Document Type : Original Article
Authors
Health Management and Economics Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: The efficient use of libraries can be an important factor in determining the
educational quality of Universities. Therefore, investigation and identification of factors affecting
library anxiety becomes increasingly necessary. The purpose of this research is to determine the
factors effecting library anxiety of students in Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Shiraz
University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: This was an applied survey research
using Bostick’s Library Anxiety questionnaire as data gathering tool. The statistical population
consisted of all students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Shiraz University of
Medical Sciences (15011 students) with the sample size of 375 using stratified random sampling.
The validity of data gathering tool was confirmed by experts in the library and information
science and its reliability was determined by Cronbach’s alpha (r = 0.92). Descriptive
statistics (frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (t‑test
and ANOVA) were used for data analysis using SPSS 18 software. Results: Findings showed
that the mean of library anxiety score was 2.68 and 2.66 for students of Isfahan University
of Medical Sciences and Shiraz University of Medical Sciences respectively which is above
average (2.5). Furthermore, age and gender had no meaningful effect on the library anxiety
of students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, but gender had a meaningful effect on
library anxiety of students of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences while age had no such
effect. Conclusion: The results showed that the mean of factors effecting library anxiety in
students of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and students of Shiraz University of Medical
Sciences is higher than average and therefore not satisfactory and only factors relating to feeling
comfortable in the library is lower than average and somewhat satisfactory.
Keywords
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