The Effect of Library Instruction on Undergraduate Library Use

by Knott, Katherine G.

In today’s society, someone is always predicting the imminent demise of libraries, who in return, are constantly having to prove their worth. In this attempt, libraries are/have evolved their mission with expanded services and facilities. However, services and facilities mean nothing if they are not utilized by patrons, which makes it vital that libraries capture new patrons and turn them into life-long users. This study examines the role library instruction sessions play in creating this return-user base that is the foundation for our organizations. The researcher surveys two groups of first-year undergraduate students – one group that attends a library session in the House Undergraduate Library on the campus of UNC-CH and one group that does not – in order to study and compare their habits of library use.