Survey of undergraduates interest in study and careers in librar

SURVEY OF UNDERGRADUATES: INTEREST
IN STUDY & CAREERS IN LIBRARY SPECIAL
COLLECTIONS & IMAGE MANAGEMENT

ISBN 978-157440- 545-3

©2018


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Table of Contents
Characteristics of the Sample ........................................................................................................................ 12
SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS .................................................................................................................... 17
General Level of Student Interest in Library Science Courses .................................................... 17
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Age and Population-Intensity of Area of
Personal Origin.......................................................................................................................................... 17
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Year of Class Standing .................................. 17
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Income ................................................................ 17
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Degree of Religiosity ................................ 17
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by College Grades ............................................ 18
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by College Major............................................... 18
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Gender............................................................ 18
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Public/Private College Status ............... 18

Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Sexual Orientation ..................................... 18
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Race/Ethnicity ............................................ 18
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science ................................................................................................................. 19
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Age ........................................................................................ 19
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Regional Origins .............................................................. 19
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Year of Class Standing ................................................... 19
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Income Level ..................................................................... 19
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by College Grades .................................................................. 20
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Gender ................................................................................. 20
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Public/Private College Status ..................................... 20
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Sexual Orientation .......................................................... 20
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by Race/Ethnicity ................................................................. 20
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science by College Major .................................................................... 20
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management................................................................ 21
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Regional Origins .................. 21
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Gender ..................................... 21
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Public/Private College
Status............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Sexual Orientation .............. 21

Table 1.1 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? ....................................................................................................................................................................... 22
Table 1.2 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by age of survey participant ...................................................................................... 22
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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Table 1.3 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin 23
Table 1.4 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out regional origins of the survey participant ........................................................... 24
Table 1.5 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by college year class standing .................................................................................. 24
Table 1.6 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by approximate student family annual income ................................................. 25
Table 1.7 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant ............................................. 26
Table 1.8 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant ....................................... 27
Table 1.9 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by college grades of the survey participant ........................................................ 27
Table 1.10 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey participant ........................ 28
Table 1.11 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by gender of the survey participant ....................................................................... 29
Table 1.12 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out for students in public or private colleges............................................................. 29

Table 1.13 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the survey participant ....... 30
Table 1.14 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey participant ............................... 31
Table 1.15 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant ................................................ 31
Table 1.16 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant ................................................ 32
Table 1.17 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant ...................................... 33
Table 1.18 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by total accumulated student debt total at undergraduate graduation ... 34
Table 1.19 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level? Broken out by roughly about how sure of yourself are you of your post-college
education or work plans? ............................................................................................................................... 35
Table 2 Rate your level of interest in each of the following areas of library and information
science .................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Table 2.1.1 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science ........................................................................ 36
Table 2.1.2 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by age of survey
participant ....................................................................................................................................................... 36
Table 2.1.3 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out for survey participants
from rural, suburban and urban areas of origin ............................................................................... 37
Table 2.1.4 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out regional origins of the
survey participant......................................................................................................................................... 37
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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Table 2.1.5 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by college year class
standing ............................................................................................................................................................ 38
Table 2.1.6 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by approximate student
family annual income .................................................................................................................................. 38
Table 2.1.7 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by degree of religiosity of
the survey participant ................................................................................................................................. 39
Table 2.1.8 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by type of political beliefs
of the survey participant ............................................................................................................................ 40
Table 2.1.9 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by college grades of the
survey participant......................................................................................................................................... 40
Table 2.1.10 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by current or likely college
major of the survey participant ............................................................................................................... 41
Table 2.1.11 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by gender of the survey
participant ....................................................................................................................................................... 41
Table 2.1.12 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out for students in public or
private colleges .............................................................................................................................................. 42
Table 2.1.13 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by type of domestic

housing arrangement of the survey participant ............................................................................... 42
Table 2.1.14 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by employment
circumstance of the survey participant ................................................................................................ 43
Table 2.1.15 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by sexual orientation of
the survey participant ................................................................................................................................. 43
Table 2.1.16 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of
the survey participant ................................................................................................................................. 44
Table 2.1.17 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by racial or ethnic identity
of the survey participant ............................................................................................................................ 45
Table 2.1.18 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by total accumulated
student debt total at undergraduate graduation .............................................................................. 45
Table 2.1.19 Rate your level of interest in the preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science Broken out by roughly about how
sure of yourself are you of your post-college education or work plans? ................................ 46
Table 2.2.1 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science ............................................................................................................................. 47
Table 2.2.2 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by age of survey participant ............................................ 47
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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Table 2.2.3 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library

and information science Broken out for survey participants from rural, suburban and
urban areas of origin.................................................................................................................................... 48
Table 2.2.4 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out regional origins of the survey participant ................. 48
Table 2.2.5 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by college year class standing ........................................ 49
Table 2.2.6 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by approximate student family annual income ....... 49
Table 2.2.7 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by degree of religiosity of the survey participant ... 50
Table 2.2.8 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by type of political beliefs of the survey participant
.............................................................................................................................................................................. 51
Table 2.2.9 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by college grades of the survey participant .............. 51
Table 2.2.10 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by current or likely college major of the survey
participant ....................................................................................................................................................... 52
Table 2.2.11 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by gender of the survey participant ............................. 52
Table 2.2.12 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out for students in public or private colleges................... 53
Table 2.2.13 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by type of domestic housing arrangement of the
survey participant......................................................................................................................................... 53
Table 2.2.14 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by employment circumstance of the survey
participant ....................................................................................................................................................... 54
Table 2.2.15 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by sexual orientation of the survey participant ...... 54

Table 2.2.16 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by ACT or SAT scores of the survey participant ...... 55
Table 2.2.17 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by racial or ethnic identity of the survey participant
.............................................................................................................................................................................. 56
Table 2.2.18 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by total accumulated student debt total at
undergraduate graduation ........................................................................................................................ 56
Table 2.2.19 Rate your level of interest in the Digital Image Management area of library
and information science Broken out by roughly about how sure of yourself are you of
your post-college education or work plans? ...................................................................................... 57

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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.
B.
C.

Name:
Name of College that You Attend:
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 Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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 Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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. Male
B. Female
C. Transgender
12. Your college is:

A. A public college
B. A private college
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. I don't have a full or part time job.
B. I have a part time job.
C. I have a full time job.
15. Which phrase best describes your sexual orientation?
A. Heterosexual or "straight"
B. Homosexual or "gay"
C. Bi-sexual
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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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. What do you expect will be your total accumulated student loan debt when you
graduate your undergraduate institution?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Nothing Really
Less than $20,000
$20,000 to $35,000
$35,000+ to $55,000
$55,000+ to $85,000
More than $85,000

19. Roughly about how sure of yourself are you of your post-college education or work
plans?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

No idea yet
Not too sure, considering a range of options
Fluid but I am leaning in a direction
I am pretty sure what I am going to do
I have made up my mind

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

20. How interested are you in taking courses in library science at the undergraduate
level?
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.

Not at all interested
A little interested
Somewhat interested
Interested
Very Interested
It's my main area of concentration

21. Rate your level of interest in each of the following areas of library and information
science
Not at all
Interested
Cataloging & Metadata
Preservation,
Digitization & Special

Collections
Digital Image
Management
Other (please specify)

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Very
little
interest

Somewhat
Interested

Interested

Highly
Interested


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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"

19 or younger
20
21

22
23-30
Over 30
Total

#
504
283
270
189
225
95
1566

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

#
245
353

527
441
1566

I grew up mostly in:

The South
The Northeast
The Midwest
The West
Abroad
Total

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#
274
444
337
429
82
1566


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

This semester I am a:

Freshman

Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Total

#
394
323
359
490
1566

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
Total

#
352
483
502
214
15
1566

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

#
278
208
490
590
1566

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

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#
113
587
576
267
15
8
1566


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

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)
#
792
666
108
1566

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

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
Social sciences
Total
You are:

Male
Female
Transgender
Total

#
498
1046
22
1566

Your college is:

A public college
A private college
Total

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#
950

616
1566

#
209
128
441
186
233
369
1566


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Currently you live:
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
Total

161
535
103

31
736
1566

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

#
582
855
129
1566

Which phrase best describes your sexual orientation?

Heterosexual or "straight"
Homosexual or "gay"
Bi-sexual
Other or No Answer
Total

#
1255
82
219
10

1566

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 SA
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

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#
381
591
337
105
11
141
1566


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Which phrase best describes your racial or ethnic identity?

Caucasian
Black
Hispanic
Asian
American Indian/Indigenous
Mixed Race
Total

#
1203
56
107
96
12
92
1566

What do you expect will be your total accumulated student loan debt when you graduate
your undergraduate institution?
Nothing Really
Less than $20,000
$20,000 to $35,000
$35,000+ to $55,000
$55,000+ to $85,000
More than $85,000
Total

#
481

366
343
193
126
57
1566

Roughly about how sure of yourself are you of your post-college education or work plans?

No idea yet
Not too sure, considering a range of options
Fluid but I am leaning in a direction
I am pretty sure what I am going to do
I have made up my mind
Total

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#
86
260
428
484
308
1566


Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

SUMMARY OF MAIN FINDINGS
General Level of Student Interest in Library Science Courses
First, we asked about general interest in library science courses: how interested are you in
taking courses in library science at the undergraduate level? The majority, 76.88%, were
not interested at all while 8.81% were a little interested and 2.62% interested while 1.09%
were very interested and for 0.19%, it was already their main area of concentration. We
will call those who say that they are somewhat interested, interested, very interested or
whom already have library science as a major or area of concentration – the interested
parties – about 9% of the student body.
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Age and Population-Intensity of Area of
Personal Origin
By age, students over age 30 seem the most interested – more than 11.5% fall into the
interested parties’ category. Students who grew up in small or medium sized cities are
much more interested than those who grew up in major cities, suburbs or rural areas.
Indeed, nearly 12% fall into the interested party categories much more, for example, than
those who grew up in large cities – of whom less than 7% fall into the interested parties’
categories. Also, much more than the nearly 8.5% of suburbanite-raised students and the
approximately 9% of those raised in rural areas.

Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Year of Class Standing
For whatever reasons, interest seems to peak in junior year when nearly 13% are
interested parties, dropping to a bit more than 7% in senior year.

Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Income
Interest is a little stronger from lower than higher income groups and all those who say
that they are already majoring in or concentrating in library science are from families with
an annual income of less than $80,000 per year.
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Degree of Religiosity
Interest is a little stronger among the secular than the religious and all those current
majoring or concentrating in library science either do not practice a religion or do

somewhat half-heartedly. Interest in also greater on the left than the right; more than 12%
of liberals but only a shade less than 6.4% of conservatives are interested parties.

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by College Grades
Grades also mattered a great deal. Interest is highest among A students of whom more
than 10.5% were interested parties vs. only about 4.5% of C students. However, all of
those currently majoring or concentrating in library science at the undergrad level were in
the B student range.
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by College Major
As might be expected students in the humanities – philosophy, history, English, languages, - and education – had a much higher level of interest than did students focusing on other
disciplines. More than 18% of these humanities or education students were interested
parties vs. for example, less than 7% of engineering/statistics students.
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Gender
Women were more interested than men; only about 6.8% of men were in the interested
parties’ categories while nearly 10% of women were in these categories.
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Public/Private College Status
Interest was also much greater at private than public colleges and indeed, one profile of
future librarians that emerges is smart, likely female, probably private college students
from low and middle income backgrounds. More than 12% of private college students
were interested parties vs only about 7.2% of public college students.
Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Sexual Orientation
Gay and bisexual students also had a relatively high level of interest in library science as
more than 18% of the former and nearly 17% of the latter were interested parties, vs. less
than 7% of heterosexual students.

Level of Interest in Library Science Courses by Race/Ethnicity
Interest was high among Caucasian and mixed-race students, and lower among Blacks,
Hispanics and Asians. More than 9.7% of Caucasians and 10.9% of mixed-race respondents
were interested parties vs. only about 3.6% of Blacks and 6.2% of ethnic Asians.

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
Management

Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas
of Library & Information Science
We asked: Please rate your level of interest in preservation, digitization and special
collections area of library and information science. We gave five choices to this multiple
choice question; they were: 1) Not at all interested, 2) Very little interest, 3) Somewhat
interested, 4) Interested and 5) Highly Interested.
Overall, 69.03% were not at all interested, 7.98% showed very little interest and 11.94%
did not answer the question; another 6.58% were somewhat interested, 3.64% were
interested and 0.83% were highly interested. In the following analysis we will concentrate
on those who were interested or highly interested, with some commentary on those who
were somewhat interested.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Age
Interest was highest among older students, over age 30, of whom 3.16% were highly
interested and another 4.21% interested. Interest also varied greatly by the population
concentration of where a survey respondent grew up with much greater levels of interest
from those who grew up in rural and suburban areas than in large or small/medium sized
cities. Indeed, nearly 6% of those who grew up in suburban areas were interested or
highly interested as were about 4.7% of those who grew up in rural areas, of which more

than a third were highly interested. In contrast, less than 3% of those who grew up in
major cities were interested or highly interested.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Regional Origins
Interest was also higher among those who grew up in the American South; nearly 5.5% of
students from this background were interested or highly interested vs only a shade more
than 3% of students raised in the US West, for example.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Year of Class Standing
Interest tended to increase with time spent in college as 0.84% of juniors and 1.22% of
seniors were highly interested vs. 0.31% of sophomores and 0.76% of freshmen.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Income Level
By income, students from upper middle income group -- $80,000 to $150,000 US annually –
tended to show the most interest, more than poorer or richer students -1.2% of students in
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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
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this demographic were highly interested. Liberals were more interested than
conservatives; 1.19% of liberals were highly interested vs. only 0.37% of conservatives.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by College Grades
Grades mattered, a lot. Nearly 5.7% of those in the A grade range were interested or highly
interested vs. less than 1% of C students.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Gender
Interest was more evenly split between men and women than we had imagined; 4.22% of

men were interested vs. only 3.25% of women. However, in the highest interest
designation category – 0.4% of men were highly interested vs. 1.05% of women.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Public/Private College Status
Interest was a little higher among private than public college students with about 3.9% of
public college students and 5.35% of private college students interested or highly
interested.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Sexual Orientation
Sexual orientation mattered as gay and bisexual students showed significantly higher levels
of interest than heterosexual students. 3.51% of heterosexual students were interested or
highly interested vs. 7.32% of gay students and 8.68% of bisexual students.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by Race/Ethnicity
Mixed race students showed higher levels of interest than those of other races or ethnic
groups – more than 5.4% were interested or very interested. Interest was very low among
Black and Asian students. None of the former in the sample and about 2.1% of the latter
were interested or highly interested.
Level of Student Interest in the Preservation, Digitization and Special Collections Areas of
Library & Information Science by College Major
By subject area, interest was by far the highest in visual and performing arts and the
humanities. In the former, nearly 9.4% were interested or highly interested, while in the
latter, nearly 9.9% showed this same level of interest.

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
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The profile emerging tends to suggest that upper middle class, left leaning, southerners
majoring in the humanities with high college grades who grew up in rural or suburban
locations are the most likely individuals interested in study or careers in preservation,
digitization and special collections.

Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management
We requested: Rate your level of interest in digital image management. As in the prior
question, we gave five choices to this multiple choice question; they were: 1) Not at all
interested, 2) Very little interest, 3) Somewhat interested, 4) Interested and 5) Highly
Interested.
Overall, 70.43% were not at all interested and 12.58% did not answer the question;
another 8.94% showed very little interest, and 6.17% were somewhat interested; 2.55%
were interested and 0.32% highly interested.
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Regional Origins
For the breakouts we will concentrate on those who are interested and highly interested.
Students raised abroad were by far the most interested with about 6.1% falling into one of
the two high interest categories. Students from the US South were next, with about 4%
falling into these categories. Much of the interest came from politically liberal students of
whom 3.75% fell into the high interest categories.
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Gender
Interestingly and unexpectedly, males showed higher levels of interest than females, the
opposite of what is usually the case in library science-related areas. For males, 3.82% were
interested vs. only 1.91% for females; similarly, 0.4% of males were highly interested vs.
only 0.29% of females.
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Public/Private College Status
Interest among private college students was somewhat greater than among public college
students but only modestly. For both cohorts only 0.32% were highly interested but for
private colleges, 3.25% were interested vs. 2.11% for public college students.
Level of Student Interest in Digital Image Management by Sexual Orientation
By sexual orientation, bisexual and gay students were more interested in general than were

heterosexual students. Less than 2.5% of heterosexual students were interested or very
interested vs.4.88% of gay and 4.1% of bisexual students.

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
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Table 1.1 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at
the undergraduate level?

Entire
sample

No
Answer

Not at all
interested

A little
interested

Somewhat
interested

Interested

Very

Interested

It's my main
area of
concentration

5.17%

76.88%

8.81%

5.24%

2.62%

1.09%

0.19%

Table 1.2 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at
the undergraduate level? Broken out by age of survey participant
How old
are you?

No
Answer

Not at all
interested

A little
interested

Somewhat Interested Very
It's my main
interested
Interested area of
concentration

19 or
younger
20
21
22
23-30
Over 30

5.95%

76.98%

8.53%

5.56%

2.38%

0.60%

0.00%

5.65%
5.19%
4.76%
4.00%
3.16%

75.27%
76.30%
81.48%
76.00%
75.79%

9.19%
8.52%
7.41%
10.22%
9.47%

6.71%
5.56%
4.23%
3.11%
5.26%

2.47%
2.22%
0.53%
5.33%

3.16%

0.71%
1.48%
1.59%
0.89%
3.16%

0.00%
0.74%
0.00%
0.44%
0.00%

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
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Table 1.3 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at
the undergraduate level? Broken out for survey participants from
rural, suburban and urban areas of origin
Urban, Rural
or Suburban
Origins

No
Answer

Not at all
interested

A little
interested

Somewhat
interested

Interested

Very
Interested

It's my main
area of
concentration

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

5.71%

80.41%

7.35%

6.12%

0.41%

0.00%

0.00%

3.68%

74.79%

9.63%

6.23%

4.82%

0.57%

0.28%

5.31%

76.47%

9.68%

4.93%

2.28%

1.14%

0.19%

5.90%

77.10%

7.94%

4.31%

2.49%

2.04%

0.23%

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
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Table 1.4 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at
the undergraduate level? Broken out regional origins of the survey
participant
I grew up
mostly in:

No
Answer

Not at all
interested

A little
interested

Somewhat
interested

Interested

Very
Interested

It's my main
area of
concentration

The South
The
Northeast
The
Midwest
The West
Abroad

4.38%
5.41%

79.56%
74.55%

7.66%
10.14%

5.47%
4.95%

1.46%

3.60%

1.46%
1.13%

0.00%
0.23%

5.64%

75.96%

8.01%

5.93%

2.67%

1.48%

0.30%

4.20%
9.76%

79.25%
71.95%

9.32%
6.10%

4.20%
8.54%

2.33%
2.44%

0.47%
1.22%

0.23%
0.00%

Table 1.5 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at
the undergraduate level? Broken out by college year class standing
This semester
I am a:

No
Answer

Not at all
interested

A little
interested

Somewhat
interested

Interested

Very
Interested

It's my main
area of
concentration

Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior

5.58%
6.19%
3.34%
5.51%

76.40%
78.02%
74.09%
78.57%

8.38%
8.36%
9.75%
8.78%

6.85%

4.33%
6.69%
3.47%

2.28%
2.48%
3.90%
2.04%

0.51%
0.62%
1.67%
1.43%

0.00%
0.00%
0.56%
0.20%

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Survey of Undergraduates: Interest in Study & Careers in Library Special Collections & Image
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Table 1.6 How interested are you in taking courses in library science at
the undergraduate level? Broken out by approximate student family
annual income
Approximate
student family

annual income

No
Answer

Not at all
interested

A little
interested

Somewhat
interested

Interested

Very
Interested

It's my main
area of
concentration

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

4.26%

77.56%

8.81%

5.11%

2.84%

1.14%

0.28%

2.90%

77.64%

9.73%

5.18%

2.90%

1.24%

0.41%

6.97%

74.50%

10.36%

5.18%

2.19%

0.80%

0.00%

6.54%

80.84%

2.80%

5.61%

2.80%

1.40%

0.00%

20.00%

60.00%

13.33%

6.67%

0.00%

0.00%

0.00%

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