Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1 Associate Professor of Department of Communications and Knowledge Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
2 Professor of Department of Communications and Knowledge Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to investigate the relationship between demographic factors and unplanned behavior of users in the use of academic libraries resources and services.
Method: The present study is an applied research using a survey method. The data gathering tool was a researcher-made questionnaire. The face and content validity were employed to measure the validity of the questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha for the variables was calculated and obtained higher than 0.7, so the reliability of the questionnaire was also confirmed. 69351students who were members of the central libraries in Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Pardis of Tehran University, Tabriz, and Shiraz Universities composed the research population. The sample size was estimated 382 people according to Krejcie and Morgan tables. A stratified sampling with randomized strata proportional to the population was used to collect data. The data were analyzed implementing SPSS software.
Findings: According to research findings, age, educational grade and rate of referral to academic libraries have a significant relationship with their unplanned behavior in using the resources and services of this type of libraries. There was also no significant difference between gender, university and student educational groups with their planned behavior in utilizing university library resources and services.
Conclusion: The academic libraries must, in order to optimize use of resources and services, attracted audiences, and increased level of awareness and information of users pay special attention to be effective demographic factors on the unplanned behavior of users.
Keywords
)