Academic Success: How Library Services Make a Difference

1. Academic Success: How Library Services Make a Difference Ying Zhong and Johanna Alexander Walter W. Stiern Library California State University, Bakersfield

2. “Just 54 percent of students entering four-year colleges in 1997 had a degree six years later . . . ” Associated Press Nov. 15, 2005

3. CSUB Retention Rates for 2001 First Year Students: 78% Fourth Year Students: 53%

4. Which library services help students accomplish their academic work more efficiently & successfully?

5. 1,295Students Responded

6. Age of Respondents 27-40 41-59 Under 27

7. Gender of Respondents Females: 75% Males: 25%

8. Ethnicity of Respondents

9. Student Class Rank Senior Junior Graduate Freshmen Sophomore

10. 61% were first-generation college students

11. Survey Results

12. Student and Librarian Responses Compared

13. Which library services help students accomplish their academic work more efficiently & successfully?

14. Research Assistance at Reference Desk

15. Research Assistance at Reference Desk Students 85% Librarians 83%

16. Library’s Website

17. Library’s Website Students 94% Librarians 73%

18. Electronic Periodicals & Databases

19. Electronic Periodicals & Databases Students 94% Librarians 92%

20. In-Library Computer Workstations

21. In-Library Computer Workstations Students 86% Librarians 63%

22. Off-campus Electronic Access

23. Off-campus Electronic Access Students 89% Librarians 84%

24. Library Hours

25. Library Hours Students 87% Librarians 24%

26. Student Comment “I just need more time to use the library due to the long hours commuting to campus and working.”

27. Group Study Rooms

28. Group Study Rooms Students 90% Librarians 28%

29. Student Comment “It would also be nice to have a computer area where a group can come and work on a paper…”

30. Library Seating

31. Library Seating Students 90% Librarians 12%

32. Quiet Areas

33. Quiet Areas Students 92% Librarians 28%

34. Student Comment “Please do not allow talking or conversations…in the study areas…I heard more distraction at the library than home with my kids!”

35. Library Facilities

36. Library Facilities Students 96% Librarians 40%

37. 10 Most Cited Factors • Library Facilities • Library Website • Electronic Periodicals & Databases • Quiet Areas • Library Seating • Group Study Rooms • Off-campus Electronic Access • Library Hours • In-Library Computer Workstations • Research Assistance at Reference Desk

38. 10 Most Cited Factors • Library Facilities • Library Website • Electronic Periodicals & Databases • Quiet Areas • Library Seating • Group Study Rooms • Off-campus Electronic Access • Library Hours • In-Library Computer Workstations • Research Assistance at Reference Desk

39. Librarians’ Picks • Electronic Periodicals & Databases • Off-campus Access • Reference at Desk • Library Website • Book Collection Students’ Picks • Library Facilities • Library Website • Electronic Periodicals & Databases • Quiet Areas • Library Seating

40. 5 Least Cited Factors • Interlibrary loan • Research assistance via email • Research by appointment • 24/7 Reference Service • Library for-credit courses

41. 5 Least Cited Factors • Interlibrary loan 61% • Research help via email 60% • Research appointments 52% • 24/7 reference service 52% • Library for-credit courses 47%

42. Findings

43. Academic library services are viewed by students to directly and positively impact their academic success.

44. Library facility factors are prevalent for all respondents.

45. The library web site, electronic periodicals & databases are more significant, over and above the physical print collections.

46. Users put high value on both off-campus electronic access & library provided workstation access in the library.

47. Reference personnel friendlinessis more frequently recognized than other reference factors, particularly for first-generation students.

49. Thank You! Ying Zhong yzhong@csub.edu Johanna Alexanderjalexander@csub.edu