The Academic Library and Retention Wil Weston

What do I want to know… Examine undergraduate library student worker experiences and how those experiences contribute to their persistence in college.

Examine undergraduate library student worker experiences and how those experiences contribute to their persistence in college.

Why are library Experiences important? Library is always grouped with Academics, but relationship is not clearly defined. Library appears to meet description for social integration according to Tinto (1993) model of student persistence. (Interactions s/f) Improved retention of student workers. (SES) Target those who are in most need of benefit. (Work-study – financial need)

Library is always grouped with Academics, but relationship is not clearly defined.

Library appears to meet description for social integration according to Tinto (1993) model of student persistence. (Interactions s/f)

Improved retention of student workers. (SES)

Target those who are in most need of benefit. (Work-study – financial need)

The Question is important because… Library is often the largest employer of student workers on a college campus. Astin’s research has shown that on campus employment can positively impact retention. Work-study and campus employment related strongly to SES, and financial. (Cermak & Filkins, 2004).

Library is often the largest employer of student workers on a college campus.

Astin’s research has shown that on campus employment can positively impact retention.

Work-study and campus employment related strongly to SES, and financial. (Cermak & Filkins, 2004).

What is already known about the question… Kuh and Gonyea’s (2003) study revealed… That “academic challenge is positively related to library use” That “students who frequently use library resources are also more likely to work harder to meet a faculty member’s expectations.” Students “at more challenging universities are more likely to ask a librarian for help, use an index/database, and make thoughtful judgments about the information that they receive.” This implies that there is a relationship between persistence and library use and student excellence.

Kuh and Gonyea’s (2003) study revealed…

That “academic challenge is positively related to library use”

That “students who frequently use library resources are also more likely to work harder to meet a faculty member’s expectations.”

Students “at more challenging universities are more likely to ask a librarian for help, use an index/database, and make thoughtful judgments about the information that they receive.”

This implies that there is a relationship between persistence and library use and student excellence.

What is known… Lemuel Watson’s (2001) study revealed… That students on average use the library for multiple reasons. Students that are comfortable with the library agree more that the library helps them in their academic work. Students who dread using the library for schoolwork – that feeling has a negative effect on their academic success. Students who perceive the library as a place to study correlate the library with their academic success. This further reveals a connection between the persistence and the library.

Lemuel Watson’s (2001) study revealed…

That students on average use the library for multiple reasons.

Students that are comfortable with the library agree more that the library helps them in their academic work.

Students who dread using the library for schoolwork – that feeling has a negative effect on their academic success.

Students who perceive the library as a place to study correlate the library with their academic success.

This further reveals a connection between the persistence and the library.

What is not known… Library Workers’ perceptions about… Library skills Expectations of library work Actual use of the library Experiences, positive and negative Library influence upon their persistence behavior

Library Workers’ perceptions about…

Library skills

Expectations of library work

Actual use of the library

Experiences, positive and negative

Library influence upon their persistence behavior

Framework that informs my study. Tinto’s Student Integration Model (SIM) The extent to which the individual becomes academically and socially integrated into the academic and social systems of an institution over time determines the decision to dropout. The absence of successful integration arises due to incongruence (odds with the institution) and isolation (disconnected from the institution). The individual’s goals and commitments interact over time with institutional experiences (the formal and informal academic and social systems).

Tinto’s Student Integration Model (SIM)

The extent to which the individual becomes academically and socially integrated into the academic and social systems of an institution over time determines the decision to dropout.

The absence of successful integration arises due to incongruence (odds with the institution) and isolation (disconnected from the institution).

The individual’s goals and commitments interact over time with institutional experiences (the formal and informal academic and social systems).

Methodology Qualitative research provides insight and understanding of the problem setting, while quantitative seeks to quantify data. Their perceptions of the Library contributing to their persistence. Their perceptions of the Library in general (place and service, social and academic) The need to describe and interpret a phenomena. Phenomenological Research is particularly useful in exploring areas not well researched or conceptualized. .

Qualitative research provides insight and understanding of the problem setting, while quantitative seeks to quantify data.

Their perceptions of the Library contributing to their persistence.

Their perceptions of the Library in general (place and service, social and academic)

The need to describe and interpret a phenomena.

Phenomenological Research is particularly useful in exploring areas not well researched or conceptualized.

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Contribution Informing practice in... Library’s role on campus Library’s role in Student Services Library’s academic role Library’s social role Library role, specifically, in the retention of Library Student Workers.

Informing practice in...

Library’s role on campus

Library’s role in Student Services

Library’s academic role

Library’s social role

Library role, specifically, in the retention of Library Student Workers.

Thank you! Questions?