What Students Want: Electronic v. Print Books in the Academic Library

Attending college can be a significant milestone in many young adults’ lives. For some, it is a well-worn path walked by multiple generations, while for others, it is a new journey marked by an unfamiliarity with the expectations of the collegiate environment. First-generation college students do not have generations of experience and knowledge to rely on or to consult regarding academia’s hidden policies and procedures. As a result, understanding aspects of college life that reinforce first-generation students’ efforts to succeed throughout their college journey is essential for libraries. Today’s university administration tends to assume that first-generation students are digital natives who prefer electronic resources since they have grown up surrounded by this technology. On the other hand, libraries have witnessed first-generation students frustrated by current technology despite their digital native status, adding another barrier to success.