The information needs of undergraduate students in Mechanical Engineering at The Universiti Teknologi Petronas: an analysis of first year and final (fourth) years students / Hussin Ibrahim

This study investigates the information needs of mechanical engineering undergraduate students at Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (UTP), Malaysia. The objectives of the study are to identify the types of information sources needed by the students, their preferred information formats, the importance of and reasons for using certain information sources and the use of various electronic information sources. The methods involve questionnaire to collect quantitative data and descriptive statistical method was applied in the analysis of data. A questionnaire was distributed to a random of 150 respondents at mechanical engineering program, representing 71.4 % of the total population. A total of 110 of the respondents returned the questionnaire. The results of the survey were analyzed using SPSS version 11. The findings indicate that, 82. 7% of the respondents considered lecture notes and textbooks as the "most preferred" types of information. The majority of the respondents, (40%) 'sometimes' used OPAC to access information; majority of the respondents (40.9% or 45) 'seldom' need help when using the university library; majority of the respondents 64.5% (71) have been given only 1 session on library use. Recommendations are made for the library to conduct regular surveys of user needs at undergraduate level, develop course materials component on the UTP Library website, extend and develop the information assistance provided as well as the information skills program and ensure appropriate and consistent branding of UTP Library services. The researcher hopes that the findings of this study will contribute positively towards excellent library services. The UTP Library must transform itself to an Information Cyber. Such a centre would operate as a partner in teaching, learning and research, a classroom for information literacy and information technology skills, an e-solution to learning needs and the provider of research solutions. Findings of this study are useful for improving library services to students.