The Academic Library Support for E-Learning: Students’ Perspectives and Web Observation

Abstract

In today's digital age, ICTs have become an influence for the education sector, which has created exceptional learning experiences through virtual platforms. E-learning is capable of widening access materials, equality, reducing cost, improving quality, flexibility and maintaining interactive learning in university education. University education is geared towards teaching, learning and students are adept at new knowledge and information. Academics and information professionals help them develop information to enhance their knowledge in specific areas. The academic library is the largest provider of educational information and resources. In the e-learning context, the university library has a huge role and should directly support the educational process as well as research by providing facilities. University libraries continue to offer services that build on traditional learning. It also needs to improve how we support virtual users. Digital natives tend to learn virtually, and library services need to expand to support them. This study was conducted in advance of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine the status of academic library support and e-learning initiatives from a student perspective. The quantitative methodology was applied with the data gathering through a questionnaire from undergraduates. However, e-learning has rapidly changed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has also resulted in a sudden transformation of library services. To validate the study results, of the research, the web observation has been added and to determine the recent development of library support for e-learning. The results of the study show that students expect library services through multimedia mode and expect on-line guide sessions on the use of modern technological facilities, information retrieval facilities for distance learning. It appears that the user expects to have access to information in a highly flexible and timely manner.