Academic Libraries and Athletic Training: Research Preferences of Athletic Training Students

Abstract

To ensure academic standards are met for athletic training curriculums, it is essential that librarians and faculty understand student research habits and information literacy instruction preferences. This article provides results from a survey of undergraduate athletic training students conducted at two universities. Athletic training students prefer information literacy instruction at the beginning of the semester. When seeking research assistance, students ask their classmates first, followed by friends and Google. Most students spend up to 60 minutes researching online before seeking assistance and prefer in-person communication for assistance from the library followed by email.

Keywords:

• Academic libraries
• athletic training
• information literacy
• research assistance
• research habits

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the following faculty who read earlier versions of our manuscript, helped to distribute our survey in their classes and provided insightful advice and suggestions for improving our research. Faculty include: Stephen J. Straub, Ph.D., ATC, Professor of Athletic Training & Sports Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Douglas Mann, DPE, ATC and Erin Pletcher, PhD, ATC, CSCS, Rowan University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Daniel G. Kipnis

Daniel G. Kipnis, MSI, ([email protected]) is a Life Sciences Librarian at Campbell Library, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey, USA.

Lisa A. Adriani

Lisa A. Adriani, MLS, AHIP, ([email protected]) is a Research and Instruction Librarian at Edward & Barbara Netter Library, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.

Ronda I. Kolbin

Ronda I. Kolbin, MLS, ([email protected]) is a Public Services Librarian at Arnold Bernhard Library, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, Connecticut, USA.