IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jpubli/v5y2017i2p6-d94426.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Virtual Reference Services through Web Search Engines: Study of Academic Libraries in Pakistan

Author

Listed:
  • Rubia Khan

    (Department of Library & Information Science, University of Sargodha)

  • Arif Khan

    (Department of Library & Information Science, University of Sargodha)

  • Sidra Malik

    (Department of Library & Information Science, University of Sargodha)

  • Haroon Idrees

    (Department of Library & Information Science, University of Sargodha)

Abstract

Web search engines (WSE) are powerful and popular tools in the field of information service management. This study is an attempt to examine the impact and usefulness of web search engines in providing virtual reference services (VRS) within academic libraries in Pakistan. The study also attempts to investigate the relevant expertise and skills of library professionals in providing digital reference services (DRS) efficiently using web search engines. Methodology used in this study is quantitative in nature. The data was collected from fifty public and private sector universities in Pakistan using a structured questionnaire. Microsoft Excel and SPSS were used for data analysis. The study concludes that web search engines are commonly used by librarians to help users (especially research scholars) by providing digital reference services. The study also finds a positive correlation between use of web search engines and quality of digital reference services provided to library users. It is concluded that although search engines have increased the expectations of users and are really big competitors to a library’s reference desk, they are however not an alternative to reference service. Findings reveal that search engines pose numerous challenges for librarians and the study also attempts to bring together possible remedial measures. This study is useful for library professionals to understand the importance of search engines in providing VRS. The study also provides an intellectual comparison among different search engines, their capabilities, limitations, challenges and opportunities to provide VRS effectively in libraries.

Suggested Citation

  • Rubia Khan & Arif Khan & Sidra Malik & Haroon Idrees, 2017. "Virtual Reference Services through Web Search Engines: Study of Academic Libraries in Pakistan," Publications, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jpubli:v:5:y:2017:i:2:p:6-:d:94426
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6775/5/2/6/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6775/5/2/6/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Vivienne Waller, 2011. "Not just information: Who searches for what on the search engine Google?," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(4), pages 761-775, April.
    2. Joseph Janes, 2002. "Digital reference: Reference librarians' experiences and attitudes," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 53(7), pages 549-566.
    3. Vivienne Waller, 2011. "Not just information: Who searches for what on the search engine Google?," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 62(4), pages 761-775, April.
    4. Piritta Numminen & Pertti Vakkari, 2009. "Question types in public libraries' digital reference service in Finland: Comparing 1999 and 2006," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 60(6), pages 1249-1257, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Kimberly N. Hill‐Tout & Roberta Hawkins, 2023. "Accessorizing development: Fundraising bracelets for International Development as a New Development Responsibility," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 35(7), pages 2046-2066, October.
    2. Anton Oleinik, 2022. "Relevance in Web search: between content, authority and popularity," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 56(1), pages 173-194, February.
    3. Jun, Seung-Pyo & Yoo, Hyoung Sun & Choi, San, 2018. "Ten years of research change using Google Trends: From the perspective of big data utilizations and applications," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 69-87.
    4. Erik Choi & Chirag Shah, 2016. "User motivations for asking questions in online Q&A services," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 67(5), pages 1182-1197, May.
    5. David Bodoff & Daphne Raban, 2012. "User models as revealed in web-based research services," Journal of the Association for Information Science & Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 63(3), pages 584-599, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jpubli:v:5:y:2017:i:2:p:6-:d:94426. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.