The Value of User Feedback: Academic Library Behaviors and Perceptions of a Community College’s Distance Learners

Abstract

Over 1,200 community colleges nationwide enroll over ten million students annually, with more than one in four students taking online courses. Given postsecondary education’s increased focus on resources beyond the classroom, a logical line of exploration is the link between academic library usage and library aptitudes and attitudes. This study examined library behaviors/perceptions of a community college’s distance learners. Results were analyzed using well Pearson’s r, independent sample t-tests, and ANOVA using composite factors of inexperience, apathy, and anxiety. Correlations suggest as students become more experienced with the library and its resources, anxiety and apathy toward using the library decreases.

Keywords:

• Library anxiety
• distance education
• competency theory
• academic library usage
• behaviors
• perceptions
• adult learning
• students
• user experiences
• user feedback

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Dr. Paul Solomon-University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC and Dr. Mary E Brown – Southern Connecticut State University, New Haven, CT for their generous input and suggestions throughout the progression of this study.