Assessing literacy levels of Google generation users on information resources of the library in relation to demographic characteristics

Purpose Youth today are referred to as the “Google generation.” From infancy, they are presumably adept at the use of digital resources and smart devices. However, how aware and informed these “Google youth” are on the library print and electronic information resources is questionable. How susceptible are they to using information library sources in both formats, and to what extent is it a major issue? This study aims to investigate the awareness levels and degree of print versus electronic resource use of the Google Generation undergraduates’ studying in the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) of North-western India (Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir). The researchers have attempted to ascertain this through the opinions of undergraduates from different aspects of their demographics, including gender, institution, year of study and residential background. Design/methodology/approach The published academic literature was studied to understandthat undergraduates tend to access digital media daily. The usage behavior of 664 respondents from the North-western NITs was surveyed using a questionnaire-based survey method that adopted random statistical techniques. Findings Users were aware of print books (90.0%) but not e-books (62.1%). A high percentage of unawareness and partial awareness observed among the sample indicated lacunae in library orientation and educational programs. Mann–Whitney test statistically validated the results for familiarity with some of the resources in both media concerning the study year of students, gender of users and their background. Print documents were more in demand, although they intermittently used electronic sources of information for their academic achievements. Research limitations/implications The study was limited to take undergraduates belonging to the Google Generation with considerably restricted time, money and labor. Moreover, it is limited to undergraduates of the NITs of North-Western India, as they are the primary stakeholders with different information requirements and use different search strategies as compared to postgraduates, researchers and faculty. Practical implications This study provides fresh insights by evaluating the resources provided by the libraries attached to the NITs, which intend to serve academic staff and students. It also brings about the required changes to improve library resources and need-based services and provides practical connotations for library administrators concerning collection, development and undergraduate students’ needs. Originality/value This study enhances the existing knowledge of user regarding the use of print versus electronic resources. The study suggests that libraries should build collections while keeping in mind undergraduate usage behavior concerning the format of resources, more than merely moving with the market trends.