Understanding the Integrative Role of an Academic Library for Undergraduate Student Workers

This study explored how undergraduate library student workers at an urban, 4-year public institution perceived their work experiences in an academic library as contributing to their social and academic integration in college. Tinto's (1993) model on student departure formed the basis for this study where academic and social integration work together to influence institutional commitments ultimately leading to the decision to remain or leave the college. Undergraduate library student workers from various library departments were interviewed and it is from these interviews that a deeper understanding of the phenomenon of an academic library's effect on undergraduate library student workers was gained. The study revealed that the undergraduate library student workers perceived experiencing many socially integrative and academically integrative experiences which they would not have had were they not employed in an academic library. After the data are discussed, the theoretical implications, policy implications, and suggestions for further research are offered.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Foundations

Year

2008

Author dc:creator

• Weston, Charles W.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Del Favero, Marietta
• Bedford, April
• Killacky, C. James

• academic integration
• social integration
• persistence
• academic library
• student workers
• college
• university
• qualitative
• phenomenology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/700

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1700