Exploring the Relationship between Adolescents' Use of Public Libraries and Their Academic Achievement

This research investigated through a survey and factual assessment the relationship between adolescents' use of public library services/resources and their academic achievement. The research population consisted of 12 to15-year-old students who were registered in one of the seven public libraries in the city of Sabzevar in Khorasan Razavi Province, Iran. These students used to go to the public libraries at least 10 times per year. Members of the sample were selected by cluster random sampling. The instrument used to collect the data was a researcher-made questionnaire. The finalized questionnaire was distributed among the sample members. The adolescents' academic achievement was measured by using their final year grade point average (GPA) collected from their schools. The results showed that from the adolescents' point of view the public library facilities and accessibility affected academic achievement to a relatively large extent. Furthermore, a significant relationship was found between the adolescents' use of public libraries and their academic achievement indicated by their grade point average (GPA).