Papers by Dr. Sarman Kumar
SRELS Journal of Information Management, 2014
Webometrics is the research network-based communication using informetric or other quantitative m... more Webometrics is the research network-based communication using informetric or other quantitative measures. The primary objective of this study is to examine the nature and pattern of citations in the recent information literacy literature. For the study, 84 articles published in 29 e-journals of LIS collection of Emerald Group available through UGC-Infonet digital library consortium of the last five years have been analyzed. This study concentrates on classification of web citations by author, year, country, and pattern of citations has also been calculated. The study reveals that current trend in citing is moving towards web citations.
International Journal of Academic Research and Development, 2017
Information technology has bought a revolutionized advancement in every sphere of life. Earlier i... more Information technology has bought a revolutionized advancement in every sphere of life. Earlier it was very difficult to keep pace with the increasing era of knowledge and information. Due to information explosion persons belonging to different spheres have to be information literate adversant with the information tools to equip themselves with the rapid increase in universe of knowledge. There are several organizations, associations at international and national level which are instrumental and taking initiatives for information literacy programmes.
Contributions to Management Science, 2014
The main conclusion is that the Codex guidelines (i.e. use of GMPs/GAPs/GHPs and adherence to HAC... more The main conclusion is that the Codex guidelines (i.e. use of GMPs/GAPs/GHPs and adherence to HACCP plans) should be adopted by each VC-entity involved in food production—from “the farm to the fork”. However, as the research showed, not all producers at each stage of the VC have voluntarily adopted the Codex guidelines; primary producers being the main exception. Nor have all governments adopted and implemented policies, including sufficient oversight, to adequately protect consumers. Products coming from the bread VC in France are much more likely to represent ‘good protein’ quality characteristics than those from the U.S. In both countries, though, the wheat growers share greatest likelihood of responsibility for the final product’s impact on GI/GL levels.
The present study explores the status of information literacy skills of students of Guru Nanak De... more The present study explores the status of information literacy skills of students of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, their information seeking strategies and ability in acquiring, organizing, evaluating and using the information effectively. A well structured questionnaire was designed to collect data for the present study. Personal interviews were conducted to fill in the gaps if any in the questionnaire. Collected data was analyzed with the help of SPSS. The major findings of the study are that a majority of the respondents possess knowledge of MS-office, social networking sites and e-mail. Among six types of internet searching tools, search engines and wiki are the most common, while blogs, online bibliographic databases and subject gateways/portals are less frequent. On the basis of the findings, some suggestions have been put forward to improve the information literacy skills of the students.
The purpose of this paper is to discuss in detail the several models and standards invented by va... more The purpose of this paper is to discuss in detail the several models and standards invented by various professionals and organizations, in order to achieve an information literate society. Information literacy is the set of skills to select, access, evaluate, use and communicate information effectively. It forms the basis of lifelong learning. Along with describing all the steps and guidelines of information literacy models and standards, this paper also proposes the need of application of these models in curriculum of higher education. Information literacy-a set of capabilities to select, evaluate and use the information in an efficient manner-is the basis of lifelong learning. A person who is capable to select, access, evaluate, use and communicate information effectively is information literate. Information literacy means being informed. The concept of information literacy has become the buzzword of the modern society. It attracts the curiosity and attention of various authors. Lenox & Walker (1993) define information literacy by characterizing the information literate: one who has the analytical and critical skills to formulate research questions and evaluate results, and the skills to search for and access a variety of information types in order to meet his or her information need. Various terms related to information literacy have been used by various authors. These are media literacy, digital literacy, computer literacy, etc. The Joint Information Services Committee (2005) uses the term i-skills to describe information literacy and IT skills. I-skills are defined as " the ability to identify, assess, retrieve, evaluate, adapt, organize and communicate information within an iterative context of review and reflection. " The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (2006) defines digital information fluency (DIF) as " the ability to find, evaluate and use digital information effectively, efficiently and ethically. " I. INFORMATION LITERACY MODELS AND STANDARDS Various professionals and organizations have invented various models and standards that act as a step-to-step guide for achieving information literacy objectives. The main aim of these standards and models are to enable individuals to acquire the necessary competencies and become information literate citizens. Several such models and standards are given below: Big6 Eisenberg/Berkowitz Model (http://www.big6.com/)
Information technology has bought a revolutionized advancement in every sphere of life. Earlier i... more Information technology has bought a revolutionized advancement in every sphere of life. Earlier it was very difficult to keep pace with the increasing era of knowledge and information. Due to information explosion persons belonging to different spheres have to be information literate adversant with the information tools to equip themselves with the rapid increase in universe of knowledge. There are several organizations, associations at international and national level which are instrumental and taking initiatives for information literacy programmes.
The paper aims to explore the status of information literacy skills of students of universities
o... more The paper aims to explore the status of information literacy skills of students of universities
of Punjab & Chandigarh, their information seeking strategies and ability in acquiring, organizing,
evaluating and using the information effectively. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to
collect data for the present study. Responses were gathered from 908 students and research scholars
of five universities. The results of the study reveal that information literacy level of the students and
researchers in the universities under study does not comply with Information Literacy Competency
Standards for Higher Education formulated and reviewed by the ACRL Standards Committee. On
the basis of the findings, some suggestions have been put forth. The assessment of information
literacy competency of students will go a long way towards creating an information literate society.
It will also provide some insight to researchers for future evaluation and planning.
Webometrics is the research network-based communication using informetric or other quantitative m... more Webometrics is the research network-based communication using informetric or other quantitative measures. The primary objective of this study is to examine the nature and pattern of citations in the recent information literacy literature. For the study, 84 articles published in 29 e-journals of LIS collection of Emerald Group available through UGC-Infonet digital library consortium of the last five years have been analyzed. This study concentrates on classification of web citations by author, year, country, and pattern of citations has also been calculated. The study reveals that current trend in citing is moving towards web citations.
Thesis Chapters by Dr. Sarman Kumar
The hypotheses given in Chapter 1 have been tested and proved by using data collected for the stu... more The hypotheses given in Chapter 1 have been tested and proved by using data collected for the study. The hypotheses of the study are:
1. That the students do not have the skills to select significant terms while executing a search strategy.
2. That the students do not have familiarity with various searching tools and techniques.
3. That the students do not have the skills to choose appropriate document type according to their need.
4. That the students do not have the skills to evaluate the information.
5. That the students understand ethical, legal and economic issues regarding the use of information.
Frequency of visiting the library
44.4% of the respondents visit the library ‘daily’, 31.9% ‘2-3 ... more Frequency of visiting the library
44.4% of the respondents visit the library ‘daily’, 31.9% ‘2-3 times in a week’, 13.2% ‘once a week’ and 9.6% ‘rarely.’
Caravello, Herschman & Mitchell (2001) in their study revealed that 64.2% of the respondents were high library users while a study conducted by King (2007) showed that 51% respondents visited library only after a few months. Similar results were achieved by Coleman (2007).
Sharma (2008)’s study found that 38.4% of the respondents visited the library ‘daily’, 32% ‘2-3 times in a week’, 19.7% ‘once a week’, 5.42% ‘once a month’ and 4.35% ‘2-3 times in a month.’
The present chapter analyses the information literacy skills of students of universities of Punja... more The present chapter analyses the information literacy skills of students of universities of Punjab and Chandigarh on the basis of the data collected by the investigator. The standards published by the Association of College and Research Libraries (Appendix-III) were used to identify 5 themes on which the 16 questions in the survey are based.
Of all the modern universities in the Indian subcontinent, Panjab University has had a somewhat e... more Of all the modern universities in the Indian subcontinent, Panjab University has had a somewhat exceptional history and development. Originally founded at Lahore in 1882 as the fourth Indian university, it grew both as a teaching and examining body. After the partition in 1947, the university was constrained to function for almost a decade without having a campus of its own. The administrative office was located at Solan and the teaching departments functioned from Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, Delhi and Amritsar. Finally, in 1956, the Panjab University was relocated at Chandigarh. Its red sandstone campus, designed by renowned French architect Pierre Jeanerette under the overall guidance of legendary Le Carbusier, was ready by early 1960s. At present, 188 colleges from Punjab and Chandigarh are affiliated to the Panjab University which has its regional centres and extension libraries at Muktsar and Ludhiana, and Visveshvaranand Vishva Bandhu Institute of Sanskrit and Indological Studies and Swami Sarnanand Giri Regional Centre at Hoshiarpur, Klauni. The university is maintained jointly by the central and state governments in the ratio of 60:40 respectively
In an ever changing information society, information is both product and commodity. Information i... more In an ever changing information society, information is both product and commodity. Information is produced at such an enormous rate that statistical surveys cannot keep pace with amount of information produced. The combined effect of information explosion and the technological revolution has put unprecented volume of information at our reach, not only as print and electronic resources but also as resources on the information superhighway. In the fast changing age where ‘today’s truth become tomorrow’s outdated concepts, individuals who are unable to use pertinent information are almost as helpless as those who were unable to read and write in the past century. They have to acquire information skills and technological expertise for their professional, personal and even for their entertainment activities (Rajalakshmi, 2007). In a networked society, information available is diverse in nature and also in a variety of formats. Library and information centres are not the only store houses of information; it is also available from a number of sources
Review of literature reveals that a few studies/surveys have been conducted on the subject in Ind... more Review of literature reveals that a few studies/surveys have been conducted on the subject in India and abroad. However, some of the studies which are directly related to the present study conducted at the international and national levels are as under:
International Status
Meltzer, Maughan & Fry (1995) conducted a case study of undergraduate students of University of California, Los Angeles to investigate the use of library among students and to determine students’ perceptions of the library. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the students used the library to study their own material. 50% of the respondents favoured library staff over other means for seeking assistance in using library material. Majority of the students were inexperienced in using library’s online system and weigh heavily in favour of ‘print only’ materials.
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the key components of the modern society... more Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is one of the key components of the modern society. Human society has witnessed many developments through the ages. But no other development has as much effect on the society as the emergence of the information age. Information is a basic commodity required for the success of any country. Good decisions depend upon quality of information available. Along with its positive impact, it also poses a greater challenge to the society due to its rapid convergence. The variety of information sources (print and electronic) and quantity of information available is overwhelming and threatening
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Papers by Dr. Sarman Kumar
of Punjab & Chandigarh, their information seeking strategies and ability in acquiring, organizing,
evaluating and using the information effectively. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to
collect data for the present study. Responses were gathered from 908 students and research scholars
of five universities. The results of the study reveal that information literacy level of the students and
researchers in the universities under study does not comply with Information Literacy Competency
Standards for Higher Education formulated and reviewed by the ACRL Standards Committee. On
the basis of the findings, some suggestions have been put forth. The assessment of information
literacy competency of students will go a long way towards creating an information literate society.
It will also provide some insight to researchers for future evaluation and planning.
Thesis Chapters by Dr. Sarman Kumar
1. That the students do not have the skills to select significant terms while executing a search strategy.
2. That the students do not have familiarity with various searching tools and techniques.
3. That the students do not have the skills to choose appropriate document type according to their need.
4. That the students do not have the skills to evaluate the information.
5. That the students understand ethical, legal and economic issues regarding the use of information.
44.4% of the respondents visit the library ‘daily’, 31.9% ‘2-3 times in a week’, 13.2% ‘once a week’ and 9.6% ‘rarely.’
Caravello, Herschman & Mitchell (2001) in their study revealed that 64.2% of the respondents were high library users while a study conducted by King (2007) showed that 51% respondents visited library only after a few months. Similar results were achieved by Coleman (2007).
Sharma (2008)’s study found that 38.4% of the respondents visited the library ‘daily’, 32% ‘2-3 times in a week’, 19.7% ‘once a week’, 5.42% ‘once a month’ and 4.35% ‘2-3 times in a month.’
International Status
Meltzer, Maughan & Fry (1995) conducted a case study of undergraduate students of University of California, Los Angeles to investigate the use of library among students and to determine students’ perceptions of the library. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the students used the library to study their own material. 50% of the respondents favoured library staff over other means for seeking assistance in using library material. Majority of the students were inexperienced in using library’s online system and weigh heavily in favour of ‘print only’ materials.
of Punjab & Chandigarh, their information seeking strategies and ability in acquiring, organizing,
evaluating and using the information effectively. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to
collect data for the present study. Responses were gathered from 908 students and research scholars
of five universities. The results of the study reveal that information literacy level of the students and
researchers in the universities under study does not comply with Information Literacy Competency
Standards for Higher Education formulated and reviewed by the ACRL Standards Committee. On
the basis of the findings, some suggestions have been put forth. The assessment of information
literacy competency of students will go a long way towards creating an information literate society.
It will also provide some insight to researchers for future evaluation and planning.
1. That the students do not have the skills to select significant terms while executing a search strategy.
2. That the students do not have familiarity with various searching tools and techniques.
3. That the students do not have the skills to choose appropriate document type according to their need.
4. That the students do not have the skills to evaluate the information.
5. That the students understand ethical, legal and economic issues regarding the use of information.
44.4% of the respondents visit the library ‘daily’, 31.9% ‘2-3 times in a week’, 13.2% ‘once a week’ and 9.6% ‘rarely.’
Caravello, Herschman & Mitchell (2001) in their study revealed that 64.2% of the respondents were high library users while a study conducted by King (2007) showed that 51% respondents visited library only after a few months. Similar results were achieved by Coleman (2007).
Sharma (2008)’s study found that 38.4% of the respondents visited the library ‘daily’, 32% ‘2-3 times in a week’, 19.7% ‘once a week’, 5.42% ‘once a month’ and 4.35% ‘2-3 times in a month.’
International Status
Meltzer, Maughan & Fry (1995) conducted a case study of undergraduate students of University of California, Los Angeles to investigate the use of library among students and to determine students’ perceptions of the library. The findings of the study revealed that majority of the students used the library to study their own material. 50% of the respondents favoured library staff over other means for seeking assistance in using library material. Majority of the students were inexperienced in using library’s online system and weigh heavily in favour of ‘print only’ materials.