Questions of Trust: A Survey of Student Expectations and Perspectives on Library Learning Analytics

Abstract

Universities are developing learning analytics initiatives that include academic library participation. Libraries rarely inform their students about learning analytics projects or general library data practices. Without a clear student voice in library learning analytics projects, libraries and librarians are creating potential privacy complications. This study seeks to document students’ thoughts on academic library participation in learning analytics and privacy concerns. A survey was developed and fielded at eight US higher education institutions, and this article covers the findings from the approximately 2,200 responses. Although most students reported high levels of trust in libraries and librarians, a consistent minority indicated little or no trust at all. Findings demonstrate that students considered librarian access to and sharing of personally identifiable information to constitute a privacy violation but also lacked awareness of the data and analytic practices on which libraries rely. Notable demographic differences were also discovered.