Library and Information Research (LIR)
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The information society: does it need the information professions?
Get PDFA profession is constituted by a group of people with a shared body of knowledge and skills, based on formal training and well defined criteria. But the knowledge and skills which characterise the information profession, as defined by CILIP in the Body of Professional Knowledge and other documents, are no longer confined to those who describe themselves in this way, or feel any attachment to the information profession as traditionally defined. The paper discusses how this group do, can and should contribute to the so-called \u27information society\u27. It challenges the idea that information society is in itself something new, and focuses more on the concept of the \u27knowledge economy\u27 in which information (and therefore information workers) have a key role. The challenge for the profession is to go beyond its own recognition of its knowledge, skills and insights, and to persuade others of the contribution it (and they) can make
Filling a gap: would evidence-based school librarianship work in the UK?
Get PDFSchool librarians in the UK have a lower status than librarians in other sectors, and research on school librarianship in the UK is sparse. Annual self-evaluation is one way the profession has tried to make itself more visible. Evidence-based school librarianship (EBSL) could assist school librarians in the UK improve their services, boost their profile, and build their portfolios as part of existing self-evaluation programmes. EBSL is an off-shoot of evidence-based librarianship, which aims to bridge the gap between research and practice, and encourages practitioners to conduct research in the workplace. Most of the current EBSL work is being done in the US, where school librarians are also typically trained teachers, however, EBSL is suitable for adaptation and use in the UK. Appropriate research methods must be chosen in order to make EBSL work in the UK, action research being one such method
Investigating the provision of careers information in schools
Get PDFA detailed study of careers information provision in secondary schools and its impact on students\u27 decision making in relation to future careers, training and employment is long overdue. Through interviews with Connexions partnerships and case studies in four schools in the West Midlands region, this research aimed to investigate how careers information (in the
library and elsewhere) can be provided most effectively in schools to ensure it is accessible and useful to students. Although the time allocated within the curriculum for careers education is being reduced and not all students are now automatically entitled to a careers interview, few students are likely to spend time investigating careers independently. Even careers libraries or information centres which are attractive
and well stocked are not well-used by students. The skills of library staff might be harnessed more effectively than is the case at present to help to improve careers provision in schools
Systematic assessment of the training needs of health library staff
Get PDFThe aim of research conducted for the National Library for Health was to identify what type of training was required, and how the training should be delivered. The article describes the systematic approach used to collate and synthesise the findings of published and unpublished studies (1999-2004) on the training needs of health library staff. The research included two workshops with health library staff to discuss the interim findings (in late 2004). The results showed that health librarians required specialist skills in information retrieval and knowledge management, as well as more advanced research related skills. The conclusions note the need for an agreed competency framework, but also some vision of the capabilities of librarians in the future. For librarians working outside the health sector, the findings indicate that the profession needs to offer career advancement through specialist routes as well as through the managerial route
Perceptions of archives, libraries, and museums in modern Britain
Get PDFIn a research project undertaken by staff at the University of Sheffield, respondents were asked how they obtain information on major social and political concerns, and to consider the role museums, libraries and archives might play in helping them gain a greater understanding of such issues when compared to their use of other identified information sources. The study revealed a worrying trend amongst the British public to turn to some of the least trusted information
sources when seeking information on current concerns, but also indicate that a relatively high value is placed on museums, libraries, and archives in helping respondents to understand social and political issues. They are also perceived as vital sources of informal family learning, and seen to perform an essential role by providing a context to modern life
The Impact of Libraries on Learning, Teaching and Research
Get PDFReport of the LIRG seminar held in Leeds, 30th. October 2001
Gathering opinion and initiating debate: the success of the Delphi Method in purely qualitative research
Get PDFCertain evaluation criteria have emerged frequently from the published literature on Holocaust film. This suggested that it might have been possible to establish a list of such criteria, to provide a framework for the evaluation of Holocaust films. A Delphi survey of United Kingdom Holocaust Studies experts was used to investigate this possibility. The survey elicited in-depth opinions from the experts, which the researcher analysed in order to conclude that evaluating the success of a Holocaust film is dependent upon the subjective interpretation of the individual viewer. This article concentrates upon the methodology used in this study, examining the suitability of the Delphi Method as a tool for rich qualitative research
Academic libraries as learning organisations
No full textThis paper highlights some of the deficiencies with Higher Education (HE) planning paradigms and then describes the Holon Framework as an HE planning approach that overcomes some of the deficiencies. The paper outlines some key features from the literature of organisational learning and explores how the Holon Framework facilitates both single and double-loop organisational learning. The paper then describes how the Holon Framework can be used as a strategic and operational planning tool with academic libraries and how the more conventional library operational research models can be included in a structured double loop learning process
Publish and be read? A review of the usage of Loughborough University Library publications
Get PDFIn 2000 Loughborough University Library reviewed its publications and redesigned their look, feel and content. The following year the Library asked its customers for feedback on the new publications and its web pages. This article describes the development of the library publications, the survey of customer attitudes and outlines future plans