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Re: Lazy?



Tina Fanetti wrote:



Is it my imagination that students are getting lazy? Is it really a =
big punishment to make them go to the library?


One big problem is that the library is no longer a useful place to go. Usage at our
campus has dropped to about 10% of its historical high. We are actively discussing
removing the stacks and putting all the books in short term storage - that is, a book
could be requested and then delivered the following day. The library space would be be
occupied by more computer terminals to access data and larger study areas, a coffee
bar, etc. (BTW - I totally oppose these changes - but the administration will probably
go ahead anyway.)

I have asked students why they don't use the library. The major complaint is that they
can't find what they want with on-line catalogs. Since the old card catalogs were
removed many years ago, students can't find books by getting into an area of the card
catalog that contains a particular subject and flip through cards until they find
something interesting. The have to go to a terminal, punch in a key word (which they
probably don't know because their new to the subject) and then bring up a list of
books that match that key word. They then have to click on each title in turn to read
a description. If they don't like that book or want to browse further, they have to
back up a page, go to the list, and open another. This takes forever and they soon get
bored. (note - They can access the on line catalog from their rooms - so it's
unnecessary to actually go to the library.)

Many students get so frustrated they just go to the stacks and randomly pull down
books until they find what they want. Without the stacks, they wouldn't even have that
option.

The current retrieval system used in most libraries is so counterintuitive and so
unlike the was the human brain sorts through data that students would rather go for a
root canal than endure a trip to the library.

Bob at PC

This posting is the position of the writer, not that of SUNY-BSC, NAU or the AAPT.