First-year students at Morningside complete an Information Literacy Skills Assessment at the
beginning of the year. At the end of the year, they redo the same assessment. Results are compared. The spreadsheet entitled, “Percentage of Students Responding to Assessment Questions Correctly Fall 2005/Spring 2006” displays these results. Note at the bottom of page two is a comparison (Fall 2005 to Spring 2006) of the average scores for all of the students completing the assessment.

Hightlights:

• 30 Question paper & pencil test based on an instrument created by Ann Viles Professor and Reference/Instruction Coordinator – Appalachian State University
• Composite Score
  
  Fall 2005 >>> 18.3
  
  
  Spring 2006 >>> 19.3
• Showing an increase in Percentage of students answering correctly: 17 questions
• Showing a decrease: 5 questions
• Showing no change: 8 questions

“A Community Analysis of the Classes of 2008 & 2009” looks at the incoming first year classes of 2008 and 2009. In addition to some demographic information, students are asked about their research and library experience.

Highlights from the class of 2009:

• 98% had used the Internet for homework
• 44% had used a database for research
• 41% expressed comfort using a database
• 35% never wrote a high school term paper
• 80% reported able to differentiate good from bad information
• 73% describe libraries as important even with the Internet

Since 2001, students have responded to a survey in which they are asked about their beliefs relative to their own research skills, their use of the library and whether or not library services met their needs in their first year. Note that two class sections having the highest assessment score and the lowest assessment score are listed and compared. The document “First-year Student Library Survey Results through the Years” shows these results.

Highlights from the class of 2009:
Satisfaction Indicators:

• 76 % reported instruction as being helpful.
• 79% found the librarians and staff helpful during their research activities.
• 73% agreed with the statement that the library and its resources met their needs.
• 74% expressed comfort with the thought of coming to the library

Reports of Success:

• 71% located all or most of my sources without a lot of difficulty
• 69% developed a research strategy.
• 74% used a variety of sources.
• 73% reported navigating databases successfully.
• There appears to be a correlation between reports of success and assessment results; e.g. the class section with the highest mean assessment score consistently reported a significantly higher degree of success than did the lowest performing section

Library Use:

• Came to the library more than 10 times: 70% in 2006 and 32% in 2005
• Consulted with a reference librarian: 80% in 2006 and 80% in 2005