Student veterans and the academic library

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether student veterans have specific library-related needs and how librarians can best meet them.

Design/methodology/approach

Researchers developed a survey which was administered both online and in paper copies. The survey results indicated need for further investigation; six face-to-face interviews with volunteers were conducted.

Findings

Principle findings were that while student veterans do resemble nontraditional students in their needs and characteristics, important distinctions from that population could be noted. In addition, dedicated student veteran centers and/or offices provide librarians with the best possible means of communications with this particular population.

Research limitations/implications

This case study demonstrates that individual institutions are well-served to investigate the specific characteristics of their own student veteran population. Librarians can utilize outreach to student veterans through their institution’s veteran center (if available), and may wish to employ the specific outreach practices detailed in the study.

Originality/value

Virtually no other qualitative or quantitative research regarding the specific needs and characteristics of this academic population exists in the literature of the library sciences, and the academic literature that does address the population, coming from the student services arena, does not include mention of academic libraries.

Citation

Mills, C.P., Paladino, E.B. and Klentzin, J.C. (2015), "Student veterans and the academic library", Reference Services Review, Vol. 43 No. 2, pp. 262-279. https://doi.org/10.1108/RSR-10-2014-0049