Anticipating future explorations in science and technology literature for university liberal arts majors

Abstract

Scientific literacy emerges as a vital competency for aspiring preservice educators, underscoring the need for a multidimensional approach to literacy that transcends disciplinary boundaries and fosters a holistic understanding of knowledge. This study investigates the borrowing behaviors of 4,864 students across the teacher education, fine arts, and psychology departments at Nanjing Normal University from 2014 to 2023. A total of 15,859 science and technology book transactions were recorded, culminating in an overall borrowing of 38,783. The analysis employs chi-square tests to explore the relationship between gender and borrowing frequency, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. A ranking of book categories based on the Chinese Library Classification System is conducted, and the findings are analyzed through SPSS to evaluate the degree of correlation among various levels of borrowing data. Correspondence analysis is utilized to visualize patterns in borrowing across different majors, providing insights into preferences for specific literature and resources. The study further delves into topological structures of borrowing practices using Gephi to create network diagrams, revealing statistical connectivity among readers within a major. Annual borrowing averages for science and technology books are calculated, and predictions for future borrowing trends are visualized using Excel scatter plots, facilitating an understanding of science and technology book reading of liberal arts students, as well as evolving academic resource utilization. The results highlight distinctive borrowing patterns and the impact of demographic factors on students’ library usage, contributing valuable insights to academic resource management.