Investigating the Relationship of Library Usage to Student Outcomes (original) (raw)

Academic library performance measures and undergraduates' library use and educational outcomes

Library & Information Science Research, 2002

This study investigated the relationship between an institution's academic library performance measures and undergraduates' library use and educational outcomes. The sample consisted of 7,958 undergraduates attending 36 colleges and universities representing four institutional types. Regression analyses determined the relationship between academic library performance measures and library use and self-reported gains in critical thinking while controlling for undergraduates' background characteristics and college experiences. Greater utilization of academic library services had a negative relationship with undergraduate library use at two institutional types. However, undergraduates attending research universities with greater academic library resources had higher self-reported gains in critical thinking. Regressions for the four institutional types explained 25% to 32% of the variance for library use and 22% to 27% of the variance for self-reported gains in critical thinking. The results provide a better understanding of how academic library resources and services affect both library usage and educational outcomes.

Connecting Library Use to Student Success

portal: Libraries and the Academy, 2018

This study investigated the relationship between use of online library resources and student success at a small, teaching-focused, baccalaureate college. Researchers also measured whether library users were representative of the student population. Use of online library resources was a significant predictor of semester grade point average (GPA), one-term retention, and academic standing when controlling for high school GPA, gender, status as a first-generation college student, and Pell recipient status. Library users were representative of the campus in terms of gender, ethnicity, and first-generation status. There were significant differences in the number of users of library resources by age, Pell recipient status, enrollment status, major, academic level, and semester GPA.

Assessing the Library’s Influence on Freshman and Senior Level Outcomes with User Surveys

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 2015

Objectives – This study seeks to identify areas where relationships exist between a student’s library usage and student outcomes at Bellarmine University, a private master’s level institution. The study has two primary aims. The first is to see if an operationally oriented user survey can be used to provide evidence of the library’s support for institutionally important student outcomes. The second is to develop a regression model that provides a big picture with multiple variables to determine if library factors are still significant in student outcomes when controlling for significant demographic factors. Methods – The library regularly conducts student user surveys, and this study examines the results of the first three surveys, from 2007, 2008 and 2010. These surveys include individually identifiable data on why students come to the library and how often they use it in person and online. Researchers aggregated student responses into class-based cohorts and used regression analys...

Academic Library Use is Positively Related to a Variety of Educational Outcomes

Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 2019

A Review of: Soria, K. M., Fransen, J., & Nackerud, S. (2017). Beyond books: The extended academic benefits of library use for first-year college students. College & Research Libraries, 78(1), 8-22. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.78.1.8 Objectives – To consider the relationship between academic library use and four specific outcomes: academic engagement, engagement in scholarly activities, academic skills development, and grade point average. Design – Hierarchical regression analysis. Setting – A large, public research university in the Midwest US. Subjects – 1,068 non-transfer, first-year students who voluntarily completed the Student Experience in the Research University (SERU) survey. Methods – The SERU survey results were analyzed alongside student data derived from institutional records and 10 library usage variables generated from library systems. Velicer’s minimum average partial (MAP) method was employed to develop a factor analysis. Hierarchical regression analyses measured th...

Aligning Library Assessment with Institutional Priorities: A Study of Student Academic Performance and Use of Five Library Services

College & Research Libraries, 2020

This large-scale study was conducted for the purposes of determining how representative library users are compared to the whole student population, to explore how library services contribute to student success, and to position the library to be included in the institution's learning analytics landscape. To that end, data were collected as students at University of Central Florida (n = 25,336) interacted with five library service points over four semesters. Analysis revealed a positive association between students who used one or more library services and higher end-of-semester GPAs. The article emphasizes how results were disseminated and ongoing work to build an interactive learning analytics library dashboard that complements existing institutional dashboards.

Contributions of CSU Libraries to Student Success: Assessment Report

2016

CSU Libraries would like to acknowledge the following people without whose support this study would not have been possible: all of the CSU librarians and staff were helpful in the design of the study and development of survey and focus group questions; CSU's Institutional Review Board made numerous comments that improved the overall methodology; Dr. Katherine White leant her expertise to the statistical analysis of the survey results; and most importantly, we could not have been successful without the guidance and direction of the project lead, Dr. Florence Wakoko-Studstill. Finally, we wish to thank all of the CSU Community who took the time to respond to our requests for information. It is our hope that this time was well invested and that library services will continue to meet the needs of our constituents and grow and improve.

Undergraduate Student Success and Library Use: A Multimethod Approach

College & Research Libraries

How libraries affect student success has become an increasingly important question to many academic librarians. To investigate this phenomenon, we explored student success via two approaches in this multimethod study: 1) through individual student interviews to capture the student voice; and 2) through hierarchical linear and logistic modeling of institutional data to capture the institutional perspective. Through the qualitative component, students articulated how they define success and how the library contributes to their success, especially in terms of providing a sense of belonging and facilitating the work of a community of scholars. The quantitative data provides additional context by demonstrating a small positive correlation between use of library resources and student persistence, further highlighting the community building impact of the libraries.

Uncovering Meaningful Correlation between Student Academic Performance and Library Material Usage

2011

Academic libraries must demonstrate empirically that library usage does contribute positively to student academic performance and, thereby, to the university’s effectiveness. While customary academic library assessment practices may not be sufficient for this purpose, the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Library undertook an experimental project, which intended to establish a mathematical correlation between student library material usage and their cumulative grade point average (GPA). Taking 2007 to 2009 graduates as samples, with 8,701 pairs of data, the HKBU Library was able to demonstrate its impact on student learning outcomes.

Measuring Association between Library Instruction and Graduation GPA

2011

Academic libraries devote considerable human resources in delivering library instruction programs. This study attempts to determine if these instructional efforts have any measurable effect on student performance in terms of overall grades. Library workshop attendance and graduation GPA of over 8,000 students was analyzed at Hong Kong Baptist University. It was found that, if more than one or two library workshops were offered to students within the course of their program, there was a higher tendency of workshop attendance having a positive impact on final GPA. The results indicate that library instruction has a direct correlation with student performance, but only if a certain minimum amount of instruction is provided.