Estudio de los hábitos de uso de los estudiantes en la biblioteca de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Abstract

This study reports the frequency with which students of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) use the library, anal the factors that influence such use. The activities of students in the library were also recorded, as were the library services they used. 2208 randomly selected students from the population of those studying for degree and diploma qualifications offered by the UCM were interviewed. Forty eight percent were found to use the library once or more per week. This proportion increased among students of the humanities, among those in the final years of their studies, and among those of any discipline who more frequently attended lectures. The activity most frequently undertaken by the students who used the library regularly was individual study using their own notes and books, or using books to which access was unrestricted. The most commonly used library service was personal loan. The results suggest there is a need for university libraries to plan reforms that would better adapt them to students' needs as well as those that might arise as a result of adaptation to the demands of the European Higher Education Area.