From Availability to Access.

This paper reports on student perspectives on access to online information resources when conducting an initial search for a school project. Through thematic analysis and user vignettes based on data from 175 students in elementary through graduate school, this paper explores how students determine...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:Information Technology & Libraries Vol. 44; no. 4; pp. 1 - 17
Autores principales: Brannon, Brittany, Putnam, Samuel R., Buhler, Amy G., Cataldo, Tara Tobin, Faniel, Ixchel M., Connaway, Lynn Silipigni
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: American Library Association Dec2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=190457015&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 190457015
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        07309295
        ITL
      jtl: Information Technology & Libraries
      issn: 07309295
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Dec2025
      vid: 44
      iid: 4
      pid: 55
      pub: American Library Association
      place: Chicago, Illinois
    artinfo:
      ui:
        190457015
        190457015
        190457015
        10.5860/ital.v44i4.17460
        190457015
      ppf: 1
      ppct: 16
      formats:
        fmt:
          @attributes:
            type: P
      tig:
        atl: From Availability to Access.
      aug:
        au:
          Brannon, Brittany
          Putnam, Samuel R.
          Buhler, Amy G.
          Cataldo, Tara Tobin
          Faniel, Ixchel M.
          Connaway, Lynn Silipigni
        affil: Director, Bern Dibner Library, New York University
      sug:
        subj:
          Access to Information
          Information Resources
          Internet
          Information Seeking Behavior
          Student Attitudes Evaluation
          Human
          Schools, Elementary
          Schools, Middle
          Schools, Secondary
          Education, Graduate
          United States
          Pretest-Posttest Design
          Thematic Analysis
          Vignettes
          Information Needs
          Funding Source
      ab: This paper reports on student perspectives on access to online information resources when conducting an initial search for a school project. Through thematic analysis and user vignettes based on data from 175 students in elementary through graduate school, this paper explores how students determine whether they have access to online information resources, the barriers and enablers they attend to when pursuing access, and the characteristics that influence this process. Results reveal that resource previews, university and library branding, and the word download are generally viewed as enablers of access, while payment cues, learned heuristics around brands and formats, and the need to take extra steps to obtain the full text were barriers that often prevent students from trying to get access even when resources were available to them. Potential influences on individual capacity are also revealed, including experience in high- or low-availability information environments, ability to manage the complex cognitive load of determining access alongside other types of point-of-selection evaluation, a variety of dispositions related to information seeking, and situational factors related to the importance of the information need to the individual. While library staff work diligently to make online resources available, this does not automatically result in students' ability to access those resources. This paper provides evidence to better equip library professionals for constructing their online information systems, collaborating with information providers about their online information systems, and teaching students about converting availability to access.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N