Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The study investigates library anxiety among non-English speaking postgraduate students using an online survey questionnaire and a modified 43-item Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) by Bostick. A five-point Likert scale was used to collect data, and the collected data were examined using inferential statistics. The study identified four factors contributing to library anxiety, i.e. technological and affective barriers, comfort level while inside the library building, barriers to staff, and affective barriers. The exploratory factor analysis points out that the main contributing factors to library anxiety are technological and affective barriers. Gender, study year, and program were not significant for many LAS items. Similarly, age groups and regularity of library visits were not significant for many LAS scores. This study contributes to the literature by testing the application of Bostick's LAS scale in non-English cultures. The paper highlights important actions academic libraries need to minimize library anxiety among postgraduate students.
Source: IFLA Journal
Authors: Somipam R Shimray, Abdoulaye Kaba, Gajendra Singh
Institutions: Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Al Ain University
Language: English
Subfield: Library and Information Sciences
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4411147478