International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

author(s)
Subramani MK, Satyandr Kumar Sharma and Syed Ali

abstract
Libraries play a pivotal role in supporting academic excellence, research, and knowledge dissemination in higher education institutions. The present study assessed the utilization, satisfaction and effectiveness of library services at the College of Forestry, Sirsi, focusing on user demographics, visit frequency and purpose of use. Results indicated that males constituted 57% of respondents and females 43%, showing balanced gender participation with a slight male dominance, consistent with trends in forestry education. Undergraduate students formed the majority of users (71%), followed by M.Sc. (20%) and Ph.D. (9%) students, highlighting that the library mainly supports coursework and academic learning. Most students (41.7%) visited the library weekly, and 21% daily, demonstrating its continued importance as a learning hub. The majority (83%) used the library for study and educational purposes, while only 5% and 1% used it for leisure reading and other activities, respectively, affirming its academic orientation. Overall satisfaction with library services and resources was high, particularly for lending, information and internet facilities, though some users suggested improvement in cultural and outreach programs. Respondents expressed satisfaction with professional literature (72%) and electronic resources (73%), though multimedia and recreational collections received lower ratings. Similarly, positive perceptions were recorded for infrastructure, comfort and hardware facilities. The findings suggest that the College of Forestry library effectively meets educational and research needs but should enhance digital resources, recreational materials and user engagement initiatives for holistic development.