Factors Associated with Library Anxiety.

Abstract

This study investigated factors related to five antecedents of library anxiety among college students: (1) barriers with staff (the perception that librarians and other library staff are intimidating and unapproachable; (2) affective barriers (feelings of inadequacy about using the library); (3) comfort with the library (how safe, welcoming, and non-threatening students perceive the library to be); (4) knowledge of the library (how familiar with the library students feel they are); and (5) mechanical barriers (feelings which emerge as a result of reliance on mechanical library equipment). Students from two universities (n=522) were administered the Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) and the Demographic Information Form (DIF). The LAS, a 43-item 5-point Likert-format instrument, assessed levels of library anxiety based on the five antecedents. The DIF recorded relevant demographic information, including gender, age, native language, year of study, academic achievement, course load, number of credit hours, number of library instruction courses taken, computer experience, study habits, employment status, distance between home and the library, frequency of library visits, and reasons for visiting the library. Data were analyzed to determine the relationship between the antecedents of library anxiety and selected variables. Based on the findings, recommendations specific to each antecedent were developed. (Contains 10 references.) (MES) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************

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