Mellon's Theory of Library Anxiety
Encyclopedia
In 1986, Constance Mellon, a professor of library science
in North Carolina
, USA, coined the term "Library Anxiety". She published: "Library anxiety: A grounded theory and its development" in the College & Research Libraries
journal and the term subsequently evolved into a widely accepted concept
. At the time, the term was new but the phenomenon had long been observed by librarians.
Mellon’s landmark two-year qualitative research
study, which included 6,000 students at a Southern university in the United States, found that 75 to 85 per cent of the students described their initial response to library
research
in terms of fear
. Mellon used the term "library anxiety" to describe the feelings of discomfort and fear a group of undergraduate English
composition students described when they were starting an information search that required using the academic library. The study revealed four primary reasons to explain feelings of LA. The students:
Mellon further discovered that these negative feelings often overwhelmed students to the point at which they could not function effectively in the library. It was found that the students had a feeling of inferiority when they compared their library skills to those of other students and these feelings of inadequacy were a source of shame
that made them hesitant to ask library staff for help. Mellon alerted faculty
outside the library that these behaviours constituted problems that needed to be addressed. She likened library anxiety to mathematical anxiety
and test anxiety
. She suggested library anxiety should be recognised and the anxious person provided with experiences in which they could succeed.
Mellon advocates the use of qualitative research as she reasoned it provided a deeper insight into information behaviour. She comments that her study applied the rarely used methods of qualitative research to a library problem and states that while the study was important, the implications of the research technique were far greater. Mellon used the technique of "personal writing" or "journal writing" to collect data in which the writer is "talking on paper" with no concern for audience
, style
, grammar
, or spelling
which allows the writer to tap into a stream of consciousness. The students' personal writing was analysed for recurrent themes
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, USA, coined the term "Library Anxiety". She published: "Library anxiety: A grounded theory and its development" in the College & Research Libraries
College & Research Libraries
' is a scholarly research journal published by the Association of College and Research Libraries , the largest division of the American Library Association. Created in 1938, its first issue appeared in December 1939, and it was published quarterly for its first 18 years...
journal and the term subsequently evolved into a widely accepted concept
Concept
The word concept is used in ordinary language as well as in almost all academic disciplines. Particularly in philosophy, psychology and cognitive sciences the term is much used and much discussed. WordNet defines concept: "conception, construct ". However, the meaning of the term concept is much...
. At the time, the term was new but the phenomenon had long been observed by librarians.
Mellon’s landmark two-year qualitative research
Qualitative research
Qualitative research is a method of inquiry employed in many different academic disciplines, traditionally in the social sciences, but also in market research and further contexts. Qualitative researchers aim to gather an in-depth understanding of human behavior and the reasons that govern such...
study, which included 6,000 students at a Southern university in the United States, found that 75 to 85 per cent of the students described their initial response to library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
in terms of fear
Fear
Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
. Mellon used the term "library anxiety" to describe the feelings of discomfort and fear a group of undergraduate English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
composition students described when they were starting an information search that required using the academic library. The study revealed four primary reasons to explain feelings of LA. The students:
- were intimidated by the size of the library,
- lacked knowledge about where everything was located,
- lacked knowledge about how to begin the research process and
- lacked knowledge about what to do.
Mellon further discovered that these negative feelings often overwhelmed students to the point at which they could not function effectively in the library. It was found that the students had a feeling of inferiority when they compared their library skills to those of other students and these feelings of inadequacy were a source of shame
Shame
Shame is, variously, an affect, emotion, cognition, state, or condition. The roots of the word shame are thought to derive from an older word meaning to cover; as such, covering oneself, literally or figuratively, is a natural expression of shame....
that made them hesitant to ask library staff for help. Mellon alerted faculty
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
outside the library that these behaviours constituted problems that needed to be addressed. She likened library anxiety to mathematical anxiety
Mathematical anxiety
Mathematical anxiety is anxiety about one's ability to do mathematics independent of skill.-Math anxiety:Math anxiety is a phenomenon that is often considered when examining students’ problems in mathematics. Mark H. Ashcraft, Ph.D. defines math anxiety as “a feeling of tension, apprehension, or...
and test anxiety
Test anxiety
Test anxiety involves a combination of physiological over-arousal, worry and dread about test performance, and often interferes with normal learning and lowers test performance...
. She suggested library anxiety should be recognised and the anxious person provided with experiences in which they could succeed.
Mellon advocates the use of qualitative research as she reasoned it provided a deeper insight into information behaviour. She comments that her study applied the rarely used methods of qualitative research to a library problem and states that while the study was important, the implications of the research technique were far greater. Mellon used the technique of "personal writing" or "journal writing" to collect data in which the writer is "talking on paper" with no concern for audience
Audience
An audience is a group of people who participate in a show or encounter a work of art, literature , theatre, music or academics in any medium...
, style
Style (fiction)
In fiction, style is the manner in which the author tells the story. Along with plot, character, theme, and setting, style is considered one of the fundamental components of fiction.-Fiction-writing modes:...
, grammar
Grammar
In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that govern the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. The term refers also to the study of such rules, and this field includes morphology, syntax, and phonology, often complemented by phonetics, semantics,...
, or spelling
Spelling
Spelling is the writing of one or more words with letters and diacritics. In addition, the term often, but not always, means an accepted standard spelling or the process of naming the letters...
which allows the writer to tap into a stream of consciousness. The students' personal writing was analysed for recurrent themes