Rolling with Librarians

Morning all

Bibliographic Instruction (BI)  is also know as library instruction or user education.   This consists of setting up programs to teach the library user to locate information quickly and effectively.  It entails educating the use how information is structured in that particular field or discipline, and what resources are available.  It is a good tool to acquire as it is a discovery of information access and will hopefully to critical thinking.

Information literacy on the other hand is the ability of the information seeker to locate, evaluate and use information when needed.  However, information literacy cannot be had if bibliographic instruction is not taught and incorporated as a tool.

The role of the librarian has changed over time and rightly so.  Evolving means that things change and preferably for the better.  However, there are always those who are a stickler for comfort zones.  The debate about the role of the librarian continues today where some still believe that there should be set boundaries between academic faculties and librarians.

In the 1920s and 1930s librarians began promoting library instruction  based on the need to navigate large print collections.  As collections grew it squeezed out students who needed a space to read.

In the 1970s and 1980s the teaching library became a part of a growing number on academic institutions.  The idea was to inculcate lifelong learning , where the library will support students with practical skills that can be used beyond the confines on the institution.

In the 1990's the teacher librarian's role change dramatically because libraries began developing assessments of student learning and evaluations for their instructional programnes.  Spaces began changing to service the needs of the student.  Common spaces were created for information or learning.  Libraries began to form partnerships with faculties and liaising with other centres (like a writing centre) to keep itself relevant but also to be the learning hub where students can find information that they needed.  There was a strong focus on creating tools to help in the creating of knowledge and to provide a physical space for collaborative learning and teaching.

In the 21st century digital material became available bringing in the need for IT support for library patrons.  Spaces became more defined , study rooms were created, some even housed cafes and teaching rooms.  More and more the role of the librarian was to fulfil the information needs of seekers by supporting them and taking an active role in what they need and how quickly they can acquire it.