The Relationship Between Library Anxiety and Off-Campus Adult Learners

Abstract

The focus of this research is to assess the level of library anxiety of off-campus adult learners (n = 143) enrolled in a Master of Arts (M.A.) in Education program offered at various off-campus locations. The off-campus adult learner's level of library anxiety will be accessed using the LAS (Library Anxiety Scale, Bostick, 1992). Also examined will be the degree that the following variables impact the library anxiety level of off-campus adult learners: age, gender, previous library instruction, physical distance from an academic library, length of time available to research the topic, and access to materials. A small statistically significant relationship was found between composite library anxiety score and the variable amount of time available. Descriptive data pertaining to age and gender was consistent to the extant research.

Key Words:

• Student relationships
• distance learners
• anxiety
• study