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Dissertation Information for Martha Merrill

NAME:
- Martha Merrill

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1979)

ADVISORS:
- Frank B. Sessa

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- E. Blanche Woolls
- Patrick R. Penland
- Donald Shirey
- Jay E. Daily

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: REGULAR AND IRREGULAR LIBRARY USE BY FACULTY MEMBERS AT THREE UNIVERSITIES

Abstract: An academic library is an essential resource for a college or university. The library assists the academic institution in the fulfillment of its objectives in the areas of teaching, research, and service. Librarians perceive the faculty as a critical element in the library's effort to fulfill its objectives. In many instances, however, faculty do not regard the library as a major support factor in the educational process.

A review of the literature reflects a lack of faculty interest and participation in library services. Faculty disinterest in library resources affects faculty use as well as student use of the library. Because the library is not utilized or is underutilized, the library cannot achieve its potential.

Faculty non-use of academic libraries has not been a topic explored within library research. What little has been discussed about faculty non-use has been gleaned from research studies and professional writings which focused on users.

Part of the problem is that there is no standard definition for a non-user. The use of circulation records is an attempt to classify borrowers and non-borrowers. However, use of the library in other ways cannot be accurately measured. There are no standard procedures to differentiate users and non-users.

Three universities, Auburn University, Mississippi State University, and Memphis State University, were willing to participate in the study and had circulation systems which enabled the researcher to classify borrowers and non-borrowers. The circulation records at these three universities were periodically examined during the first two terms of the 1978-79 academic year. The borrowers and non-borrowers were recorded. To identify eligible faculty members, this list was compared with the school catalog and the faculty directory. Random samples were then selected.

At Auburn University, 655 faculty members were classified as borrowers and 350 classified as non-borrowers. From each of these two groups, 130 faculty members, a total of 260, were randomly selected. At Mississippi State University, 311 faculty members were classified as borrowers and 239 faculty members classified as non-borrowers. From each of these two groups, 200 faculty members, a total of 400, were randomly selected. At Memphis State University, 343 faculty members were classified as borrowers and 316 classified as non-borrowers. From each of these two groups, 150 faculty members, a total of 300, were randomly selected.

A questionnaire was mailed to these randomly selected faculty members. From a total of 960 mailed questionnaires, there were 503 usable questionnaires returned. Questionnaires from visiting lecturers, part-time faculty members and administrative faculty members were eliminated.

A difference was observed between the faculty members reported as borrowers/non-borrowers from the circulation records and the self-reported use of the library by faculty members. According to the library circulation records, there were 905 non-borrowers from all three universities. According to the self-reported use, there were only 36 non-users from all three universities.

Because of methodological considerations and the low number of self-reported non-users, it was decided to form a construct called irregular users. The irregular users included the slight users as well as non-users. From the 503 responses, 376 faculty members were classified as regular users and 127 were classified as irregular users. This pilot study attempted to investigate selected demographic factors, previous library experience factors, and current library experience factors of regular and irregular users at the three universities.

MPACT Scores for Martha Merrill

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:22:18

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Students under Martha Merrill

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None