Community college library service to early college high school students

Abstract

This study examined the services provided by community college libraries and librarians to Early College High School (ECHS) students on their campuses. Based on focus group interviews with librarians at four community colleges that serve ECHS students, the researcher then surveyed community college librarians across the state of North Carolina to determine the services and resources provided to these nontraditional students. The results of this study provide information on both the services currently being provided and the barriers to those services. The results of this study could be used in designing librarian preparation programs which will better serve academic librarians serving in libraries with growing high school student populations. Furthermore, this study highlights the need for targeted professional training to better support librarians as their campuses continue to serve ECHS students.