Can we shift more library costs to students?

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of the study is to discuss Questia, a library database that is marketed directly to student users. Design/methodology/approach Opinion piece. Findings From a student’s perspective, Questia is very useful. It would not be a useful addition to undergraduate libraries, even if site licenses are available. Research limitations/implications It would be interesting to design a study to compare library skills of undergraduates who are subscribed to Questia with those who participate in traditional library instruction sessions. Practical implications It is suggested that Questia should be recommended to an undergraduate student who is struggling with basic research skills or who is especially pressed for time. Originality/value There are no scholarly articles discussing Questia after 2012.