Study of private school boarding students : information resource access and use

Abstract

New technologies mean new choices in regards to information retrieval, access, and services. When confronted by these choices institutions such as secondary schools must adjust their services to meet the needs of their community- their students. Computers, CD-ROMs, Internet and automated library databases are common forms of new technologies entering secondary school libraries. With the provision of this range of technology resources the 'access' for students to these resources and where to draw the line in service delivery is an issue. In a private boarding school where a boarding students primary means of information gathering and research is the school library and associated facilities, access is an issue. This study undertaken in a New Zealand private boarding school establishes usage and access patterns of boarding students by surveying a sample group of the boarding population by asking them to complete a questionnaire. This research tool also established the perceptions the boarding students held of the role of the school library. Two viewpoints were gained during this research by surveying both boarding students and school library staff. The purpose of this investigation was to establish whether the school library and computer facilities are providing satisfactory access and services to information resources at a level necessary to allow the boarding students to carry out their school work requirements. The results of the study show that while the school provides a wide range of information resources, boarding students have indicated that the access to these resources are unsatisfactory to their requirements