Managing the Selection of Databases in Academic Libraries with User Participation

This research aims to provide a model of factors affecting the use of databases among academic users. Identifying the factors that lead to the acceptance and use of databases by academic users will help managers and decision-makers of academic libraries when selecting databases.
The current research is a descriptive survey. The statistical population consisted of graduate students using databases in different fields of Yazd University. The study sample based on Cochran's formula consisted of 319 graduate students of Yazd University. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data, and its validity was evaluated using confirmatory factor analysis, principal component extraction method, and varimax rotation. Structural equation modeling methods and path analysis and AMOS 24 and SPSS26 were used to test the hypotheses.
The results showed that the amount of benefit that a person believes to achieve by using a database in his job performance has a positive effect on the use of databases. The findings also showed that the attitude factor formed in university users with a total effect (of 0.255) has a direct effect on their decision to use databases. Considering that attitude is an internal state, which creates readiness for action, it is concluded that the attitude formed in users, towards the decision to use databases, is a factor for accepting databases. In other words, the results and consequences that users evaluate positively when using the databases increase their desire to use them. In other words, the factors of usefulness and attitude have a significant and positive relationship with the use of databases by university users by obtaining coefficients (0.420 and 0.255), respectively. The variables of usefulness of use (β=0.516) and ease of use (β=0.202) had the highest and lowest impact on the acceptance of databases, respectively.
In order to select the appropriate databases in universities, factors such as efficiency, ease of use, and users' attitude towards that database should be considered. Paying attention to these factors is effective in promoting the improvement of the productivity of databases and increasing their cost-effectiveness in university libraries.