Understanding Library Anxiety in Undergraduate Students: A Study at Mehran University of Engineering and Technology Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan

Abstract

This study investigates the level of library anxiety, its primary causes, and gender-based differences among first-year students at Mehran University of Engineering & Technology (MUET). Data was collected from students in the Architecture, City & Regional Planning, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering & Management departments via an online questionnaire distributed through WhatsApp and email with the assistance of teaching staff. A total of 100 responses were analyzed using the AQAK Library Anxiety Scale. The findings reveal that students experience a mild level of library anxiety. The most significant contributing factors are the library environment and library resources, while user education contributes the least to library anxiety. Additionally, no significant gender-based differences in library anxiety levels were observed. To mitigate library anxiety, the study recommends that librarians and faculty collaborate to organize targeted programs and assign library-related tasks to familiarize students with library resources and encourage their use effectively.