Information Literacy Survey 2007-09

During 2006-2007 librarians at the Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library at NJCU experimented with a brief survey designed to measure student learning following library instruction sessions. Results of this experiment were provided in a report completed in April 2009. Initial analysis of the data suggested that it might be useful to collect quantitative as well as qualitative data, and during summer 2007 librarians collaborated to create a survey that would include quantitative measures. This report provides results from the administration of the revised survey. Throughout this report, information literacy session, bibliographic instruction, library instruction session and library orientation will be used synonymously.

Methods
Librarians were asked to distribute the Minute Survey to all classes who came to the library for instruction. Participation was voluntary. Some librarians submitted their surveys to the director and those surveys are the subject of this report. The time period for this study is September 1, 2007 to May 1, 2009.

During this period 941 surveys were collected. Graduates made up 18.4% of the sample and undergraduates accounted for 81.6% of the sample. This is roughly equivalent to the proportion in the institution. Students who attended library instruction sessions came in with several courses. The majority of graduate students came in with education classes including classes in Educational Technology, Literacy Education, Urban Education, Elementary Education, Special Education, Educational Leadership and Administration and Multicultural Education. A few students came from Health Sciences courses.

The undergraduate classes came in with classes representing all three colleges. The majority of students came in with FYE, English Composition I and II, Critical Thinking, Reading and Study Skills and Reading for College Classes. But a large number of students also came in with business and psychology courses. A smaller number of students came from professional security studies, nursing, women’s studies, history and education.

For more information about this survey, please contact:

Library Director
Congressman Frank J. Guarini Library
New Jersey City University
2039 Kennedy Blvd.
Jersey City, NJ 07305
Telephone: 201-200-3026
Fax: 201-200-2330