Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities

Introduction. This multi-year, mixed-methods study compares (a) the reasons administrators and librarians of academic libraries invest in assistive technology for delivering information services to students with disabilities, with (b) the benefits that influence these students’ intention to use AT....

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Main Authors: Devendra Potnis, Kevin Mallary
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Borås 2023-09-01
Series:Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/198
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author Devendra Potnis
Kevin Mallary
author_facet Devendra Potnis
Kevin Mallary
author_sort Devendra Potnis
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. This multi-year, mixed-methods study compares (a) the reasons administrators and librarians of academic libraries invest in assistive technology for delivering information services to students with disabilities, with (b) the benefits that influence these students’ intention to use AT. Method. In the first phase, 50 library administrators and 22 librarians from 186 public universities across the US shared their top-three reasons for investing in assistive technology through a qualitative survey. In the second phase, 322 students with disabilities from the same institutions completed a quantitative survey, in which respondents shared individual-level benefits that influence their intention to use assistive technology. Analysis. We utilised thematic analysis and structural equation modelling to analyse data in the first and second phases, respectively. Results. Three individual, three organisational, and three societal benefits prompt academic libraries’ investment in assistive technology. However, only two individual benefits – increasing information literacy and completing academic tasks – significantly influence the intention of students with disabilities to use the technology. In addition, neither academic libraries nor students, perceive the technology to be valuable for enhancing autonomy and the self (i.e., self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-image) of students with disabilities. Conclusion. Implications for academic libraries that provide information services to students with disabilities are discussed at the end.
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spelling doaj-art-493dcacdc4084798965e7f5728f282542025-02-03T10:11:05ZengUniversity of BoråsInformation Research: An International Electronic Journal1368-16132023-09-0128310.47989/ir283198Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilitiesDevendra PotnisKevin Mallary Introduction. This multi-year, mixed-methods study compares (a) the reasons administrators and librarians of academic libraries invest in assistive technology for delivering information services to students with disabilities, with (b) the benefits that influence these students’ intention to use AT. Method. In the first phase, 50 library administrators and 22 librarians from 186 public universities across the US shared their top-three reasons for investing in assistive technology through a qualitative survey. In the second phase, 322 students with disabilities from the same institutions completed a quantitative survey, in which respondents shared individual-level benefits that influence their intention to use assistive technology. Analysis. We utilised thematic analysis and structural equation modelling to analyse data in the first and second phases, respectively. Results. Three individual, three organisational, and three societal benefits prompt academic libraries’ investment in assistive technology. However, only two individual benefits – increasing information literacy and completing academic tasks – significantly influence the intention of students with disabilities to use the technology. In addition, neither academic libraries nor students, perceive the technology to be valuable for enhancing autonomy and the self (i.e., self-esteem, self-efficacy, and self-image) of students with disabilities. Conclusion. Implications for academic libraries that provide information services to students with disabilities are discussed at the end. https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/198DisabilityStudents with disabilitiesAssistive technologiesAcademic librariesInformation serviceValue of information service
spellingShingle Devendra Potnis
Kevin Mallary
Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
Information Research: An International Electronic Journal
Disability
Students with disabilities
Assistive technologies
Academic libraries
Information service
Value of information service
title Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
title_full Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
title_fullStr Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
title_full_unstemmed Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
title_short Comparing the “value of information services” for providers and vulnerable patrons: a mixed-methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
title_sort comparing the value of information services for providers and vulnerable patrons a mixed methods study with academic libraries and students with disabilities
topic Disability
Students with disabilities
Assistive technologies
Academic libraries
Information service
Value of information service
url https://informationr.net/infres/article/view/198
work_keys_str_mv AT devendrapotnis comparingthevalueofinformationservicesforprovidersandvulnerablepatronsamixedmethodsstudywithacademiclibrariesandstudentswithdisabilities
AT kevinmallary comparingthevalueofinformationservicesforprovidersandvulnerablepatronsamixedmethodsstudywithacademiclibrariesandstudentswithdisabilities