More Alike than Different: Student Perceptions of Academic Librarians by Genders and Subject Areas. Issue 3 (2nd October 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Price, Elizabeth; Fagan, Jody Condit
• Is Part Of: Reference librarian. Volume 62:Issue 3/4(2021)
• Page Start: 221
• Page End: 263
• Publication Date: 2021-10-02
• Subjects: Perceptions -- academic librarians -- disciplines -- genders; Reference services (Libraries) -- Periodicals; Library administration -- Periodicals; 025.5205
• DOI: 10.1080/02763877.2021.2008580
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0276-3877

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study explored differences in how undergraduate students of different genders and academic disciplines perceived academic librarians at a U.S. public university. No evidence indicated differences between students identifying as male or female, and few statistically significant differences were found among four Subject Areas (Arts, Humanities + Social Sciences, Business, Health + Education, and STEM). Our results have implications for local practice though they are not generalizable to other institutions. Despite a lack of significant findings, librarians should continue to explore ways to measure how students of different disciplines perceive academic libraries and/or librarians as valuable to their academic success.