Library Anxiety Paper
Just like test anxiety, library anxiety is a real problem that affects many new college students. “Comparing the issue to math and test anxiety gives context to the issue and supports the idea that such a problem can be quite debilitating, especially for students who are required to use specific library resources by course instructors” (Brown, 2011). More than ever, college professors are requiring their students to perform research in the college library. College libraries however, can be an intimidating place. Newer students may have a lack of familiarity and confidence in using the library at their new school. Because of this, newly entering college freshman sometimes feel overwhelmed, frustrated or inadequate when it comes to using
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Mellon, an assistant professor at East Carolina University in the department of Library and Information Studies, performed a qualitative study on library anxiety and its causes. During this study the author interviewed several college students on how they felt using the college library. Many of the students felt lost, scared, overpowered, helpless and confused when it came to the library. One student interviewed stated “I, as many freshmen, was lost in the library for a very long time. It was like a big maze to me and was easy to get lost in” (Mellon, 1986). Many of the other students interview felt they have a phobia when it came to using the library. “This phobia caused students to describe library use as a nightmare, something they dreaded all semester” (Mellon, 1986). Mellon found from her study that library anxiety can be caused by four factors. First is the size of the library. The bigger the library the more fear new students have finding their way around. Second is a lack of knowledge about where things are located. Third many of the students feared the library because they didn’t know how to begin when it came to performing research. Finally students didn’t know what to do to help them find the information they were looking for. Other more recent studies have found different reasons for library anxiety. According to Jiao and Onwuegbuzie (1998),
Many undergraduate and graduate students alike, when utilizing or contemplating a visit
Mellon, an assistant professor at East Carolina University in the department of Library and Information Studies, performed a qualitative study on library anxiety and its causes. During this study the author interviewed several college students on how they felt using the college library. Many of the students felt lost, scared, overpowered, helpless and confused when it came to the library. One student interviewed stated “I, as many freshmen, was lost in the library for a very long time. It was like a big maze to me and was easy to get lost in” (Mellon, 1986). Many of the other students interview felt they have a phobia when it came to using the library. “This phobia caused students to describe library use as a nightmare, something they dreaded all semester” (Mellon, 1986). Mellon found from her study that library anxiety can be caused by four factors. First is the size of the library. The bigger the library the more fear new students have finding their way around. Second is a lack of knowledge about where things are located. Third many of the students feared the library because they didn’t know how to begin when it came to performing research. Finally students didn’t know what to do to help them find the information they were looking for. Other more recent studies have found different reasons for library anxiety. According to Jiao and Onwuegbuzie (1998),
Many undergraduate and graduate students alike, when utilizing or contemplating a visit