Synopsis
Here is ready access to a wide range of information for librarians who teach users how to best utilize information resources. Library and information science students and practitioners can learn from the educational programs that have been developed over the last decade, as represented in this volume, to build and expand their roles as consultants and educators.
Over the past decade, the role of the reference librarian has been radically altered due to the rise of end-user searching, the development of information management software, and the creation of the information superhighway. User Education in Health Sciences Libraries helps prepare librarians to deal effectively with these role changes. Bringing together the best information on the subject from the pages of Medical Reference Services Quarterly, this book is intended to create an interest in user education in libraries and generate ideas for new or expanded user education programs. Articles range from very practical applications to education theory.
User Education in Health Sciences Libraries focuses on user education, emphasizing the teaching of electronic resources, and ranges from educational theory to very practical applications, including descriptions of educational programs that have worked in health sciences libraries. Examples are based on experiences in health sciences libraries, but concepts and principles are applicable to other types of libraries. Articles in the book are divided into five sections. These sections are:
- Program Planning and Implementation: Discusses planning for both new and existing programs and the implementation of user education programs.
- Teaching End-User Searching: Focuses on teaching end users how to search databases.
- Research in User Education: Argues the need for research in user education and presents research which has been done primarily in the area of database searching.
- Information Management Education and Computer Literacy Programs: Discusses both information management education (IME) programs and courses aimed simply at computer literacy.
- Computer-Assisted Instruction and Audiovisual Aids: Presents examples of new and different products which have developed as teaching aids.
User Education in Health Sciences Libraries is a handy guide for library school students and librarians involved in user education programs such as bibliographic instruction, educating end users, and information management education. It complements materials for graduate library school students and aids practicing librarians in their daily work.
Rama Vishwanathan
This book is a collection of 27 articles giving an overview of the various aspects of the librarians' role in instructing and educating users to use information resources. The book provides theoretical and practical advice on planning and implementation of user instruction programs in health sciences libraries. It also shows the librarian's role, both in the present and future, as an instructor. Librarians can use this as a tool to refine their skills in educating users in this technologically rich library environment. Though the title of the volume identifies the target group to be health sciences librarians, this is a useful book for librarians from all types of libraries. Library and information science graduate students taking bibliographic instruction course and library administrators would also find this most useful. The collection of articles are arranged into five sections, covering different aspects of user education. The individual chapters in each section are articles selected from Medical Reference Services Quarterly from 1987 through 1994. The five sections cover articles that deal with planning and implementing user education programs, instruction to end-user searchers, research in user education, information management education and computer literacy programs, and the use of new and different multimedia technologies in instruction. The strength of the book lies in its good selection of a wide range of articles, including a number of recently written articles that provide interesting ideas and skills to librarians, students, and administrators alike. These research articles complement each other, with the information being current. They are well grouped intothe five broad categories covering various aspects of user education.