WHATSAPP GROUP SEBAGAI LAYANAN REFERENSI ONLINE: STUDI KASUS PADA ALUMNI DEPARTEMEN ILMU KESEHATAN ANAK FK-KMK UNIVERSITAS GADJAH MADA YOGYAKARTA

Abstract

The recent use of the WhatsApp application seems to be a lifestyle. At first glance this application has almost no meaning because its use has become commonplace and evenly distributed in all circles of society. The function of this application as if only as an ordinary communication tool. WhatsApp Group is mostly interpreted as a forum for gossip that is far from being useful. The purpose of this study is to: (1) inform the platform of the IKA FK-KMK Alumni Group WhatsApp service; and (2) know the urgency of applying WhatsApp services in the Library, WhatsApp Group Alumni services, WhatsApp Group Alumni Service mechanism, and respondents' responses to IKA FK-KMK UGM WhatsApp Group services. The data type of this study is qualitative-quantitative, with data sources resulting from discussions through WhatsApp Group, document studies, and questionnaires. The research respondents were 140 people with professions as pediatricians who worked spread across various regions in Indonesia. The results of this study show that: (1) the WhatsApp Alumni Group services can improve the effectiveness of library services, support the e-learning system in the library, and become a means of bibliotherapy for users; (2) from 140 respondents, there were 114respondents who responded to the research questionnaire, they stated that the WhatsApp Alumni Group IKA FK-KMK UGM service was importanly needed by alumni. This WhatsApp service is expected to facilitate alumni in getting the latest and affordable digital reference resources, so they can support the research activities and work effectiveness of alumni in outside of Java insland areas and outermost areas in Indonesia.