Board # 56 : An Analysis of Engineering and Technology Faculty Library Usage Patterns and Recommendations for Enhancing Interaction with the Library

Niranjan Hemant Desai; George Stefanek

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Conference: 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Publication Date: June 24, 2017
Start Date: June 24, 2017
End Date: June 28, 2017
Conference Session: Engineering Libraries Division Poster Session
Tagged Division: Engineering Libraries
Page Count: 12
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--27881
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/27881
Download Count: 562

Paper Authors

biography

Niranjan Hemant Desai

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Name: Dr Niranjan Desai
Qualifications:
Ph.D Civil Engineering
University of Louisville, USA

MES (Master of Engineering Studies) Civil Engineering
University of Sydney, Australia

BTECH (Bachelor of Technology)
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, India.

Work Experience:
Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering, Purdue University North Central (2013 - Present)

Engineering Intern, Watrous Associates Architects, (2011 - 2013)

Graduate Research and Teaching Assistant, University of Louisville, (2006 - 2011)
Tata Bluescope Steel Ltd
Designation: Design Manager

Publications:
Desai, N., & McGinley, W.M. "A study of the out-of-plane performance of brick veneer wall systems in medium rise buildings under seismic loads." Engineering Structures 48 (2013) 683 694.

Desai, N., & McGinley, W.M. "Effects of brick veneer wall systems loaded in-plane on the seismic response of medium rise buildings." Proc. The 12th Canadian Masonry Symposium, Vancouver, Canada, June 2013.

Awards:
Alan H. Yorkdale Memorial Award, 2014.

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biography

George Stefanek Purdue University Northwest

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Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology

M.S. BioEngineering, University of Illinois at Chicago

B.S. Purdue University

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Abstract

Engineering and Technology faculty at teaching focused institutions typically teach three to four courses per semester, and are also required to perform scholarly activity. In many cases, they do not have teaching assistants working under them to help with their tasks. Consequently, they tend to be very busy and have little spare time in order to perform background searches to find material supporting their teaching and scholarly activities. It would be beneficial to engineering and technology faculty member to utilize the services of a trained reference librarian on campus to perform quality background searches. A study was performed in order to obtain: 1) information by means of a survey about the approach that engineering and technology faculty employ while they perform background searches in support of their research and teaching activities, 2) the extent to which they utilize library services, and 3) their feedback regarding increased interaction with library personnel on-campus. It was learned that most faculty independently performed on-line searches to obtain background material and could more efficiently use their time by having the reference librarian perform these searches for them. Recommendations are proposed to enhance interaction between the library services and the faculty. Additionally, the use of libguides prepared by the library staff for individual engineering and technology areas would assist faculty in performing their own background searches. The reference librarian's perspective was also obtained by a detailed interview. Search results obtained by a trained reference librarian are compared with those obtained by faculty for a topic that is new to the faculty. Results indicate that a reference librarian produces better quality search results than untrained faculty, by having better knowledge of relevant sources that contain background material that fits more accurately into their background search requirements. The library’s contribution to engineering and technology faculty can be enhanced by providing increased reference librarian services.

Citation
Format

Desai, N. H., & Stefanek, G. (2017, June), Board # 56 : An Analysis of Engineering and Technology Faculty Library Usage Patterns and Recommendations for Enhancing Interaction with the Library Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. 10.18260/1-2--27881

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Engineering and Technology faculty at teaching focused institutions typically teach three to four courses per semester, and are also required to perform scholarly activity. In many cases, they do not have teaching assistants working under them to help with their tasks. Consequently, they tend to be very busy and have little spare time in order to perform background searches to find material supporting their teaching and scholarly activities. It would be beneficial to engineering and technology faculty member to utilize the services of a trained reference librarian on campus to perform quality background searches. A study was performed in order to obtain:  1) information by means of a survey about the approach that engineering and technology faculty employ while they perform background searches in support of their research and teaching activities, 2) the extent to which they utilize library services, and 3) their feedback regarding increased interaction with library personnel on-campus.  It was learned that most faculty independently performed on-line searches to obtain background material and could more efficiently use their time by having the reference librarian perform these searches for them. Recommendations are proposed to enhance interaction between the library services and the faculty. Additionally, the use of libguides prepared by the library staff for individual engineering and technology areas would assist faculty in performing their own background searches. The reference librarian&#39;s perspective was also obtained by a detailed interview. Search results obtained by a trained reference librarian are compared with those obtained by faculty for a topic that is new to the faculty. Results indicate that a reference librarian produces better quality search results than untrained faculty, by having better knowledge of relevant sources that contain background material that fits more accurately into their background search requirements. The library’s contribution to engineering and technology faculty can be enhanced by providing increased reference librarian services.
AU  - Niranjan Hemant Desai
AU  - George Stefanek
CY  - Columbus, Ohio
DA  - 2017/06/24
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Board # 56 : An Analysis of Engineering and Technology Faculty Library Usage Patterns and Recommendations for Enhancing Interaction with the Library
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/27881
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--27881
ER  -