Academic Success: How Library Services Make a Difference

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Academic Success How Library Services Make a
Difference

• Ying Zhong and Johanna Alexander
• Walter W. Stiern Library
• California State University, Bakersfield

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• Just 54 percent of students entering four-year
  colleges in 1997 had a degree six years later . .
  .

Associated Press Nov. 15, 2005
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CSUB Retention Rates for 2001

• First Year Students 78
• Fourth Year Students 53

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• Which library services help students accomplish
  their academic work
• more efficiently successfully?

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1,295 Students Responded
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Age of Respondents
27-40
41-59
Under 27
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Gender of Respondents
Females 75 Males 25
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Ethnicity of Respondents
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Student Class Rank
Senior
Junior
Graduate
Freshmen
Sophomore
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• 61
• were first-generation college students

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• Survey Results

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Student and Librarian Responses Compared
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• Which library services help students accomplish
  their academic work more efficiently
  successfully?

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Research Assistance at Reference Desk
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Research Assistance at Reference Desk
Students 85
Librarians 83
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Librarys Website
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Librarys Website
Students 94
Librarians 73
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Electronic Periodicals Databases
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Electronic Periodicals Databases
Students 94
Librarians 92
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In-Library Computer Workstations
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In-Library Computer Workstations
Students 86
Librarians 63
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Off-campus Electronic Access
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Off-campus Electronic Access
Students 89
Librarians 84
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Library Hours
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Library Hours
Students 87
Librarians 24
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Student Comment

• I just need more time to use the library due to
  the long hours commuting to campus and working.

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Group Study Rooms
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Group Study Rooms
Students 90
Librarians 28
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Student Comment

• It would also be nice to have a computer area
  where a group can come and work on a paper

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Library Seating
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Library Seating
Students 90
Librarians 12
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Quiet Areas
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Quiet Areas
Students 92
Librarians 28
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Student Comment

• Please do not allow talking or conversationsin
  the study areasI heard more distraction at the
  library than home with my kids!

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Library Facilities
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Library Facilities
Students 96
Librarians 40
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10 Most Cited Factors

• Library Facilities
• Library Website
• Electronic Periodicals Databases
• Quiet Areas
• Library Seating
• Group Study Rooms
• Off-campus Electronic Access
• Library Hours
• In-Library Computer Workstations
• Research Assistance at Reference Desk

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• Librarians Picks
• Electronic
• Periodicals
• Databases
• Off-campus Access
• Reference at Desk
• Library Website
• Book Collection

• Students Picks
• Library Facilities
• Library Website
• Electronic Periodicals Databases
• Quiet Areas
• Library Seating

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Possible reasons for the disconnect between
what students need and
what we think they need
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• We are just plain wrong.
• The service may be unknown to students.
• Some services may be less relevant.

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5 Least Cited Factors

• Interlibrary loan
• Research assistance via email
• Research by appointment
• 24/7 Reference Service
• Library for-credit courses

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• Findings

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• Academic library services are viewed by
  students to directly and positively impact their
  academic success.

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• Library facility factors
• are prevalent for all
• respondents.

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• The library web site, electronic periodicals
  databases are more significant, over and above
  the physical print collections.

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• Users put high value on both off-campus
  electronic access library provided workstation
  access in the library.

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• Reference personnel friendliness is more
  frequently recognized than other reference
  factors, particularly for first-generation
  students.

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• Thank You!

Ying Zhong yzhong_at_csub.edu Johanna Alexander
jalexander_at_csub.edu