Libraries at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Date of this Version
2021
Abstract
This study sought to discover young people’s impressions of librarians and their work. Three Hundred and Fifty Three Senior High School (SHS) students were selected using proportionate stratified sampling technique for the study. Using the survey descriptive method, structured questionnaires were randomly administered. Three Hundred and Twenty Six, representing 92% of the questionnaires were retrieved and found usable. The study includes a comparison of a librarian with nine other professional groups based on five criteria considered to be essential determining factors when choosing a profession. The study revealed that the students’ had low level of awareness of librarians, lacked understanding of the role librarians played in their environment and had negative perceptions toward librarians. The students did not also have appreciable understanding of what the work of librarians entailed, resulting in a lack of interest in becoming librarians.