRONIC JOURNALS AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF OF MONASH UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA

Abstract

This study aims at identifying the use of e-journals among the academic staff in Monash University Malaysia. The study highlights four main issues; awareness, potential use, characteristics perceived important and barriers faced in the use of e-journals. All the necessary data was gathered by a survey method using questionnaire. The respondents were 161 academic staff, which represents 10 different faculties in Monash University Malaysia. The results mainly indicate that 100% of the respondents are aware of ejournals. Overall results of the data collected shows e-journals are widely used by the respondents for their teaching purposes, research writing, professional development and preparing for teaching assignments to students. The findings also revealed that majority of the respondents do promote the use of e-journals to their students and the teaching and research staff. Most of the respondents access e-journals through three main mediums; library database, specific URL and bookmark. Among the barriers faced in using ejournals are issues dealing with usability and unavailability of most recent or past issues. However, these barriers are not leered as ‘Major Barriers’. The most important characteristics of e-journals are; availability of 24 hours a day, and in using the e-journals academic staff do not have to go to the library or wait for document delivery. Library support by conducting workshops on information skills to retrieve relevant e-journals is perceived important in order to provide an easier flow of knowledge from the right medium to the users to utilize for their own benefit.