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A study of non-users of digital libraries: the case of the Capes digital library in Brazil

Wesley Rodrigo Fernandes, Beatriz Valadares Cendón

The Electronic Library

ISSN: 0264-0473

Article publication date: 18 August 2021

Issue publication date: 10 November 2021

729

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the reasons that hinder the use of digital libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyzed data obtained through a web survey sent to 14,763 faculty members in Brazilian universities. Of the 6,689 respondents, 1,075 (16.1%) reported not using the Capes digital library and 1,017 answered the questionnaire for non-users.

Findings

Results showed that the main reasons for non-use are lack of knowledge of the existence of the Capes digital library, use of other resources, preference for printed journals and difficulty of access. Eight factors of non-use were elicited: insufficient dissemination, inadequacies in contents, in infrastructure, in access policy, in training and in the interface, personal constraints and personal attitude. The reasons and factors for non-use were categorized as intrinsic and extrinsic to the digital library. Intrinsic reasons relate to characteristics of the Capes digital library. Extrinsic factors are influenced by user characteristics. The chi-square test demonstrated that the variables: area of knowledge, age, hours dedicated to research and computer skills influence non-use.

Originality/value

This study has contributed to research about non-users of digital libraries, differing from previous research by surveying a large-scale population and by investigating in a single work the reasons for non-use, other electronic sources used by non-users, advantages of using the digital library and intention of non-users to become users if barriers were removed. Qualitative data complemented the quantitative data collected which allowed a more complete picture of the respondent’s positions.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work has been partially supported by the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq (Process 307161/2011-0) of the Brazilian government.

Citation

Fernandes, W.R. and Cendón, B.V. (2021), "A study of non-users of digital libraries: the case of the Capes digital library in Brazil", The Electronic Library, Vol. 39 No. 5, pp. 661-677. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-10-2020-0277

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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