Academic libraries devote considerable human resources in delivering library instruction programs. This study attempts to determine if these instructional efforts have any measurable effect on student performance in terms of overall grades. Library workshop attendance and graduation GPA of over 8,000 students was analyzed at Hong Kong Baptist University. It was found that, if more than one or two library workshops were offered to students within the course of their program, there was a higher tendency of workshop attendance having a positive impact on final GPA. The results indicate that library instruction has a direct correlation with student performance, but only if a certain minimum amount of instruction is provided.

Commons-Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike License 2.5 Canada (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-sa/2.5/ca/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly attributed, not used for commercial purposes, and, if transformed, the resulting work is redistributed under the same or similar license to this one. AbstractObjective -This study aims to assess student learning with respect to basic database searching at three different points within a required first year course.Methods -Three methods were employed at three different points to identify evidence of successful learning:1. Analysis of in-class exercises from the initial library workshop, e.g. how many students showed evidence of satisfactorily achieving the stated learning outcomes. 64Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 2010, 5.1 65 2. Participant observation of student presentations, noting themes, strengths and weaknesses of student research strategy; written observation reports from librarians were coded and quantified to identify major themes.3. Interviews with course instructors responsible for grading the final submitted projects, focusing on both student achievement and instructor perceptions of the impact of library involvement.Results -Though performance on in-class exercises showed evidence of successful learning in over 70% of students, observational data indicated that very few students showed evidence of applying new knowledge and new search skills to their own topics two weeks later. Instructor interviews revealed a perception of similar difficulties in final project submissions, and instructors suggested that students did not appreciate the need for library resources.Conclusion -In this study, students showed evidence of learning in a simulated environment, but were unable or unwilling to demonstrate this learning in authentic situations. Multiple assessment methods reveal a lack of student ability to apply search skills.

As discovery systems take the Library world by storm, there is a new opportunity for user-centred information literacy programs to emerge. As library search gets easier and varied platforms become unified, the focus of information literacy on search rules and platform choice and navigation will (finally) be able to truly give way to critical thinking and imaginative exploration. These are skills and aptitudes that are needed well beyond the academic environmentmaking them much more meaningful and useful for many of our users. This paper will explore how the adoption of discovery systems might impact various user groups in higher education environments, especially on undergraduates and teaching faculty. How will these new tools impact our users? How will our users utilize such tools? What do users need to learn to exploit these new systems effectively? As we move away from strict search rules, will creativity, serendipity and cross-disciplinarity come to library search in new and fruitful ways? How will this change the research experience? The session will ground some of these broad questions in the experience of a medium-sized university library adopting a discovery system and rethinking its information literacy approaches. The Hong Kong Baptist University Library has a strong, curriculum-integrated information literacy program. The Library is planning to adopt and implement a discovery system in the first half of 2012, and this session will illustrate how and where the adoption of the system is changing the learning outcomes and pedagogical approaches used in our information literacy outlook, offerings, collaborations and materials.

Purpose This paper describes how a course-integrated blog was used to facilitate the learning of information literacy skills. It also reports on how the effectiveness of the blog was evaluated. Research limitations/implications These results reflect just one course at a single university, therefore it is not possible to use the findings to make generalizations. The study could serve as a starting point for further inquiry into the evaluation of blogs as a support tool. Originality/value While others have reported on using blogs in a similar manner, this study also attempts a thorough evaluation of the efficacy of the blog in helping students learn. Given the positive results of this evaluation, librarians could consider using blogs and other Web 2.0 tools to engage students in their own learning.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore distinctive yet simple strategies for sustainability in academic libraries focussing on structured communication templates for stakeholders, pre-planned daily programming, and regularized, self-sustaining staff development. Design/methodology/approach Case study of unique strategies implemented at Nanyang Technological University Libraries. Findings Each of the three strategies has been successfully launched though they are at various stages of maturity. The first two strategies (structured communication templates and daily programming) have been implemented quite recently, whereas the staff development programme has been running for some time. Findings indicate that sustainability in all of these cases is directly linked to good planning which either minimizes daily, weekly or monthly work, and/or helps to clarify goals and focus action. Practical implications These strategies are feasible, transferable, malleable, and impactful such that other academic libraries with varying staffing structures can adopt and adjust them to their local needs. Originality/value Implementing simple sustainable services and strategies can have real impact and can provide alternatives to large-scale projects that may be too resource intensive for many to undertake on a regular basis.