Academic library non/low use and undergraduate student achievement: a preliminary report of research in progress

Goodall, Deborah and Pattern, David (2011) Academic library non/low use and undergraduate student achievement: a preliminary report of research in progress. Library Management, 32 (3). pp. 159-170. ISSN 0143-5124

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Abstract

Purpose: Reports an ongoing investigation of library use at Huddersfield University that has identified a historical correlation between Library usage and degree classification.

Approach: Three sets of data - use of electronic resources, book loans, and visits to the library – when represented graphically show consistent amounts of no and low use at campus, academic school, degree-type and course level. Combining these findings with data showing academic achievement raises the question: is there a positive correlation between library use and attainment?

Findings: Understandably Library usage varies between academic schools and there are often pedagogic reasons for low usage, but it would appear that, in some subjects, students who ‘read’ more, measured in terms of borrowing books and accessing electronic resources, achieve better grades.

Limitations: Further work will focus on undergraduate, fulltime students at the main University campus.

Implications: The research intends to discover the reasons behind non/low use so as to develop then trial effective interventions for improving the grades of all students, from the bottom up, rather than just supporting those that are already high flyers. The results will inform both Library service delivery and University goals concerning the quality of the student learning experience, improving retention and improving the level of final degree award.

Originality: There are implications for all subjects and all levels of achievement at the University.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	More recent papers on the findings of this research are available at: http://library.hud.ac.uk/blogs/projects/lidp/articles-and-conference-papers/
Uncontrolled Keywords:	use, low use, non-use, academic libraries, undergraduate students, achievement
Subjects:	Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > Z665 Library Science. Information Science Z Bibliography. Library Science. Information Resources > ZA Information resources > ZA4050 Electronic information resources L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2300 Higher Education
Schools:	Computing and Library Services
Related URLs:	http://library.hud.ac.uk/blogs/projects/...
Depositing User:	Graham Stone
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2010 14:31
Last Modified:	30 Nov 2016 16:43
URI:	http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/id/eprint/7940

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