What Do They Have that We Don't Have? Local Libraries and Distance Students: Why Do Students Stray and Can We Get Them Back?

Abstract

A significant number of distance students report they "stray" from their home universities by using local libraries, despite the fact that distance education librarians work hard to provide customized resources and services tailored to their programs and needs. Are public libraries and special libraries able to meet the research needs of distance learners, or are these students being underserved? This article explores why distance students may choose non-academic libraries over academic libraries, and the impact of this use-on local libraries serving unaffiliated distance learners, and on academic libraries with potentially underutilized distance library services.

Universities and Public Libraries Supporting Student Success: An Exploratory Study

“…Public libraries serve a range of information needs within their communities, a broad range of needs to be carefully balanced in order to provide the welcoming and inclusive environment they strive to be. This is well asserted in earlier literature about public library services supporting academic study, the libraries' collection as the lens for this view (Power and Keenan, 1991;Scilken, 1993 as cited in Behr andLaDell-Thomas, 2014). However, more recently, the public library as a 'distraction-free zone' for study, as well as the provision of exam supervision, and the use of group study spaces and meeting rooms have been recognised as services that could be used by university students (Nickel and Mulvihill, 2010;Behr and LaDell-Thomas, 2014).…”

“…This is well asserted in earlier literature about public library services supporting academic study, the libraries' collection as the lens for this view (Power and Keenan, 1991;Scilken, 1993 as cited in Behr andLaDell-Thomas, 2014). However, more recently, the public library as a 'distraction-free zone' for study, as well as the provision of exam supervision, and the use of group study spaces and meeting rooms have been recognised as services that could be used by university students (Nickel and Mulvihill, 2010;Behr and LaDell-Thomas, 2014). Findings of this study suggest that public libraries are potentially an ideal 'host' for university study, with the availability of spaces and technology, such as data projectors, printers and Internet, as well as a peer-to-peer 'connector' within their local area, and 'way finder' for students to access learning support services from the university.…”

“…In a UK study of distance education students' use of libraries, it was found that the local public library was where students turned, primarily due to geographical accessibility and availability (Stephens, Unwin and Bolton, 1997). More recently in the US, Behr and LaDell-Thomas (2014) explored why distance students would choose nonacademic libraries, the impact of this use and the views of public libraries serving distance students. Behr and LaDell-Thomas concluded that distance students would benefit from collaboration between different types of libraries to help them locate and use resources and services that matched their needs and improve their experience (2014, p. 158).…”

“…According to the literature, public libraries can help facilitate information and digital literacy and foster lifelong learning skills (Becker, 2006;Johnson, Adams, Becker, Estrada, & Freeman, 2015), which in turn can increase retention (Haddow & Joseph, 2010;Hagel et al, 2012). Public libraries can also support students by providing the face-to-face human interaction that they might otherwise miss out on (Behr & LaDell-Thomas, 2014). However, there have been only a handful of examples reported on how universities and public libraries can work together.…”

‘Working Together’: Public Libraries Supporting Rural, Regional, and Remote Low-Socioeconomic Student Success in Partnership with Universities

“…utilising their local public library alongside their university's online library. They concluded that partnerships between public libraries and universities could improve distance education students' study and learning experiences (Behr & LaDell-Thomas, 2014). Potential partnerships identified include increased promotion of academic and public libraries' services, peer networking opportunities, academic writing and research skill sessions, and exam supervision (Dority (2000) as cited in Behr & LaDell-Thomas, 2014).…”