The document describes a "Problem Clinic" approach to information literacy instruction. It involves librarians taking student issues, diagnosing their core problems, and treating them with targeted demonstrations, exercises, or games. This active learning approach helps restore clarity, address gaps, and promote the library. Benefits include allowing students to voice concerns, encouraging engagement, and helping librarians identify common issues. Testimonials show students found their individual needs were met. The approach provides an effective use of librarian time to creatively solve information literacy problems through tailored sessions.

1. Problem Clinic
Information Literacy Triage
Susan Boyle
UCD Library
LILAC 2011

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language Unit Name into
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LIBNews
FLASH
WIDESPREAD OUTBREAK
STUDENT CONFUSION
(High expectations) x (Gaps in understanding)
students
+ boredom =
N
Limited time with students
N = Current Confusion

3. Symptoms include…
© Susan Boyle 2010
Google eyed
Project Panic
Blurred vision recognising
quality information
Students feeling overwhelmed
by information
Students get
hallucinations of failure

4. The Problem Clinic
What is it?
Active Learning
Questions, Answers
Practice session
Why do we need it?
To restore clarity
To help students
To promote the Library
© Susan Boyle 2010Image Source http://rookery.s3.amazonaws.com/1315000/1315450_535a_625x625.jpg

5. The Problem Clinics treat
Googlitis
Confusion
Resource phobias
© Susan Boyle 2010
Wikipedia dependency
Resistance to databases
Project anxiety disorders
Library Disorientation

6. © Susan Boyle 2010
The Problem Clinic
Information Literacy Triage
• Take histories
• Note core symptoms
• Diagnose Key problems
• Decide on treatment
• Treat as appropriate
Full IL Recovery
Image source:
http://www.grinningplanet.com/2007/10-
04/thermometer.gif

7. © Susan Boyle 2010
Information Literacy Triage
in practice
What IL problems
or issues are you
having?
Animation Erica Grainger

8. © Susan Boyle 2010
Animation Erica Grainger
I can’t get
full text
access
I can’t find
the journal I
want
I’m getting
too many
irrelevant
results
I don’t
understand
search
techniques
What
database
should I
be using?

9. © Susan Boyle 2010
Diagnose Priority Symptoms
• Finding a Journal
• Limiting searches
• Off campus access
Treat with a
• Demonstration
• Exercise/Tutorial
• Game

10. Treat with a demonstration / exercise
Limits
© Susan Boyle 2010

11. Treat with a Game –
Matching pairs
© Susan Boyle 2010
SNAP!
Phrase
Searching
Used to search for two or
more words together in a
document
Example “clinical skills”
This will retrieve results with
clinical skills as a concept.

12. Image source: http://aincome4life.com/stepping%20stones.jpg
Treat with a Game – Stepping Stones
© Susan Boyle 2010

13. Delivering Problem Clinics
Problem
Clinic
Students
Confusion
Librarian
1 pa.
√0
√
04/02/11
Susan Boyle
Dosage
1 problem clinic per year
(voluntary)
Instructions
Take 1 problem clinic
after a traditional IL
session
Best Results
Use Stop, start
continue Reflect
© Susan Boyle 2010

14. Preparing Problem Clinics
Review
traditional
IL session
Learning
Objective
Checklist
Brainstorm
for session
ideas
Prepare
Session
Treatments
Do a
Needs
Analysis
Information Literacy
Wellbeing
© Susan Boyle 2010

15. Image Source : http://pool.org.au/files/imagecache/full_size/image/text/Joshy86/operation-game.jpg
Students should leave
clinics with a good
impression of the
Library
Delivering Problem Clinics
© Susan Boyle 2010
Engage the
student brain
creatively
Listen
actively
Note
symptoms
raised
Treat IL
problems with a
variety of
treatments

16. © Susan Boyle 2010
Adverse Reactions to Problem Clinics
Very few contra indications!
Ability to tick
all the learning
objective
boxes
Students are
not always
aware of their
weaknesses
Preparing for
the unknown in
advance
Ability to tick
all the learning
objective boxes
Preparing for
the unknown in
advance
Students are not
always aware of
their weaknesses

17. Benefits of the Problem Clinic
triage approach for Students
© Susan Boyle 2010See notes for Image sources
Students
can voice
their IL
concerns
Students get
to fill in
missing
gaps
They
encourage
student
satisfaction
They
encourage
student
engagement
Students
leave with
ready made
answers
The session
is tailored
to their
needs

18. Benefits of the Problem Clinic
triage approach for Librarians
© Susan Boyle 2010See notes for Image sources
Problem
clinics are
an effective
tool for
librarians
They help
librarians to
identify
gaps in IL
knowledge
A great way to
treat critical
common
symptoms in
one strike
They are an
effective
use of time
with
students
They reduce
monotony
and infuse
IL with
innovation
They add
new skills
to the
Librarian’s
portfolio

19. Problem Clinic Testimonials
“It was good to be able to
voice your own personal
problems. Make sure
everyone else gets to go”
“Keep running
these sessions”
“She asked us what we
would like to learn first
so all of the session
was very useful”
© Susan Boyle 2010
Student
StudentStudent
• •• •
• •

20. © Susan Boyle 2010
(Fulfill expectations) x (creative tailored learning)
students
+ Games =
N
Effective use of Librarian’s time
N = Creative Problem Clinics
Solution

21. © Susan Boyle 2010
(Fulfill expectations) x (creative tailored learning)
students
+ Games =
N
Effective use of Librarian’s time
N = Creative Problem Clinics
SolutionI dreamed a dream of ..
Problem Clinics
Want to know more?
E-mail me at Susan.Boyle@ucd.ie
References
Boyle, Susan (2009) Scanning,
Tailoring and promoting information
literacy support– another string to
the liaison
librarian’s bow. Sconul Focus. (46)
p.71-76.
Boyle, Susan (2009) Poster.
Exploring and extending information
literacy support with nursing and
midwifery students: EAHIL
workshop, 2-5 June
2009, Dublin, Ireland. Journal of
EAHIL, 5, 18-21.
Thanks for listening!