Student Use of Online Catalogs and Other Information Channels

Many information channels are available to students, but it is not clear how students select and use them. A survey of juniors at two universities found online catalogs to be the most commonly used information channel. Students identified "convenience" and "quality of data" as the top two factors in their choice of information channel. Not many students accessed the online catalog remotely. Most conducted keyword and subject searches, but few seemed to understand the differences between them. Students searched the online catalog file and the databases containing the most recent literature more frequently than other databases, and had positive views about searching the system. Analyses of selected characteristics of students showed that race, school, and economic background contributed to their information-seeking behavior. The study affirms the value of librarians and of formal information channels, suggests ways to augment the online catalog, and reminds librarians that equal access to information technology does not necessarily lead to equal use.