The use of electronic databases and electronic journals by the medical scholars: The case of Mersin University

Today information needs are increasing greatly besides the increasingly spreading information and communication technologies. These two caused acceleration and rapid development of electronic publishing. One of the most important factors effecting the development of academic electronic journal publishing is the needs of faculty to access up-to-date information in a speedy manner. The present study investigates the usage of electronic journals and databases by medical faculty members who are one of the user groups needing current information rapidly. This study concentrates particularly on Mersin University Medical School Faculty. The findings of this study are compared with the findings of a similar study by Cihan Doğan who investigated the same topic in Hacettepe University Medical School faculty in 2007. The similarities and differences between the two studies are explored and stressed. The main hypothesis which is “The characteristics of the usage of electronic journals and databases by medical faculty do not demonstrate any difference according to the faculty’s attended university” is verified and proved following the comparative evaluation stage. In the light of the findings, suggestions for the improvement of Mersin University Library services are presented