Library Anxiety among International Students

Abstract

This study of 125 non-native English-speaking students at a Northeastern university investigated the prevalence of the dimensions of library anxiety among this population. Participants were administered the Library Anxiety Scale (LAS). This instrument has five subscales: barriers with staff; affective barriers; comfort with the library; knowledge of the library; and mechanical barriers. Of the five dimensions studied, mechanical barriers, which refers to feelings that emerge as a result of students' reliance on mechanical library equipment (e.g., computer printers, copy machines, and change machines) was the greatest source of library anxiety. Affective barriers, which refers to students' feeling of inadequacy about using the library, was the second most prevalent dimension, having statistically significantly higher mean ratings than the three remaining dimensions. This dimension was followed by barriers with staff and comfort with the library, respectively. Knowledge of the library was the source of least anxiety. Based on these finding, librarians and library educators should be cognizant of the role that technology plays in inducing library anxiety among international students. (Contains 21 references.) (MES) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. yr-) Running head: LIBRARY ANXIETY 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Library Anxiety Among International Students

Cite this

Qun G. Jiao, Anthony John Onwuegbuzie (1999). Library Anxiety among International Students.

@article{g1999library,
  title  = {Library Anxiety among International Students},
  author = {Jiao, Qun G. and Onwuegbuzie, Anthony John},
  year   = {1999}
}

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