Closing the Gap

Abstract

This study surveyed adult learners in a graduate social work program to determine their library help-seeking preferences and reasons behind their reluctance to seek help from a librarian. It also investigates the preferred method of seeking library help (online, face-to-face, etc) and whether age and location (students enrolled in the off campus/distance programs) had an impact on these preferences. Findings indicate that librarians are approached last for research help (the first being either their friends/classmates or instructors), that age does have some impact on library help-seeking, and that distance adult learners still preferred to seek librarian help face-to face if this option was available.