Survey of american college students use of the academic library

SURVEY OF AMERICAN COLLEGE STUDENTS:
USE OF THE ACADEMIC LIBRARY WEBSITE

ISBN 978-1-57440-505-7

©2018 Primary Research Group Inc.


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Contents
THE QUESTIONNAIRE............................................................................................................................................. 8
Characteristics of the Sample ........................................................................................................................ 13
SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS .................................................................................................................... 17
Percentage of Students Who Use the College Library Website for Any Reason .................. 17
Student Evaluation of the Ease of Looking for Information through the College Website17
Use of Library Databases from a Remote Location .......................................................................... 18
Number of Visits to the Library Website in the Past Week .......................................................... 18
Student Evaluation of the Quality of the Training they have Received in Use of the Library
Website ............................................................................................................................................................. 19
Table 1.1 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? ................................ 20
Table 1.2 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by age
of survey participant ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Table 1.3 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out for
survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin............................................ 20
Table 1.4 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out

regional origins of the survey participant ................................................................................................ 21
Table 1.5 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
college year class standing ............................................................................................................................. 21
Table 1.6 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
approximate student family annual income............................................................................................ 21
Table 1.7 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
degree of religiosity of the survey participant ....................................................................................... 22
Table 1.8 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
type of political beliefs of the survey participant .................................................................................. 22
Table 1.9 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
college grades of the survey participant ................................................................................................... 22
Table 1.10 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
current or likely college major of the survey participant .................................................................. 23
Table 1.11 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
gender of the survey participant ................................................................................................................. 23
Table 1.12 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out for
students in public or private colleges: ....................................................................................................... 23
Table 1.13 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant ................................................. 24
Table 1.14 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
employment circumstance of the survey participant .......................................................................... 24
Table 1.15 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
sexual orientation of the survey participant ........................................................................................... 24
Table 1.16 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant .......................................................................................... 25
Table 1.17 Have you ever used the college library website for any reason? Broken out by
racial or ethnic identity ................................................................................................................................... 25
Table 2.1 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? ................................................................................................................................................................. 26
Table 2.2 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college

website? Broken out by age of survey participant................................................................................ 26
Table 2.3 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin
................................................................................................................................................................................... 26
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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
Table 2.4 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant ..................................................... 27
Table 2.5 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by college year class standing ............................................................................ 27
Table 2.6 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by approximate student family annual income ........................................... 27
Table 2.7 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant ...................................... 28
Table 2.8 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant ................................. 28
Table 2.9 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant .................................................. 29
Table 2.10 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant.................. 29
Table 2.11 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by gender of the survey participant................................................................. 29
Table 2.12 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out for students in public or private colleges: ..................................................... 30
Table 2.13 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant. 30
Table 2.14 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant ......................... 31

Table 2.15 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant .......................................... 31
Table 2.16 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant .......................................... 31
Table 2.17 How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website? Broken out by racial or ethnic identity .................................................................................. 32
Table 3.1 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? ................................................................................................................................................................ 33
Table 3.2 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by age of survey participant ............................................................................... 33
Table 3.3 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin
................................................................................................................................................................................... 33
Table 3.4 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant..................................................... 34
Table 3.5 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by college year class standing ............................................................................ 34
Table 3.6 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by approximate student family annual income .......................................... 34
Table 3.7 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant ...................................... 35
Table 3.8 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant................................. 35
Table 3.9 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant.................................................. 35
Table 3.10 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant ................. 36
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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
Table 3.11 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by gender of the survey participant ................................................................ 36
Table 3.12 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out for students in public or private colleges ...................................................... 36
Table 3.13 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant 37
Table 3.14 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant......................... 37
Table 3.15 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant .......................................... 37
Table 3.16 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant ......................................... 38
Table 3.17 Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location? Broken out by racial or ethnic identity .................................................................................. 38
Table 4.1 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? ..................................................... 39
Table 4.2 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by age of survey
participant ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
Table 4.3 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out for survey
participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin .......................................................... 39
Table 4.4 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out regional origins
of the survey participant ................................................................................................................................. 40
Table 4.5 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by college year
class standing ...................................................................................................................................................... 40
Table 4.6 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,

either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by approximate
student family annual income....................................................................................................................... 40
Table 4.7 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by degree of
religiosity of the survey participant ........................................................................................................... 41
Table 4.8 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by type of
political beliefs of the survey participant ................................................................................................. 41
Table 4.9 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by college grades
of the survey participant ................................................................................................................................. 42
Table 4.10 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by current or
likely college major of the survey participant ........................................................................................ 42
Table 4.11 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by gender of the
survey participant ............................................................................................................................................. 42
Table 4.12 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out for students in
public or private colleges ................................................................................................................................ 43
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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
Table 4.13 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by type of
domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant ................................................................ 43
Table 4.14 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by employment
circumstance of the survey participant..................................................................................................... 43

Table 4.15 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by sexual
orientation of the survey participant ......................................................................................................... 44
Table 4.16 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by ACT or SAT
scores of the survey participant ................................................................................................................... 44
Table 4.17 In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library? Broken out by racial or
ethnic identity ..................................................................................................................................................... 45
Table 5.1 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? ........................................................................................................................... 46
Table 5.2 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by age of survey participant .......................................... 46
Table 5.3 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and
urban areas of origin ........................................................................................................................................ 47
Table 5.4 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant ............... 47
Table 5.5 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by college year class standing ...................................... 48
Table 5.6 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by approximate student family annual income ..... 48
Table 5.7 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant. 49
Table 5.8 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant
................................................................................................................................................................................... 49
Table 5.9 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant ............ 50
Table 5.10 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using

the college library website? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey
participant ............................................................................................................................................................ 50
Table 5.11 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by gender of the survey participant ........................... 51
Table 5.12 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out for students in public or private colleges ................ 51
Table 5.13 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the
survey participant ............................................................................................................................................. 52
Table 5.14 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey
participant ............................................................................................................................................................ 52
Table 5.15 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant .... 53
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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
Table 5.16 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant .... 53
Table 5.17 What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website? Broken out by racial or ethnic identity ............................................. 54

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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

THE QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Please fill in the following contact information. If you win the drawing your Amazon

card will be sent to this email address.
A. Name:
B. Name of College that You Attend:
C. Email Address:
2. How old are you? (answer in number of years) e.g., "19" 0r "23" Do not include
fractions or descriptive phrases such as "years old"
3. Choose the phrase which best describes where you grew up before you went to
college. If more than one answer applies to you, choose the one that you feel best
reflects who you believe that you are.
A.
B.
C.
D.

I grew up in a major city with more than 350,000 people
I grew up in a small or medium sized city with less than 350,000 people.
I grew up in a suburban area
I grew up in a rural area.

4. I grew up mostly in:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

The South
The Northeast
The Midwest

The West
in Canada
Abroad (other than Canada)

5. This semester I am a:
A.
B.
C.
D.

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Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
6. The approximate annual income level of my family of origin (your Mom & Dad or
legal guardian) was:
For students over the age of 40 use your current family income.
A.
B.
C.
D.

Less than $45,000 per year
$45,000 to $80,000 per year
$80,000+ to $150,000 per year

More than $150,000 per year

7. How would you describe your relationship with organized religion?
A.

I practice a religion thoroughly and consider my religion to be a very important
part of my life.
B. I practice a religion and try to attend regular services and to participate as much
as I can.
C. I identify with a religion but can't say I put a lot of effort into practicing it.
D. I don't really believe in or practice an organized religion.
8. Choose the phrase that best describes your political views:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Very Left Wing
Liberal
Middle of the Road
Conservative
Very Right Wing

9. Which phrase best describes your college academic performance? (If you have not
yet received any grades choose what your tests and other experiences suggest will
be your grades)
A.
B.
C.

D.

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A or A- average or more
B or B+ average
C or C+ average
D or D+ average or less


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
10. Choose the phrase that best describes your academic major or likely major:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

Business, Economics or Finance
Fine Arts or Performing Arts
Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Pre-Med, Nursing
Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science
Philosophy, History, English, Classics, Languages
Psychology, Sociology, Political Science, Anthropology or other Social Science
Other (please specify)

11. You are:
A.

B.
C.

Male
Female
Transgender

12. Your college is:
A.
B.
C.

A public college
A private college
I'm not sure

13. Currently you live:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

At home with my parents or guardian
Off campus with others who are not my parents or guardian
Off campus alone
In Fraternity or Sorority Supplied Housing
On campus in the dorms or college-provided suites

14. Which phrase best describes your current employment situation:

A.
B.
C.

I don't have a full or part time job.
I have a part time job.
I have a full-time job.

15. Which phrase best describes your sexual orientation?
A.
B.
C.
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Heterosexual or "straight"
Homosexual or "gay"
Transgender


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
16. Which category best captures your highest overall SAT or ACT score? The SAT
score is based on the new 1600-point standard so if you were tested under the old
2400-point standard it would be 2/3 of this score.
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

30 or over ACT or 1350 or over SAT
24-29 ACT or 1170 to 1349 SAT
20-23 ACT or 1050 to 1169 SAT
17-19 ACT or 900 to 1050 SAT
16 or Under ACT or Under 900 SAT
Never Took Either Test

17. Which phrase best describes your racial or ethnic identity?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Caucasian
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American Indian/Indigenous
Mixed Race

18. Have you ever used the college library website for any reason?
A.
B.

Yes
No

19. How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college

website?
Very Easy

Relatively Easy

Not Usually Easy

Hard

Very Hard

20. Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location?
A.
B.

Yes
No

21. In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library?

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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
22. What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using the
college library website?
A.
B.

C.
D.
E.

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Never received any training
Poor or Insufficient training
Passable training
Good Training
Excellent Training


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Characteristics of the Sample
How old are you? (answer in number of years) e.g., "19" 0r "23"Do not include fractions or
descriptive phrases such as "years old":
#
336
158
166
125
197
83
1065

19 or younger
20
21

22
23-30
Over 30
Total

Choose the phrase which best describes where you grew up before you went to college. If
more than one answer applies to you, choose the one that you feel best reflects who you
believe that you are.

I grew up in a major city with more
than 350,000 people
I grew up in a small or medium sized
city with less than 350,000 people.
I grew up in a suburban area
I grew up in a rural area.
Total

#
195
250
350
270
1065

I grew up mostly in:
The South
The Northeast
The Midwest
The West
Abroad category

Total

#
188
282
235
299
61
1065

This semester I am a:

Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Total

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#
261
206
232
366
1065


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
The approximate annual income level (in US$) of my family of origin (your Mom & Dad or

legal guardian) was: For students over the age of 40 use your current family income.

Less than $45,000 per year
$45,000 to $80,000 per year
$80,000+ to $150,000 per year
More than $150,000 per year
Income not specified
Total

#
245
324
314
162
20
1065

How would you describe your relationship with organized religion?
I practice a religion thoroughly and consider my religion to
be a very important part of my life.
I practice a religion and try to attend regular services and to
participate as much as I can.
I identify with a religion but can't say I put a lot of effort into
practicing it.
I don't really believe in or practice an organized religion.
Total

#
207
127

343
388
1065

Choose the phrase that best describes your political views:

Very Left Wing
Liberal
Middle of the Road
Conservative
Very Right Wing
No views specified
Total

#
76
371
399
189
22
8
1065

Which phrase best describes your college academic performance? (If you have not yet
received any grades choose what your tests and other experiences suggest will be your
grades)
A or A- average or more
B or B+ average
C or C+ average or less
Total

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#
524
455
86
1065


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
Choose the phrase that best describes your academic major or likely major:

Business, Economics or Finance
Fine Arts or Performing Arts
Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Pre-Med, Nursing
Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science
Philosophy, History, English, Classics,
Languages
Psychology, Sociology, Political Science,
Anthropology or other Social Science
Total

#
149
90
299
123
148
256

1065

You are:
#
389
669
7
1065

Male
Female
Transgender
Total
Your college is:
A public college
A private college
Total

#
694
371
1065

Currently you live:

At home with my parents or guardian
Off campus with others who are not my
parents or guardian
Off campus alone
In Fraternity or Sorority Supplied Housing

On campus in the dorms or collegeprovided suites
Total

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#
104
380
86
22
473
1065


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
Which phrase best describes your current employment situation:
#
I don't have a full or part
time job.
I have a part time job.
I have a full time job.
Total

399
546
120
1065

Which phrase best describes your sexual orientation?

Heterosexual or "straight"
Homosexual or "gay"
Other or No Answer
Total

#
965
88
12
1065

Which category best captures your highest overall SAT or ACT score? The SAT score is
based on the new 1600-point standard so if you were tested under the old 2400 point
standard it would be 2/3 of this score.

30 or over ACT or 1350 or over SAT
24-29 ACT or 1170 to 1349 SAT
20-23 ACT or 1050 to 1169 SAT
17-19 ACT or 900 to 1050 SAT
16 or Under ACT or Under 900 SAT
Never Took Either Test
Total

#
287
369
209
81
11
108

1065

Which phrase best describes your racial or ethnic identity?

Caucasian
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American
Indian/Indigenous
Mixed Race
Total

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#
801
49
77
67
5
66
1065


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS
Percentage of Students Who Use the College Library Website for Any Reason
We asked: Have you ever used the college library website for any reason?

89.39% of respondents had used the library website at some point. Freshmen and
students from lower income family backgrounds were more likely than others to have
never used the college library website. 12.24% of students from families which earn less
than $45,000 per year had never used the library website. Also, students in the C grade
range were also much less likely than their counterparts with higher grades to have never
used the library website; 15.12% had not. Students in the hard sciences were also
significantly more likely than others to have never used the library website; 11.37% of
those in biology, physics and other hard sciences had not used the library website ever, as
well as 11.38% of those in engineering, mathematics, computer science and related fields.
More than twice as many public college as private college students have never used the
college library website – 11.24% vs. 5.12%. Hispanic students also had a much higher
propensity than others to have never used the library website; 16.88% of Hispanic
students had never used its vs 9.11% of Caucasian students, 5.97% of Asian students and
0% of black students.

Student Evaluation of the Ease of Looking for Information through the College
Website
We asked: How easy is it to find information that you are looking for through the college
website?
We gave five possible answers to this multiple-choice question: 1) Very Easy 2) Relatively
Easy 3) Not Usually Easy 4) Hard 5)Very Hard
Overall, a majority of nearly 62% chose “Relatively Easy” and another 17.37% chose “Very
Easy”; in contrast, 14.65% chose “Not Usually Easy”, while 2.25% called it “Hard” and
1.03% “Very Hard.”
C students had a particularly difficult time. 24.42% found it “Not Usually Easy” and close to
6% found it either hard or very hard. More than 30% of students in this cohort are having
a hard time with the library website. Students with SAT scores below 900 or ACT scores 16
or under also had a particularly tough time with 36% finding it not usually easy or hard.
Ethnic Asian and mixed-race students also seemed to have a harder time than others with
more than 22% of both groups experiencing some level of discomfort with the library

website.

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Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Use of Library Databases from a Remote Location
We asked: Have you ever used a database from your academic library from a non-library
location?
78.72% of those surveyed had used a database from the academic library from a nonlibrary location. Students raised in the American West were much more likely than others
not to have done this – 23.75% had not, vs. 14.54% of students raised in the Northeast.
Politically conservative students were also less likely to have used library databases from a
remote location, 23.81% had not done so. C students were much more likely than those in
higher grade ranges to have not tapped into library databases remotely – 29.07% gad
never done so. Students in engineering, mathematics, computer science and similar fields
are also less likely than others to have tapped into a library database from a remote
location – 24.39% have not.
The lower a student’s ACT or SAT scores, the lower the likelihood that they have tapped
into a library database from a remote location. Approximately 84% of those with SAT
scores over 1350 or ACT scores of 30 or above have accessed a library database from a
remote location, a percentage that drops to 81.57% for those with SAT scores from 1170 to
1349 or ACT scores of 24-29 and then to 77% for those with ACT scores of 20-23 or SAT
scores of 1050 to 1169. For students with ACT scores of 17-19 or SAT scores of between
900 and 1050, this percentage falls to 70.37%; for students with ACT scores of 16 or under
or SAT scores under 900, only 54.55% had ever tapped into a database from their academic
library from a remote location. Hispanic and American Indian/Indigenous students were
significantly less likely than students from other ethnic and racial backgrounds to have
used a library database from outside the library – only 68.83% of the former and 60% of
the latter had done so.

Number of Visits to the Library Website in the Past Week
We asked: In the past week, how many times have you visited the college library website,
either while you are physically in or out of the college library?
The mean was 1.92 times with a median of 1 and a range of 0 to 25. Use was highest among
students raised abroad, who had visited the library website a mean of 3.18 times in the
past month. Use was also high among students from low income families; their mean
number of visits in the past week to the college library website was 2.42, far more than
those form other income ranges. In general, the more left wing a student, the more likely
that they were to visit the library website; liberal students visited a mean of 2.12 times vs
1.43 times for conservatives. Students in engineering and mathematics and related fields
visited the library website much less than other students, a mean of only 1.12 times in the
past week, less than half the amount of social science students, who visited a mean of 2.33
times in the past week.
Use was scant by those in lower ACT/SAT score ranges; those that had ACT scores of 17-19
or SAT scores from 900 to 1050 used the library website only 1.4 times in the past week.
Black students also used the website less than those of other backgrounds, a mean of 1.5
times in the past week.
18 | P a g e


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Student Evaluation of the Quality of the Training they have Received in Use of the
Library Website
We asked: What do you think of the quality of the training that you have received in using
the college library website?
We gave five possible answers to this multiple choice question which were: 1) Never
received any training
2) Poor or Insufficient training

3) Passable training
4)Good Training
5)Excellent Training
A plurality of 32.86% of respondents felt that their training was only “Passable” while
another 30.14% called their training “Good”; however, a surprising 18.5% felt that they had
not received any training and 9% considered training “Poor or Insufficient.” Another 7.42%
considered their training “Excellent.”
Students raised in the US West seemed particularly unhappy and less than 30% felt that
their training was good or excellent vs a sample mean of 37.56%. Students in the C grade
range are also less happy than others; a bit more than 30% considered their training good
or excellent. More than 43% of private college students were quite satisfied vs only about
35.5% of public college students. More than 55% of black students considered their
training good or excellent vs only a shade more than 35% of Hispanic students who felt the
same way.

19 | P a g e


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Table 1.1 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason?
Entire sample

No Answer
1.50%

Yes
89.39%

No
9.11%

Table 1.2 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by age of survey participant
How old are you?
19 or younger
20
21
22
23-30
Over 30

No Answer
1.19%
0.63%
1.81%
2.40%
2.03%
1.20%

Yes
86.31%
90.51%
91.57%
93.60%
89.85%
87.95%

No

12.50%
8.86%
6.63%
4.00%
8.12%
10.84%

Table 1.3 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and
urban areas of origin
Urban, Rural or Suburban Origins
I grew up in a major city with more than
350,000 people
I grew up in a small or medium sized city
with less than 350,000 people.
I grew up in a suburban area
I grew up in a rural area.

20 | P a g e

No Answer
1.03%

Yes
90.77%

No
8.21%

1.20%

87.20%

11.60%

1.71%
1.85%

88.57%
91.48%

9.71%
6.67%


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Table 1.4 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant
I grew up mostly in:
The South
The Northeast
The Midwest
The West
Abroad category

No Answer
1.60%
1.06%
1.70%

1.67%
1.64%

Yes
90.96%
90.78%
93.19%
83.61%
91.80%

No
7.45%
8.16%
5.11%
14.72%
6.56%

Table 1.5 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by college year class standing
This semester I am a:
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

No Answer
1.92%
0.00%
2.16%
1.64%

Yes
84.29%
89.32%
86.64%
94.81%

No
13.79%
10.68%
11.21%
3.55%

Table 1.6 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by approximate student family annual income
Approximate student family annual
income
Less than $45,000 per year
$45,000 to $80,000 per year
$80,000+ to $150,000 per year
More than $150,000 per year
Income not specified

21 | P a g e

No Answer

Yes

No

0.82%
2.47%
1.59%
0.00%
5.00%

86.94%
89.51%
89.17%
93.83%
85.00%

12.24%
8.02%
9.24%
6.17%
10.00%


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Table 1.7 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant
How would you describe your
relationship with organized
religion?
I practice a religion thoroughly and
consider my religion to be a very
important part of my life.

I practice a religion and try to attend
regular services and to participate as
much as I can.
I identify with a religion but can't
say I put a lot of effort into
practicing it.
I don't really believe in or practice
an organized religion.

No Answer

Yes

No

1.45%

90.82%

7.73%

2.36%

87.40%

10.24%

1.46%

88.34%

10.20%

1.29%

90.21%

8.51%

Table 1.8 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey
participant
Choose the phrase that
best describes your
political views:
Very Left Wing
Liberal
Middle of the Road
Conservative
Very Right Wing
No views specified

No Answer

Yes

No

0.00%
1.89%

1.50%
1.06%
0.00%
12.50%

94.74%
91.64%
86.72%
88.89%
90.91%
75.00%

5.26%
6.47%
11.78%
10.05%
9.09%
12.50%

Table 1.9 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant
Which phrase best
describes your college
academic
performance?
A or A- average or
more
22 | P a g e

No Answer

Yes

No

1.34%

91.22%

7.44%


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website
B or B+ average
C or C+ average or less

1.76%
1.16%

88.35%
83.72%

9.89%
15.12%

Table 1.10 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey
participant
Choose the phrase that best
describes your academic major or

likely major:
Business, Economics or Finance
Fine Arts or Performing Arts
Biology, Physics, Chemistry, PreMed, Nursing
Engineering, Mathematics,
Computer Science
Philosophy, History, English,
Classics, Languages
Psychology, Sociology, Political
Science, Anthropology or other
Social Science

No Answer

Yes

No

1.34%
1.11%
2.01%

89.26%
93.33%
86.62%

9.40%
5.56%
11.37%

2.44%

86.18%

11.38%

0.68%

92.57%

6.76%

1.17%

91.02%

7.81%

Table 1.11 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by gender of the survey participant
You are:
Male
Female
Transgender

No Answer
1.29%
1.64%
0.00%

Yes
87.15%
90.58%
100.00%

No
11.57%
7.77%
0.00%

Table 1.12 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out for students in public or private colleges:
Your college is:
A public college
A private college

23 | P a g e

No Answer
1.87%
0.81%

Yes
86.89%
94.07%

No
11.24%
5.12%

Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Table 1.13 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the
survey participant
Currently you live:
At home with my parents or
guardian
Off campus with others who
are not my parents or
guardian
Off campus alone
In Fraternity or Sorority
Supplied Housing
On campus in the dorms or
college-provided suites

No Answer
2.88%

Yes
86.54%

No
10.58%

1.84%

89.47%

8.68%

1.16%
0.00%

90.70%
100.00%

8.14%
0.00%

1.06%

89.22%

9.73%

Table 1.14 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey
participant
Which phrase best
describes your current
employment
situation?
I don't have a full or
part time job.
I have a part time job.
I have a full time job.

No Answer

Yes

No

1.25%

86.72%

12.03%

1.47%
2.50%

92.31%
85.00%

6.23%
12.50%

Table 1.15 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant
Which phrase best
describes your sexual
orientation?
Heterosexual or
"straight"
Homosexual or "gay"
Other or No Answer

24 | P a g e

No Answer

Yes

No

1.55%

89.02%

9.43%

1.14%
0.00%

94.32%
83.33%

4.55%
16.67%


Survey of American College Students: Use of the Academic Library Website

Table 1.16 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant
Which category best

captures your highest
overall SAT or ACT score?
30 or over ACT or 1350 or
over SAT
24-29 ACT or 1170 to
1349 SAT
20-23 ACT or 1050 to
1169 SAT
17-19 ACT or 900 to 1050
SAT
16 or Under ACT or Under
900 SAT
Never Took Either Test

No Answer

Yes

No

0.35%

91.64%

8.01%

1.90%

90.79%

7.32%

1.91%

89.47%

8.61%

2.47%

86.42%

11.11%

9.09%

63.64%

27.27%

0.93%

83.33%

15.74%

Table 1.17 Have you ever used the college library website for any
reason? Broken out by racial or ethnic identity
Which phrase best
describes your racial or

ethnic identity?
Caucasian
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American
Indian/Indigenous
Mixed Race

25 | P a g e

No Answer

Yes

No

1.62%
2.04%
1.30%
0.00%
0.00%

89.26%
97.96%
81.82%
94.03%
100.00%

9.11%

0.00%
16.88%
5.97%
0.00%

1.52%

87.88%

10.61%