A Study of Library Anxiety in History and Physical Education Majors.

This study compared the factors of library anxiety in 23 upper level history and 24 physical education majors. The Library Anxiety Scale (LAS) was administered. This scale measures the five factors of library anxiety: barriers with staff, affective barriers, comfort with the library, knowledge of the library, and mechanical barriers. A t-test was run to measure the difference in the level of anxiety experienced by both groups. The t-statistic was 2.554, which is a statistically significant difference. A series of algorithms was performed for each factor for both groups allowing a study of the individual factor responses. Implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are made. Appendixes contain 30 charts and graphs, the LAS, a table of factor values by factor, and letters used in the study. (Contains 39 references.) (Author/SLD)