Use of electronic journals in astronomy and astrophysics libraries and information centres in India: A users' perspective

SummaryPurposeThe purpose of this study was to create a substantial body of knowledge about the factors that influence the success of electronic journals, and to share this knowledge with that in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics in order to help facilitate change.Design/methodology/approachStructured questionnaires for users (Academic Members, Post-Doctoral Fellows and Research Scholars) containing 40 different questions, many of which were further subdivided and framed in order to get information on various aspects of the usage of electronic journals. The purpose was to identify the basic minimum infrastructure necessary to provide users access to electronic journals and to facilitate easy response in all major A&A organizations in India.FindingsThe increasing use of the electronic information-seeking environment has produced changes in the practice of science. Significant research has been conducted already on the impact of new information and communication technologies on scholarly work.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was limited to astronomy and astrophysics libraries and information centres in India.Originality/valueThis paper identifies the information needs of the users. Each community and discipline has its own specific legacy of journal structure, reading, publishing, and researching practices, and it will take trial and error to establish which kinds of e-journals are the most effective and useful.Article typeCase study.