The Chronicle: Colloquy: Responses

It is not a question of attracting students into the library. They should be in libraries out of necessity. Students aren't coming to libraries because they don't fully understand that visiting the library is still essential to adequate research. I have just returned from assisting about the sixth student in the last few days who is beginning their research for an assignment due in the next few days (nothing new). In all of the cases their research will be sorely lacking because of their procrastination and lack of understanding of the research process. As a result, these students' research will rely on what articles they can find electronically, possibly articles from our journal collection (if they are so inclined to retrieve them), and possibly our book collection. Had they begun earlier they could have maximized the use of our electronic resources and received via inter-library loan and OhioLINK additional articles and books (which would require them to at least enter the library to retrieve them upon delivery). I am an advocate of electronic resources and they have done much to enhance the research process. However, they in no way allow one, in many cases, to adequately perform the research process. There is still the need for books and print resources which just aren't available electronically yet. As a result of students' reliance on electronic resources, they ignore any articles which aren't available online and, often, which would require them to physically access them in the library. Students need to better understand the research process and how they can better utilize the myriad of tools available to them. Getting students into the library is not the responsibility solely of the library staff but also of all faculty.

: -- Mark Gooch, technical services librarian, The College of Wooster (posted 11/15, 11:25 a.m., U.S. Eastern time)

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