Abstract:
At present academic libraries have a trend to introduce innovative
services in par with developing technologies as well as the different
aspirations of Net Generation. This study aims to explore the
characteristics of Net Generation, their help seeking preferences,
information behaviours and their needs and wants towards university
library. A survey of freshmen was conducted in 2011 at University of
Jaffna, Eastern University and South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.
Qualitative and quantitative approaches were carried out. The study
found that majority of respondents use internet but they rarely use
library web pages and Online Public Access catalogue (OPAC). They have
a tendency to move to e-resources and they prefer multimedia
information than textual information. They are comfortable in asking help
from librarian directly (in- person communication) whilst some of them
wish to communicate via e-mail, face book and instant messaging. It
recommends that librarians can help students via help-desk, instant
messaging, e-mail, chat or ask a librarian services from the library
websites. Libraries should initiate action to collect more electronic
resources. Information literacy should be included as a course unit.
