Longitudinal observations of expected and actual library resource usage and barriers experienced by public health students

Abstract

Objective: This longitudinal observational study explored relationships between actual and expected usage of library resources as well as anticipated and encountered barriers to that usage among public health affiliates over the course of a semester.Methods: School of Public Health master’s degree students were sent questionnaires monthly throughout a semester that asked about usage of and barriers to library resources to examine changes over time.Results: Most students utilized library resources less often than they predicted at the beginning of the semester and did not have accurate expectations about which library resources they would use. Although most students encountered no difficulties using library resources, those who did often had multiple problems and seldom sought library assistance.Conclusion: As School of Public Health master’s students had unrealistically high expectations of library resource usage, librarians may need to manage students’ expectations and assist in overcoming difficulties. Further studies across health sciences disciplines are needed to determine differences between different populations of users.

Graduate students in public health predict their actual usage of different library services and resources quite accurately

“…Access to articles/journals/databases, including interlibrary loan, were among the most used resources in other work (Harnegie, 2021). Similarly, this study found these resources were used more than in past works (Bourgeois, 2020). The reasons for this difference were explored locally in order to ascertain such an increase the usage of the library's most expensive resources.…”

“…Bourgeois (2020) found that respondents encountered fewer difficulties than predicted, though predictions and actuality tended to align as surveying continued. As an overall issue, Bourgeois's findings do not align with this project – users encountered more problems than expected.…”

“…Although the present research has sought to rectify methodological errors from past work, it may have inadvertently introduced others. Recommendations from Bourgeois (2020) were enacted – such as improving outreach to SPH populations in their own space and coordinating more actively with school administrators. As such, these liaison librarian improvements could realistically impact the results of this study compared to past work.…”

“…In addition, this research's forbearer made an observation of note in their work which could have implications for this research. In one of the last questionnaires, users were asked about their use of library resources over the past semester and past month (Bourgeois, 2020). Follow up and final questionnaires were compared for validity.…”

“…Although the definition of information needs can vary among settings (Mahoney, 2017), the relationship of library resources and public health affiliates is not the target of Lê's research, nor is the aim the barriers to accessing these resources. Bourgeois (2020) has focused specifically on this research area. Unfortunately, those results may have a potential bias in its study design.…”