AVAILABILITY OF IT INFRASTRUCTURE AND USER AWARENESS IN AUTONOMOUS ENGINEERING COLLEGE LIBRARIES IN KARNATAKA

This study examines the availability of IT infrastructure and the level of user awareness in autonomous engineering college libraries in Karnatakas Bangalore (A+) region. Data were collected through a descriptive survey using structured questionnaires, with 345 responses obtained from a total population of 390 users, yielding a response rate of 88.5% (345 out of 390). The results indicate that basic facilities such as internet connectivity and Wi-Fi are widely available, whereas advanced services such as remote access are only moderately available. Most users rely on personal devices - laptops and mobile phones - to access library resources, and digital library services are the most frequently used. Internet-related problems, a shortage of computers, and limited user awareness emerged as the main challenges. Statistical tests found no significant differences between male and female users in terms of usage patterns or problems encountered. Overall, the study recommends improved user training, stronger remote access infrastructure, and the development of support materials in the Kannada language to enhance the use of IT resources.