Ashford Online Library

Experiences of Using Ashford University Library

At first, the experience Ashford online library was confusing. As a student, I got the privilege and disdain of undertaking various research as part of coursework. However, my experience in using online library has both negative and positive outcomes ( Ashford and Rolfe, 2013) . In this sense, one of the biggest issues I have dealt with in the process of conducting research is time management. Also the ability to identify and make use of research sources appropriately. Like any other learning activity, time in researching is a key factor. Balancing online research, family, coursework and maintaining a social life is sometimes a challenge. The resources such as citation books and online database were sufficient for all university students accessing the library. However, sometimes mechanical problems of the system could occur due to the workload by many users. In this case, the data you may have accessed for would get lost if it was unsaved. For instance, I once remember running my statistics data using SPSS program when the systems collapsed. All the data I had prepared was lost, and I had to start afresh. Another negative experience I encountered is that a lot of resources appeared in the catalog index, but they do not exist in the systems. In such a situation where online data was missing, I could trace it in the books are other resources in the shelves. On the other hand, positive experiences were more compared to the negative experiences ( Ashford and Rolfe, 2013) . Firstly, data and other resources one may require to complete research are easily accessible either online or in hard copy. Thus, the researcher is not limited to one type of resources, and you would choose depending on your research interest ( Bomhold, 2015) . Furthermore, the staffs were available at all time to help in accessing anything Resources which were inaccessible. The library was in order, and you could easily notice where to get each type of resource you may need. Similarly, the library has a catalog index which provided a list of available resources and the location either online or in the shelves. In collecting the research data, it is accessible on your desktop or any other device. In the case of visual observation, there is educational videos and audio for vocal recording. Other resources include the reviewed journals, articles, and e-books.

Experience Improvement

In addition to providing library database, Ashford University helped in improving the research experience through a number of tools. Firstly, through the library webinars which are the events organized to interact with the librarians. These events equip student with new skills and understanding on how to conduct research using library resources. For example, some of the topics they discuss include using keywords in the research, research planning, and advanced research skills ( Bomhold, 2015) . Secondly, Ashford Library provides research guides and recommendation of the useful resources to a particular research. The research guidelines are available either in the library collections or the online database depending on the area of research. These guidelines equipped me with the knowledge and tips of starting my research. Library tutorials which are in the form of multimedia improved my observation skills especial when recording data ( Ashford and Rolfe, 2013) . Further, through multimedia records, it is possible to observe activities which are not clear in the field. As a result of a continuous support through the research process, students can conduct their research from scratch even in the corporate sectors.

References

Ashford, R., & Rolfe, A. (2013). Serving your mobile users: the essentials.  The Handheld Library: Mobile Technology and the Librarian, Libraries Unlimited, Santa Barbara, CA , 3-12.

Bomhold, C. (2015). Research and discovery functions in mobile academic libraries: Are university libraries serving mobile researchers?.  Library Hi Tech ,  33 (1), 32-40.