College Students\' Perceptions of Libraries

College Students' Perceptions of Libraries

Libraries and other information resource centers are essential to scholars and college students alike. Libraries offer services to users of information in a wide variety of disciplines; libraries contain information on Art and Music discipline, social sciences, medicine, religious studies, history, pharmacy, education, business, environmental conservation, law and many more. A library includes a physical space in the form of a building. The advent of technology has made it possible to have online libraries, internet resources or from data stored in a network of computers. Institutions and colleges have websites and databases where students can access scholarly information by holding access accounts protected by passwords.

The importance of libraries in the research world is essential. Roles of librarians in the management of libraries are to ensure effective use of library services, ensure proper filling and arrangement of information sources, and updating of information. Colleges and University libraries' contain information sources; books of a variety of disciplines shelved, information databases or even well designed online libraries for students and lecturers. Using an internet search engine like Google, one can get information on dairy farming or fine art music, history, anthropology and religion. One can clearly say that information is power and that libraries are necessary in the dissemination of knowledge. Many studies center on the importance of libraries, but fewer studies are on the perception of users of library resources.

N.Y.U analysis

Lucinda Covert, Carol .A. Mandel and Cecily Marcus, prepared a report on N.Y.U a 21st century library project based on research recommendations of studies by New York libraries on the needs of student and teachers. New York University library conducted a study on how to develop Elmer Bobst Holmes library, to improve its physical size and service delivery in order to satisfy scholars' needs. A committee provides necessary renovations advice, based on the success of a project undertaken in the year 2004 at Bobst's lower level facility. The study focuses on understanding the needs of faculty staff and graduate students relating to the various changes that have occurred in accessing information resources.

The study was to understand trends in the research process, design better spaces and services that can inspire scholars. The scope of the study also included means to which library staff can develop their abilities, how they can understand their roles and embrace changes. To achieve the goal the committee worked with a New York-based consulting firm Katzenbach Partners. The consulting firm engaged teachers, students and libraries in interviews to address needs of faculty and students. The project committee met with about 65 members of the community in focus groups. Moreover, interviews with graduate students and faculty members provided the majority of data. The study bases on the following issues: challenges that scholars face when engage in research, information about resources, modes of accessing and on the functions of library staff.

From the N.Y.U plan, various issues emerged. One of these is the question of research spaces more importantly the physical space. Ideas on the tools, modes of access and the evolving resources were forthcoming. In addition, Challenges relating to collaborative and interdisciplinary research and discussion on the changing nature of scholarly work. From the study, the following are some of the perceptions that students and scholars have on library and its resource: scholars and students seem to have divergent views on research spaces. Some people hold on traditional beliefs of how libraries ought to have been and to discourage this, Bobst has developed spaces that serve competing and multifaceted needs. One Professor in Bobst's study perceives the library as ignorant on human interfaces in a library. The issue of graduate spaces needs attention in N.Y.U study is worth mentioning; graduate students feel that spaces should be reserved just for them of which the library ignores.

Scholars have divergent opinions on research space relating to privacy. Some prefer quiet spaces free from distractions while others prefer to work among other scholars. Many agree that the library should have more places for collaborative work; this perception arises because social scholars prefer to work with other scholar regardless of their disciplines. Technological changes have revolutionized research activities. One of the scholars states that he prefers online resources, as opposed to the traditional methods of research. To change perceptions of scholars, N.Y.U can expand its services beyond the traditional library setting by designing outreach programs. It should build relations with other institutions within New York. The institution can also develop programs, which incorporates contributions by students and faculty members.

OCLC Findings

OCLC is a worldwide marketing research organization. In the year 2005, its market research team conducted a study to look at library users' perceptions, library resource use and peoples' preferences through a blind survey. Millions of respondents from Australia, United Kingdom, India, Singapore, United States and Canada participated in the study. All members who took part in the survey were familiar with an online resource facility and had access to the internet. Interviews conducted in English and statistical inferences used in defining data.

Results from the study indicate that a person in the United States of America has a high probability of accessing the internet at 68.7%. Accessibility to internet for people in Australia, Canada, India, and United Kingdom is 68.2%, 63.8, 3.6% and 60.2 respectively. This data weighted demographically save for India where response was low. The total number of respondents by number was 3348 distributed between countries. This population included college students and library cardholders. The report gives information on respondents' familiarity with various information sources and their opinion on the same.

OCLC strategies in this research were to analyze how consumers are using libraries, which library brands they prefer in terms of price, lifestyle compatibility and trust. The report also focuses on advice provided by respondents on library management. With all of this in mind, the research firm strived to analyze data without favor. Survey information indicates that ninety percent of respondents in all the regions have at least visited a library. Seventy-two have used search engines, and seventy percent of them have email addresses. From the results, it became apparent that respondents' familiarity with electronic sources varied widely. Consumers surveyed, frequently use emails, instant messaging services and search engines. Eighty percent of people surveyed, favor use of search engines and one third of respondents surveyed say their library usage has decreased over the past five years.

Twenty-seven percent of respondents surveyed reported having visited an online public library where Australia/India/Singapore, Canada, United Kingdom tied at 97% followed by the United States at 96%. Seventy two percent of the respondents across the regions have library cards registered. College respondents are likely to have library cards compared to the rest. In the United States, youths are most likely to be registered users of library services. From the study, respondents mostly used college or university libraries while a small percentage use public libraries occasionally. College students score highly on frequent use of library services.