Enabling End-Users. Information Skills Training

151 Pages·2005·3.677 MB·English

by  Ann Poyner (Auth.)

Enabling End-Users
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Enabling End-Users
Information skills training
A P
NN OYNER
Chandos Publishing
Oxford · England
Chandos Publishing (Oxford) Limited
Chandos House
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Stanton Harcourt
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UK
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First published in Great Britain in 2005
ISBN:
1 84334 108 5 (paperback)
1 84334 109 3 (hardback)
© A.Poyner,2005
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The Publishers make no representation,express or implied,with regard to the accuracy of the
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for any errors or omissions.
The material contained in this publication constitutes general guidelines only and does not
represent to be advice on any particular matter.No reader or purchaser should act on the basis
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Cover images courtesy of Bytec Solutions Ltd (www.bytecweb.com) and David Hibberd
([email protected]).
Printed and bound by 4edge Limited (www.4edge.co.uk)
Introduction
End-user information skills training can be fun. It can be
rewarding. It is now becoming an essential tool in the
educational role expected of library and information
professionals. It can also be daunting. Many such
professionals may be unwilling converts to this extension of
their job description and need help. Others will be taking up
designated skills training posts but lack experience in getting
started. It can be regarded as a positive evolution from a
more traditional professional role with opportunities to
broaden career horizons.
As part of the preparation to devise information skills
training programmes, it may be useful to review existing
library and information services together with end-user
perceptions of these services. A fuller understanding of
end-user needs will make it possible for librarians and
information professionals to adopt effective training and
learner support roles.
Brief information about user surveys and end-user
training needs assessments is given to enable information
professionals to formulate survey ideas. These can then be
used to contribute to discussions within library teams about
how these tools might be implemented in service development.
This book aims to assist information professionals who
are planning to offer end-user education and information
skills training through personal tuition. It does not cover the
development of computer-based training packages or
distance learning programmes.
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Enabling End-Users
Many general principles apply across information skills
training and the development of searching techniques.
These mainly relate to the exploitation of databases and
electronic resources. They may be referred to in more than
one chapter of the book or suggested linked chapter reading
may be indicated.
It is hoped that the simple steps outlined can assist library
and information professionals enhance information literacy
among their end-users. The ideas and suggestions are based
on the personal experience of the author.
x
About the author
Ann Poyneris a professional librarian and has worked in the
(national) health service, managing library and information
services and establishing library IT infrastructures,
specialising in literature searching, giving end-user
education on information retrieval techniques and accessing
electronic information resources. As a member of an
outreach skills trainer group she contributed to pioneering
the delivery of information skills training in non-library
environments in the workplace and clinical setting.
Recent work emphasis has been on training and
development with contributions to specialist training and
knowledge projects sponsored by the London Deanery
(London Department of Postgraduate Medical and Dental
Education – University of London). This work was
presented as a paper at the European Association for Health
Information and Libraries (EAHIL) in Sardinia in 2001 and
has been published in the Health Information and Libraries
Journal (2002), vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 84–9, with a second
article in the Health Information and Libraries Journal
(2004), vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 57–60, describing a subsequent
workshop training programme.
The author now works as a freelance information skills
trainer living in north Essex, and is Chairman of a local
Patient and Public Involvement Forum (PPIF) representing
healthcare views of the local community.
The author may be contacted via the publishers.
xi
1
Seeking information
Chapter contents
This chapter provides coverage of:
(cid:1)
involving the end-user;
(cid:1)
threats to library and information services;
(cid:1)
promotional activity;
(cid:1)
library location;
(cid:1)
library environment;
(cid:1)
library guidance.
Transition from passive to involved
end-user
The traditional pattern of libraries being a repository of
books, journals and related materials where library staff
answer the questions posed by readers or users is changing.
Certainly queries are still answered and information
provided. However, library users are now less passive in
their behaviour and increasingly wish to be involved in the
information retrieval process. Frequently information
sourcing is electronic. Outside the immediate library
environs people will explore the Internet looking for
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Enabling End-Users
information, often without the necessary searching skills.
Library and information professionals are tasked with
enabling their end-users to fully exploit all aspects of the
library service available to them plus tutoring them in
information skills to empower their use of a variety of
information sources.
Before planning information skills training activity it is
beneficial to stand back and review your library and
information service. Think about its place within your
organisation and how it functions.
Countering threats to library and
information services through
promotion
The provision of a library and information service within an
organisation may be questioned. The costs and space
required in the ‘information age’ will be closely examined.
Increasingly individuals are expected or are being
encouraged to seek information for themselves.
If the quality gateway provided by the library is
threatened, how can information professionals ensure that
their skills remain relevant to the information seek, search
and retrieve cycle?
Promotional activities include the following:
(cid:1)
raising the library profile within your organisation;
(cid:1)
marketing your library and information service: giving
workplace demonstrations of available information
resources or making a presentation at staff meetings
within your organisation;
2
Seeking information
(cid:1)
identifying key individuals within your organisation to
act as library and information service champions and
asking such individuals to become members of any library
committee or information service group that exists. This
will give them direct access to influence decision-making;
(cid:1)
understanding any differing information needs various
staff groups have within your organisation;
(cid:1)
targeting departments within your organisation and
tailoring services to meet their information needs;
(cid:1)
becoming involved in any educational programmes
within your organisation: induction days, audit activity
or staff development.
Through this promotional process you will better understand
the needs and expectations of the staff you serve. It will be
easier to present what is available and what is possible, and
argue the case for change or extra funding.
(cid:1)
It is important to be seen as a professional, offering
unique skills to the organisation.
(cid:1)
Explore opportunities to become a member of key
organisational committees, working parties or management
boards. This will inform you and enable you to reach a
wider audience of people.
(cid:1)
The library location may not be central – find ways of
ensuring that it is not forgotten.
(cid:1)
Try to anticipate trends and plan accordingly.
(cid:1)
Share experiences with colleagues throughout the
organisation.
Well-briefed library staff can respond to changing demands
from users.
3