An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University

<b>Objective</b> – Library anxiety as a phenomenon has been discussed for decades. While it is generally recognized, seeing its effects within a specific institution can often be difficult. This study examined the presence and degree of library anxiety among students at Cape Breton Unive...

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Main Author: Lenard J. Lawless
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Alberta 2011-09-01
Series:Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/10203/8961
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description <b>Objective</b> – Library anxiety as a phenomenon has been discussed for decades. While it is generally recognized, seeing its effects within a specific institution can often be difficult. This study examined the presence and degree of library anxiety among students at Cape Breton University in Canada. <br><b>Methods</b> – A modified version of the Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) was provided to the students via an online survey. Invitations to take the survey were sent to students by email and via the Student Union’s social networking site.<br><b>Results</b> – The average score on the LAS showed only mild anxiety levels among all the respondents. When categorizing the results by either program of study or program year, the results vary from no to mild anxiety. Little variation was seen between the sexes, with both males and females scoring close to the overall average of mild anxiety.<br><b>Conclusions</b> – With no segments of the student body scoring in the moderate to severe levels, the overall LAS scores for Cape Breton University’s students appear to be in a range that could be considered “normal.”
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spelling doaj.art-ac9747d34d274370868f56ef20b11c272022-12-22T02:18:37ZengUniversity of AlbertaEvidence Based Library and Information Practice1715-720X2011-09-01631627An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton UniversityLenard J. Lawless<b>Objective</b> – Library anxiety as a phenomenon has been discussed for decades. While it is generally recognized, seeing its effects within a specific institution can often be difficult. This study examined the presence and degree of library anxiety among students at Cape Breton University in Canada. <br><b>Methods</b> – A modified version of the Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) was provided to the students via an online survey. Invitations to take the survey were sent to students by email and via the Student Union’s social networking site.<br><b>Results</b> – The average score on the LAS showed only mild anxiety levels among all the respondents. When categorizing the results by either program of study or program year, the results vary from no to mild anxiety. Little variation was seen between the sexes, with both males and females scoring close to the overall average of mild anxiety.<br><b>Conclusions</b> – With no segments of the student body scoring in the moderate to severe levels, the overall LAS scores for Cape Breton University’s students appear to be in a range that could be considered “normal.”http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/10203/8961university studentslibrarieslibrary anxiety
spellingShingle Lenard J. Lawless
An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University
Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
university students
libraries
library anxiety
title An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University
title_full An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University
title_fullStr An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University
title_full_unstemmed An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University
title_short An Examination of Library Anxiety at Cape Breton University
title_sort examination of library anxiety at cape breton university
topic university students
libraries
library anxiety
url http://ejournals.library.ualberta.ca/index.php/EBLIP/article/view/10203/8961
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