Preliminary Observations of Non‐traditional University Students′ Library Skills.

Abstract

A study was undertaken to compare library skills and attitudes of traditional and non‐traditional students entering Kent State University during the Spring semester of 1989. It was discovered that non‐traditional students present a challenge to library instruction due to a lack of familiarity with and commitment to the academic routine, and a lack of library experience overall. Freshmen students were administered a questionnaire prior to receiving any formal library instruction. Chi‐square tests were used to test significant differences between the two groups regarding the variables of library skills and library attitudes. Because of the sample size, the study was limited. However, some observations were made that merit further study and may have implications for library instruction programmes which will be designed to address the growing population of non‐traditional college students in the 1990s.