Comportamento Informacional da comunidade acadêmica da Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido (UFERSA)/Campus Caraúbas no uso de bibliotecas virtuais da instituição

Abstract

Technological resources are increasingly present in libraries, thus making it necessary to understand how libraries experience this and how services are directed according to user needs. Amongst the technological resources present in libraries, virtual library platforms stand out, complex and dynamic environments with resources that aim to facilitate access and use of book collections. Virtual libraries have become important tools in university libraries, so it is crucial to analyze how the application and use of these resources occur in specific contexts. In this scenario, the research problem arises: What is the informational behavior of the academic community of UFERSA/Campus Caraúbas in Rio Grande do Norte-Brazil aiming at the use of the existing virtual collection on the institution's virtual library platforms? Therefore, the general objective of the research consists of: proposing guidelines for the actions of the library of the Federal Rural University of the Semi-Árido/Campus Caraúbas with a view to enhancing the use of the virtual library collections. To achieve this, the following specific objectives were defined: a) to carry out a conceptual survey on academic libraries and informational behavior in the use of virtual libraries; b) characterize the Institution, it´s collections and the community based on the institutional documents, as well as the report usage of the virtual platforms adopted in the Ufersa Library System; c) verify the bibliographic indications in the pedagogical projects of the courses at UFERSA/Caraúbas and if these reflect the physical and virtual collection of the Campus d) apply a case study to verify the informational behavior of the academic community regarding the Institution's virtual library platforms. The methodology employed was a qualitative approach and descriptive exploratory in nature, with a bibliographic research method on the subjects concerning the addressed theme, exploratory documentary research for the characterization of the locus as well as a case study with questionnaire application. Thus, the investigative paths applied in this research contribute to the field of User Studies with an emphasis on Informational Behavior in the use of virtual information resources, such as virtual libraries. The results highlight the lack of dedicated publications on university library themes, virtual libraries, and informational behavior, with a noticeable absence of interconnected approaches among these thematic categories. Regarding the applied case study, the results indicate that the UFERSA Caraúbas community recognizes the importance of virtual libraries, especially for academic purposes, but there is a lack of practical adoption, resulting in a perception of partial fulfillment of needs. Limitations such as title availability and a lack of knowledge about virtual libraries are factors impacting the potential use of these libraries. Thus, this study proposes improvements for the investigated Institution through the development of a Plan for virtual libraries. It seeks to establish a collaborative approach in the university setting, encompassing University Management, the Library System, and departments/faculty with a focus on joint initiatives to benefit the end user. It is concluded that the evolution of supports, changes in user profiles, and their informational needs must be understood to direct innovations in university libraries according to the needs of their users, aligned with the university's strategy and social trends.