Newcomers In Library Courses In Brazil: Who Are They?

Abstract

The objective was to trace the profile of the participants in the Library Economy courses in Brazil, prioritizing the following variables: geographical region, race, sex, age group, modality of teaching, interruption of the course, type of institution of secondary education (public or private school) and linkage in graduation. The profile was traced from the Microdata of the Census of Higher Education, published in 2020 by the National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira. Students enrolled in the library economics courses offered by public and private higher education institutions were considered in the period 2015 to 2019 – the last year covered by the census. The main results pointed out that the board of enrollers in the Library Economy courses of Brazil is composed mostly of white, female, between the ages of 20 and 29. These students have completed their secondary education in public schools. In terms of color, there are variations between geographical regions. The rate of interruption of the course is higher among students of the white and indigenous colours and in the EaD mode. Women enrolled in the EaD have a higher percentage of interruption of the course. In the presencial mode, men are more likely to interrupt their studies. The public institutions of higher education gather a good part of these members, with the preponderance of teaching in the presencial mode.