Effects of Library Workshop Attendance and Library Website Visit Frequency on Health Professions Students’ LibGuides Awareness

Abstract

This research article examines data from an in-person 2017 survey on LibGuides usage, perceptions, and awareness of health professions students seeking bachelor and graduate-level degrees. Almost 45% (n = 20, N = 45) of participants who visited the library’s website at least once per week indicated awareness of library-created LibGuides. Nearly 90% (n = 8, N = 9) of health professions students who had not visited the library’s website were unaware of the guides. The statistical analysis shows significant associations between various variables (academic level, library workshop attendance, research guide type usage, research guide page usage) and library guide awareness. The data did not reveal any significant relationships between other variables (undergraduate class level, field of study, and library website visit frequency) and guide awareness. The authors discuss implications for health sciences libraries and suggestions for future research.

Keywords:

• Health professions students
• information literacy
• information needs
• nursing students
• subject guides

Additional information

Notes on contributors

John Carey

John Carey, MA, MLS, AHIP ([email protected]) is an Associate Professor and Head of the Health Professions Library at Hunter College in New York, New York USA.

Ajatshatru (A.J.) Pathak

Ajatshatru (A.J.) Pathak, MA, MLS, MPH ([email protected]) is an Assistant Professor and Health and Informatics Librarian at the Health Professions Library at Hunter College in New York, New York, USA.

Sarah C. Johnson

Sarah C. Johnson, MLIS, LMSW ([email protected]) is an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, Illinois, USA.