Exploring Academic Library Users’ Preferences of Delivery Methods for Library Instruction

Abstract

This article examines research on academic library user preferences related to five communication media used to facilitate two forms of library instruction. The corresponding study began with a survey instrument administered to forty-two participants over a three-week period during the fall of 2006. The authors subsequently applied three nonparametric scaling methods to the data set. Data analysis indicates an overall preference for the 2D webpage approach, as well as notable enthusiasm for the 3D immersive graphical user interface, the principal user interface throughout current digital gaming technologies. An overall lack of preference for the audio-only communication medium is also evident in the results.