An exploratory study of library anxiety among sudanese university students

Abstract

Library anxiety is a negative uncomfortable cognitive feeling such as fear, stress, confusion, that is experienced by some student while in the library and hinders them from dealing and utilizing the library facilities and services effectively. Library anxiety has debilitating effects on students’ academic performance, which make it a serious phenomenon for investigating. The aim of this study was to explore library anxiety among Sudanese university students and identify antecedents that contribute to this phenomenon. The study aims to confirm established dimension that should be considered when studying the phenomenon in developing countries. The first phase of the study explored the phenomenon using the dairy approach. Dairies were collected from 51 undergraduate students who were taking the research method course for the first time. The analysis revealed 8 themes that describe the Sudanese Library Anxiety Construct (SULAC); (1) Negative perceptions towards academic library environment, (2) Negative perceptions towards library staff, (3) Affective barriers, (4) Negative perceptions towards peers, (5) Negative perceptions towards library services, (6) Negative perceptions towards library collections, (7) Negative perceptions towards library regulations, (8) Cognitive barriers. The second phase of the study applied a quantitative confirmatory approach that aimed to strengthen, confirm the factors proposed in the SULAC construct. A number of independent variables that discussed in pervious literature were tested to add knowledge to the phenomenon in developing countries. A questionnaire was constructed, based on the results obtained from the first phase and were distributed among 338 university students. Using factor analysis method, the quantitative confirmed 7 factors out of the 8 proposed factors; (1) Negative perceptions towards academic library environment, (2) Affective barriers, (3) Negative perceptions towards peers, (4) Negative perceptions towards library services, (5) Negative perceptions towards library collections, (6) Negative perceptions towards library regulations, (7) Cognitive barriers. Meta inferences of the findings of both studies were applied. Implications and recommendations for future research were also discussed.