Information Literacy Skills of the Research Scholars in Arts Faculty under the University of Burdwan: A Comparative Analysis

This article deals about information literacy (IL) skills of the research scholars of Arts Faculty in the University of Burdwan. The research problem for this study is focused on the need to know how scholars acquire and use information. The study analyses the problems faced by the research scholars in formulation research topic, identification and evaluation of information sources, designing the search strategies of information retrieval process, use of various search techniques to retrieve relevant information, etc. The study tries to determine the quality of information sources used by the research scholars; to know the awareness about IL skills; to recognise the need for information and to evaluate, organise, interpret and communicate information in all its formats. The study also explores the use of the Internet; use of ICT by research scholars; use of e-resources and the problems faced by them and how this behaviour are reflected in the information searching process. The scholars seem to exhibit high level of information skills. A survey by means of a questionnaire and informal interview was conducted among the study population at the institution. Processed data have been analysed, tabulated, interpreted and presented in the respective tables and charts. The findings drive us to the urgency of IL programs to be taken up in our universities not for one time, but rather on a regular basis. The study gives a general picture of IL-related activities of the Research Scholars in universities in India as well as different parts of the world. It concludes with a discussion of some implications of IL skills in university education system.