July 2006

Give graduate students what they want!WHAT THEY REALLY, REALLY

WANT

Dominic Hakim Silvio

Killam Memorial Library

Dalhousie University

July 2006

About Me

July 2006

Agenda

Introduction

Objectives of the session

Statement of problem

Research instrument

Findings/solutions

conclusions

July 2006

About You!

July 2006

Introduction

“an information literate person is an individual who is capable of realizing the need for information, finds, evaluates and effectively uses the information he or she needs” (ALA, 1989)

“studies done on user needs indicate a strong emphasis on planning user oriented services that can provide more responsive, effective and accountable service”

“the aim of the library and information literacy skills curriculum is not only to teach how to locate and access information sources but to develop logical and critical thinking in the students as well”

July 2006

Motivation

evaluate the library instruction given to graduate students taking into considerations:

their requirements from the library,

how the library can help them; and

what obstacles prevent them from successful exploitation of library resources.

July 2006

Objectives of the session

To share the results and successes of using user-centered approach

Reinforce the importance of librarians/specialists to conduct an ongoing user-centered studies

Teaching from the students perspective (Bottom-up teaching ≠ Top-down teaching)

Encourage ongoing dialogue among professors and librarians on research methodology to the end of improving student research skills.

July 2006

Statement of Problem

IL skills and BI based on professional judgement of two players (librarians & teaching faculty)

Instruction provided does not match students' immediate information needs

Assessment of user needs not done

Searchers vs. Finders

July 2006

Methodology

SurveysFor students both first & second year

Incoming first years (subsequently)

Focus group discussionStudents mainly first years

Faculty involved

Target-research method course.

July 2006

Survey Questions

How often do you use the library’s OPAC?

How often have you consulted a reference librarian?

How often have you consulted a Subject Specialists/ subject liaison librarian?

How often do you use Databases & online Journals?

How often have you used Interlibrary loan and document delivery services?

July 2006

Results of the Survey

How often do you use the library’s OPAC?

20/32 (63%) Very often

9/32 (28%) often

0/32 sometimes

0/32 seldom

3/32 (9%) never

OPAC Usage Frequency

0

5

10

15

20

25

OPAC Usage

July 2006

Results cont’d

How often have you consulted a reference librarian?

0/32 (0%) very often

0/32 (0%) often

24/32 (75%) sometimes

5/32 (16%) seldom

3/32 (9%) never

Reference Librarian

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Reference Librarian

July 2006

Results cont’d

How often have you consulted a Subject Specialists/ subject liaison librarian?0/32 (0%) very often0/32 (0%) often8/32 (25%) Sometimes8/32 (25%) Seldom16/32 (50%) Never

Subject Specialist Librarian

02468

1012141618

Subject SpecialistLibrarian

July 2006

Results cont’d

How often do you use Databases & online Journals?

0/32 (0%) very often

16/32 (50%) often

6/32 (19%) sometimes

6/32 (19%) Seldom

4/32 (12%) Never

Abstracts and indexes online

02468

1012141618

Abstracts and indexesonline

July 2006

Results cont’d

How often have you used interlibrary loan and document delivery services?

3/32 (9%) very often

10/32 (31%) often

6/32 (19%) sometimes

6/32 (19%) seldom

7/32 (22%) never

Interlibrary Loan

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Interlibrary Loan

July 2006

Focus GroupSample Questions

For more effective and efficient use of the library, graduate students need library instruction on how to use information sources in their subject areas?

Which sections or services in the library do you need the most help with to meet your information needs?

How do you feel about the library instruction offered to graduate students?

Do you think an in class library instruction session for graduate students is something worth attending?

July 2006

What Next?????

Two things agreed upon:

Orientation for both faculty and grad students

Advance library research session

July 2006

What the students & faculty say after?

Increased awareness of the significance of their role as researchers and not finders.

Increased awareness of the complexities of research process.

Increased self-confidence in their abilities as researchers.

Improvement in the quality of works cited for essays.

Better incorporation of academic resources in papers.

July 2006

Thanks.

Any Questions ?

July 2006

Test Your Knowledge!