Copyright (c) 2025 Abdullah Noori, Baryalai Fazli, Mohammad Rahim Janbaz

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Perception and Use of Library Resources Among Undergraduate English Majors Students
Corresponding Author(s) : Baryalai Fazli
Journal of Social Sciences & Humanities,
Vol. 2 No. 2 (2025): April
Abstract
This study investigated the perceptions and utilization of library resources among undergraduate English major students at Kabul University’s English Department. Academic libraries play a critical role in supporting higher education; however, little is known about how students in under-resourced university settings perceive and engage with these services. The study employed a quantitative survey design to address this research gap, collecting data from 159 students using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) were used to analyze patterns in students’ experiences. The results revealed that while many students valued the library’s range of resources and its contribution to academic success, substantial challenges existed. Students reported difficulties accessing digital and print materials, indicating problems with organization, usability, and availability problems. Although the perceived quality of resources was moderate, many expressed concerns about outdated collections and limited relevance to current coursework. Additionally, the study found that library services had a positive impact on research and writing skills. However, this impact was constrained by insufficient user training, limited staff support for digital tools, and underdeveloped online services. Students appreciated the physical facilities and support from staff but also emphasized the need for more responsive services. Recommendations included improving digital infrastructure, updating materials, and expanding information literacy training.
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- Anjaline, C., & Priskkillal, C. S. (2020). Library Anxiety: A Barrier to Effective Use of Information Resources (pp. 38–58). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1482-5.CH004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1482-5.ch004
- Babbie, E. (2020). The practice of social research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
- Beaton, D. E., Bombardier, C., Guillemin, F., & Ferraz, M. B. (2000). Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine, 25(24), 3186–3191. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014
- Berzonsky, W. A., & Richardson, K. D. (2008). Referencing Science: Teaching Undergraduates to Identify, Validate, and Utilize Peer-Reviewed Online Literature. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, 37(1), 8–13. https://doi.org/10.2134/JNRLSE2008.3718 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/jnrlse2008.3718
- British Psychological Society. (2014). Code of human research ethics. BPS Link
- Chu, S. K., & Du, H. S. (2013). Social networking tools for academic libraries. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 45(1), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000611434361 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000611434361
- Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). Wiley.
- Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L. S. (2013). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203774441 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203774441
- Connaway, L. S., Harvey, W., Kitzie, V., & Mikitish, S. (2017). Academic library impact: Improving practice and essential areas to research. Association of College & Research Libraries.
- Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
- De Groote, S. L., & Scoulas, J. M. (2022). The impact of the academic library on students' success, in their own words. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 22(2), 355-374. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2022.0021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2022.0021
- DeVellis, R. F. (2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage.
- Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method (4th ed.). Wiley. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394260645
- Ekere, J. N., & Omekwu, C. O. (2021). Academic library services and student satisfaction: A study of Nigerian universities. Library Management, 42(6/7), 389–402.
- Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). Sage.
- Fister, B. (2015). The importance of academic libraries. Library Journal, 140(15), 32–34.
- Fowler, F. J. (2014). Survey research methods (5th ed.). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230184 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230184
- Haddow, G., & Joseph, J. (2010). Loans, logins, and lasting the course: Academic library use and student retention. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 41(4), 233-244. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2010.10721478 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2010.10721478
- Hafsyah, I. S., Ridwan, A., & Heri, P. (2023). How Can Libraries Support Student Research? 1(1), 73–88. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.knowledgegarden.2023.1.1.8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.knowledgegarden.2023.1.1.8
- Head, A. J. (2013). Learning the ropes: How freshmen conduct course research once they enter college. Project Information Literacy. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2364080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2364080
- Hossain, M. J., & Islam, M. A. (2019). User satisfaction with library resources and services in university libraries: A case study. Reference Services Review, 47(3), 277-294.
- Julien, H., Gross, M., & Latham, D. (2018). Survey of information literacy instructional practices in U.S. academic libraries. College & Research Libraries, 79(3), 332-350. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.2.179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.2.179
- Kim, K.-S., & Yang, C. (2016). User perceptions of academic library services: A survey of undergraduate students. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 42(4), 359–366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.06.013
- Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
- Lance, K. C., & Schwarz, B. (2012). The impact of school libraries on student achievement. In S. M. Hines (Ed.), The future of library services for and with teens: A call to action (pp. 45–60). Wiley.
- Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology, 22(140), 5–55.
- Noori, A. (2024). Library anxiety unveiled: Impact on students’ engagement with library resources and academic performance at Kabul University. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 31(1–2), 9–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2024.2327309 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2024.2327309
- Oakleaf, M. (2014). A roadmap for assessing student learning using the new framework for information literacy for higher education. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 40(5), 510–514. https://meganoakleaf.info/framework.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2014.08.001
- Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452
- Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 539–569. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452
- Resnik, D. B. (2018). The ethics of research with human subjects: Protecting people, advancing science, promoting trust. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68756-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68756-8
- Rubio, D. M., Berg-Weger, M., Tebb, S. S., Lee, E. S., & Rauch, S. (2003). Objectifying content validity: Conducting a content validity study in social work research. Social Work Research, 27(2), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/27.2.94 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/27.2.94
- Sami, A. (2020). Measuring the Impact of Using Library Resources: The Context of Secondary Students’ Academic Achievement. 1(1), 01–07. https://doi.org/10.48112/JEMSS.V1I1.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.48112/jemss.v1i1.4
- Saunders, L. (2015). Academic libraries’ strategic plans: Top trends and under-recognized areas. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 41(3), 285–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2015.03.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2015.03.011
- Scott, R. E. (2019). Academic Library Use is Positively Related to a Variety of Educational Outcomes. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 14(3), 144–146. https://doi.org/10.18438/EBLIP29583 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29583
- Sieber, J. E., & Tolich, M. (2013). Planning ethically responsible research (2nd ed.). Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506335162
- Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53–55. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd DOI: https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd
- Tenopir, C., Volentine, R., & King, D. W. (2012). Article and book reading patterns of scholars: Findings for publishers. Learned publishing, 25(4), 279-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1087/20120407 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1087/20120407
- Walton, G. (2018). Supporting student wellbeing in the university library: A core service or a distraction?. New review of academic librarianship, 24(2), 121-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2017.1418240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2017.1418240
- Weber, H., Hillmert, S., & Rott, K. J. (2018). Can digital information literacy among undergraduates be improved? Evidence from an experimental study. Teaching in Higher Education, 23(8), 909–926. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2018.1449740 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2018.1449740
- Wong, S. H. R., & Webb, T. D. (2011). Uncovering meaningful correlation between student academic performance and library material usage. College & Research Libraries, 72(4), 361–370. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl-129 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/crl-129
- World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053
References
Anjaline, C., & Priskkillal, C. S. (2020). Library Anxiety: A Barrier to Effective Use of Information Resources (pp. 38–58). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1482-5.CH004 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-1482-5.ch004
Babbie, E. (2020). The practice of social research (15th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Beaton, D. E., Bombardier, C., Guillemin, F., & Ferraz, M. B. (2000). Guidelines for the process of cross-cultural adaptation of self-report measures. Spine, 25(24), 3186–3191. https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/00007632-200012150-00014
Berzonsky, W. A., & Richardson, K. D. (2008). Referencing Science: Teaching Undergraduates to Identify, Validate, and Utilize Peer-Reviewed Online Literature. Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, 37(1), 8–13. https://doi.org/10.2134/JNRLSE2008.3718 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2134/jnrlse2008.3718
British Psychological Society. (2014). Code of human research ethics. BPS Link
Chu, S. K., & Du, H. S. (2013). Social networking tools for academic libraries. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 45(1), 64–75. https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000611434361 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0961000611434361
Cochran, W. G. (1977). Sampling techniques (3rd ed.). Wiley.
Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L. S. (2013). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences (3rd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203774441 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203774441
Connaway, L. S., Harvey, W., Kitzie, V., & Mikitish, S. (2017). Academic library impact: Improving practice and essential areas to research. Association of College & Research Libraries.
Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (5th ed.). Sage.
De Groote, S. L., & Scoulas, J. M. (2022). The impact of the academic library on students' success, in their own words. portal: Libraries and the Academy, 22(2), 355-374. https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2022.0021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2022.0021
DeVellis, R. F. (2017). Scale development: Theory and applications (4th ed.). Sage.
Dillman, D. A., Smyth, J. D., & Christian, L. M. (2014). Internet, phone, mail, and mixed-mode surveys: The tailored design method (4th ed.). Wiley. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781394260645
Ekere, J. N., & Omekwu, C. O. (2021). Academic library services and student satisfaction: A study of Nigerian universities. Library Management, 42(6/7), 389–402.
Field, A. (2018). Discovering statistics using IBM SPSS statistics (5th ed.). Sage.
Fister, B. (2015). The importance of academic libraries. Library Journal, 140(15), 32–34.
Fowler, F. J. (2014). Survey research methods (5th ed.). Sage. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230184 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230184
Haddow, G., & Joseph, J. (2010). Loans, logins, and lasting the course: Academic library use and student retention. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 41(4), 233-244. https://doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2010.10721478 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00048623.2010.10721478
Hafsyah, I. S., Ridwan, A., & Heri, P. (2023). How Can Libraries Support Student Research? 1(1), 73–88. https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.knowledgegarden.2023.1.1.8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21776/ub.knowledgegarden.2023.1.1.8
Head, A. J. (2013). Learning the ropes: How freshmen conduct course research once they enter college. Project Information Literacy. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2364080 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2364080
Hossain, M. J., & Islam, M. A. (2019). User satisfaction with library resources and services in university libraries: A case study. Reference Services Review, 47(3), 277-294.
Julien, H., Gross, M., & Latham, D. (2018). Survey of information literacy instructional practices in U.S. academic libraries. College & Research Libraries, 79(3), 332-350. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.2.179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/crl.79.2.179
Kim, K.-S., & Yang, C. (2016). User perceptions of academic library services: A survey of undergraduate students. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 42(4), 359–366. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2016.06.013
Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308
Lance, K. C., & Schwarz, B. (2012). The impact of school libraries on student achievement. In S. M. Hines (Ed.), The future of library services for and with teens: A call to action (pp. 45–60). Wiley.
Likert, R. (1932). A technique for the measurement of attitudes. Archives of Psychology, 22(140), 5–55.
Noori, A. (2024). Library anxiety unveiled: Impact on students’ engagement with library resources and academic performance at Kabul University. College & Undergraduate Libraries, 31(1–2), 9–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2024.2327309 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10691316.2024.2327309
Oakleaf, M. (2014). A roadmap for assessing student learning using the new framework for information literacy for higher education. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 40(5), 510–514. https://meganoakleaf.info/framework.pdf DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2014.08.001
Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS (7th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452
Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2012). Sources of method bias in social science research and recommendations on how to control it. Annual Review of Psychology, 63, 539–569. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-psych-120710-100452
Resnik, D. B. (2018). The ethics of research with human subjects: Protecting people, advancing science, promoting trust. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68756-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68756-8
Rubio, D. M., Berg-Weger, M., Tebb, S. S., Lee, E. S., & Rauch, S. (2003). Objectifying content validity: Conducting a content validity study in social work research. Social Work Research, 27(2), 94–104. https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/27.2.94 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/swr/27.2.94
Sami, A. (2020). Measuring the Impact of Using Library Resources: The Context of Secondary Students’ Academic Achievement. 1(1), 01–07. https://doi.org/10.48112/JEMSS.V1I1.4 DOI: https://doi.org/10.48112/jemss.v1i1.4
Saunders, L. (2015). Academic libraries’ strategic plans: Top trends and under-recognized areas. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 41(3), 285–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2015.03.011 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2015.03.011
Scott, R. E. (2019). Academic Library Use is Positively Related to a Variety of Educational Outcomes. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 14(3), 144–146. https://doi.org/10.18438/EBLIP29583 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29583
Sieber, J. E., & Tolich, M. (2013). Planning ethically responsible research (2nd ed.). Sage. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506335162
Tavakol, M., & Dennick, R. (2011). Making sense of Cronbach’s alpha. International Journal of Medical Education, 2, 53–55. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd DOI: https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.4dfb.8dfd
Tenopir, C., Volentine, R., & King, D. W. (2012). Article and book reading patterns of scholars: Findings for publishers. Learned publishing, 25(4), 279-291. http://dx.doi.org/10.1087/20120407 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1087/20120407
Walton, G. (2018). Supporting student wellbeing in the university library: A core service or a distraction?. New review of academic librarianship, 24(2), 121-123. https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2017.1418240 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2017.1418240
Weber, H., Hillmert, S., & Rott, K. J. (2018). Can digital information literacy among undergraduates be improved? Evidence from an experimental study. Teaching in Higher Education, 23(8), 909–926. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2018.1449740 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2018.1449740
Wong, S. H. R., & Webb, T. D. (2011). Uncovering meaningful correlation between student academic performance and library material usage. College & Research Libraries, 72(4), 361–370. https://doi.org/10.5860/crl-129 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/crl-129
World Medical Association. (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA, 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053