Form User Education to Information Literacy: Changing Role of University Libraries W.M.T.D. Ranasinghe, Assistant Librarian, University of Kelaniya. http:// tharangaonline.blogspot.com NILIS Research Symposium – 2009

Contents Higher Education in the new century Information Literacy (IL) Role of the Library in IL IL Skills of Students User Education Programs in University Libraries IL in University of Kelaniya Library

Higher Education in the new century

Information Literacy (IL)

Role of the Library in IL

IL Skills of Students

User Education Programs in University Libraries

IL in University of Kelaniya Library

Higher Education in the new century Higher Education (HE) in the new century has to deal with competition Flexible learning and critical thinking enable students more productive Developing lifelong learners - Mission of HE

Higher Education (HE) in the new century has to deal with competition

Flexible learning and critical thinking enable students more productive

Developing lifelong learners - Mission of HE

Higher Education in the new century Reforms in HE with greater focus on active learning lifelong learning critical thinking problem-solving career preparation assessment of learning outcomes Thompson, Gary B. (2002 )

Reforms in HE with greater focus on

active learning

lifelong learning

critical thinking

problem-solving

career preparation

assessment of learning outcomes

Thompson, Gary B. (2002 )

Information Literacy (IL) A prerequisite for lifelong learning Common to all disciplines all learning environments all levels of education Extends learning beyond formal classroom settings Supports individuals in self directed learning in all arenas of life Now considered as a key outcome for college students

A prerequisite for lifelong learning

Common to

all disciplines

all learning environments

all levels of education

Extends learning beyond formal classroom settings

Supports individuals in self directed learning in all arenas of life

Now considered as a key outcome for college students

Information Literacy (IL) “ the ability to recognize when information is needed, and to be able to locate and evaluate the appropriate information and use it effectively” “ an information literate is a person who must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information” - American Library Association 1989

“ the ability to recognize when information is needed, and to be able to locate and evaluate the appropriate information and use it effectively”

“ an information literate is a person who must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information”

- American Library Association 1989

Stakeholders in IL Teaching Faculty Collaboration Libraries/Librarians

Role of the Library in IL Traditionally Library Instruction Bibliographic Instruction User Education Focused upon making students aware of and knowledgeable about library resources, services, etc.

Traditionally

Library Instruction

Bibliographic Instruction

User Education

Focused upon making students aware of and knowledgeable about library resources, services, etc.

Role of the Library in IL Information Explosion, ICT has deeply affected academic libraries As a result, there is an increase of information resources available online flexible delivery of information via networks computer literate user community

Information Explosion, ICT has deeply affected academic libraries

As a result, there is an increase of

information resources available online

flexible delivery of information via networks

computer literate user community

Role of the Library in IL Recent trends in library environment raise questions about the adequacy of the traditional approach??? Library Instruction User Education Information Literacy

Recent trends in library environment raise questions about the adequacy of the traditional approach???

IL Skills of New Entrants - 2007/2008 Survey

User Education Programs in University Libraries 100% - conduct user education programs 50% - separate section for UE 100% - cover new entrants (UG) 60% - cover postgraduate students 100% - During the 1 st semester 10% - During the 2 nd semester

100% - conduct user education programs

50% - separate section for UE

100% - cover new entrants (UG)

60% - cover postgraduate students

100% - During the 1 st semester

10% - During the 2 nd semester

User Education Programs in University Libraries Methods Lectures 90% Lecture & Guided tours 70% PowerPoint presentations 90% In addition Library handbooks 80% Special brochures 50% Web publications 30%

Methods

Lectures 90%

Lecture & Guided tours 70%

PowerPoint presentations 90%

In addition

Library handbooks 80%

Special brochures 50%

Web publications 30%

User Education Programs in University Libraries Areas mostly covered: Introduction to Sections of and User Services of the Library - 100% Introduction to Library Rules, Borrow/Return Procedures of Library Materials – 100% Searching of the Card Catalogue – 90% OPAC Search – 70%

Areas mostly covered:

Introduction to Sections of and User Services of the Library - 100%

Introduction to Library Rules, Borrow/Return Procedures of Library Materials – 100%

Searching of the Card Catalogue – 90%

OPAC Search – 70%

User Education Programs in University Libraries Areas occasionally covered: use of reference materials/ periodicals use of electronic/ multimedia resources use of databases/ Internet searching techniques and search strategies

Areas occasionally covered:

use of reference materials/ periodicals

use of electronic/ multimedia resources

use of databases/ Internet

searching techniques and search strategies

User Education Programs in University Libraries Deficiencies totally designed as an orientation limited mostly to new entrants not conducted on a regular basis insufficient attention on improving IL skills

Deficiencies

totally designed as an orientation

limited mostly to new entrants

not conducted on a regular basis

insufficient attention on improving IL skills

IL in University of Kelaniya Library Workshop series on e-information skills Information Literacy Skills Development Course – Pilot Project

Workshop series on e-information skills

Information Literacy Skills Development Course – Pilot Project

Workshop series on e-information skills 139 students 2 faculties/9 departments 9 workshops/ 2 ½ hour workshop with hands-on training Librarians as resource persons

139 students

2 faculties/9 departments

9 workshops/

2 ½ hour workshop with hands-on training

Librarians as resource persons

Response

Response

Response

IL Skills Development Course : Pilot Project The main objective of this course was to introduce the concept of IL and to impart basic IL skills among undergraduates. The Secondary aim was to identify the limitations/issues related to the planning &conduct of such courses for undergraduates.

The main objective of this course was to

introduce the concept of IL and to impart basic IL skills among undergraduates.

The Secondary aim was to identify the

limitations/issues related to the planning &conduct of such courses for

undergraduates.

IL Pilot Project Bio-science students (new intake) 2007/2008 167 students in two groups ( 99, 68) 7 resource persons (Professor & lecturer in LIS, 5 librarians)

Bio-science students (new intake)

2007/2008

167 students in two groups ( 99, 68)

7 resource persons (Professor & lecturer

in LIS, 5 librarians)

Course contents 1.1 Introduction to the Programme (1 hr) 1.2 Introduction to Information Literacy (1 hr) 1.3 Information Sources : Print and non-print (1 hr) 1.4 Introduction to Information Sources : dictionaries, Encyclopaedias, Yearbooks, Biographical sources, Bibliographies, Indexes & Abstracts, Government publications, Journals (2 hrs) 2.1 Introduction to Online Information Sources: Web-based resources, Full-text databases available to the academic community in Sri Lanka, Subject gateways (3 hrs) 2.2 Information searching (2 hrs) 3.1 Effective use of libraries: Library classification and cataloguing systems (1 hr) 3.2 OPACs and Web OPACs (1 hr) 4. Evaluation of information sources (1 hr) 5. Presentation of information, citation techniques (citation style manuals), compilation of bibliographies, plagiarism (2 hrs)

1.1 Introduction to the Programme (1 hr)

1.2 Introduction to Information Literacy (1 hr)

1.3 Information Sources : Print and non-print (1 hr)

1.4 Introduction to Information Sources : dictionaries, Encyclopaedias, Yearbooks, Biographical sources, Bibliographies, Indexes & Abstracts, Government publications, Journals (2 hrs)

2.1 Introduction to Online Information Sources: Web-based resources, Full-text databases

available to the academic community in Sri Lanka, Subject gateways (3 hrs)

2.2 Information searching (2 hrs)

3.1 Effective use of libraries: Library classification and cataloguing systems (1 hr)

3.2 OPACs and Web OPACs (1 hr)

4. Evaluation of information sources (1 hr)

5. Presentation of information, citation techniques (citation style manuals), compilation of

bibliographies, plagiarism (2 hrs)

Challenges Size of the target group Lecture rooms Managing time Availability of resource persons Testing and evaluation Funding

Size of the target group

Lecture rooms

Managing time

Availability of resource persons

Testing and evaluation

Funding

Result… Poor participation of students

Positive Thinking

Future… Present practices to be formalized Present practices to be regular Present library instruction and user education programs should be shifted to IL programs IL should be incorporated to curricula Further studies on the role of university libraries in improving IL skills of undergraduate student community

Present practices to be formalized

Present practices to be regular

Present library instruction and user

education programs should be shifted to IL programs

IL should be incorporated to curricula

Further studies on the role of university libraries in improving IL skills of undergraduate student community

Give a man a fish & you feed him for a day Teach a man to fish & you feed him for a lifetime - Chinese proverb Thank You!