Factors that influence teacher use of high school libraries

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the extent to which high school teachers used the school library, and to determine if any of several selected factors had any influence on teacher utilization of the school library. -- The data for the study were collected by means of a survey questionnaire which was mailed to 156 high school teachers on the Burin Peninsula. The questionnaire was divided into six sections. Section A asked for information about the school; Section B asked for information about the respondent; Section C asked teachers to indicate how they felt about school libraries in general; Section D asked teachers about their knowledge of their own school library, and about how they felt about their school library. Section E asked teachers about their perception of the principal's support and of other teachers' support for the school library. Section F asked teachers to indicate how often they used the library, and their reasons for doing so. -- An analysis of the data showed that while only one factor, teacher attitude toward school libraries in general, had a significant influence on teacher use of the school library, some interesting aspects of teacher utilization of the library were revealed. -- The study found that there was a high rate of library use among high school teachers in the sample, and that their chief reasons for using the library were: (1) to browse through materials, (2) to acquire materials for classroom use, and (3) to accompany a class to the library to work on an assignment. -- Among the factors that were found to have had some influence on teacher utilization of the school library were: attitude toward school libraries in general; knowledge about the school library; attitude toward the teacher's own school library; subjects taught; extent of library training, and teachers' perception of their principals' and peers' support for the school library. -- Factors found to have had no influence on teachers' use of the library were age, sex, teacher training, teaching experience and grades taught. -- An important recommendation resulting from this study is: That a further study be conducted to determine if there are factors other than those used in this study which influence teacher utilization of the school library.