The Impact of Digital Library Resources’ Usage on Research Productivity: A Study Among Engineering Students in Pakistan

The role of digital library resources (DLRs) in accelerating academic and research productivity has been acknowledged worldwide. To examine its impact on engineering research in Pakistan, this study empirically explored the DLRs usage as predictor of respondents' satisfaction and research productivity. Quantitative research method was adopted to solicit viewpoints from a sample (n=196 out N=707) of Master and PhD students selected randomly from the public sector engineering universities in KPK, Pakistan. After the initial data screening, 177 questionnaires were processed as usable for statistical data analysis while five questionnaires with some missing values, erroneous or insufficient data were rejected. The response rate was computed as 90%. The findings of this empirical study show that the frequency of DLRs usage and purpose of DLRs significantly contributed to users' satisfaction and research productivity. In addition, a significant relationship was found between the independent variables IVs (DLRs Purpose, DLRs Frequency) and dependent variables DVs (users' satisfaction and research productivity). Outcomes of the study also supported all the four hypotheses between the variables. Major findings of this study could lead to further change in the provision of information sources by university libraries in order to support research efforts and make a scientific knowledge based society in the country. These outcomes are also helpful for HEC authority, university library administrators, LIS professionals / Information providers to develop e-resources, formulate effective DLRs usage policies through which they could make best use of these resources. This study empirically examines the impact of DLRs usage on engineering research in the context of engineering universities in Pakistan