No abstract

This qualitative study extends our earlier research on what we have learned about the information needs of Malaysian male juvenile offenders. This study explores the extent to which the prison library is used as the environment for information seeking of male juvenile delinquents. Data were collected using participants' observation with 27 juveniles (13 to 21 years old) living in five correctional schools in Malaysia. Our observation at all research sites has led us to conclude that the prison library does not play much role in addressing the participants' information needs. The findings in this research are useful for the purpose of designing and delivering the best possible library services to this group. findings add to the limited literature on juvenile offenders' information needs and how the prison libraries meet the needs of this people.

This paper examines how secondary school teachers in Malaysia conceptualize information literacy, and how this understanding leads to information literacy practices through resource-based learning. Although there have been studies carried out in this area, most of the studies are conducted in western societies with sound exposure to information literacy. This study takes place in a learning environment where information literacy is not a central focus in the school curriculum. It employs a qualitative approach in the form of a case study. Five history subject teachers supervising resourcebased learning history project took part in the study. Data were collected through a series of interviews with the teacher participants to uncover: (a) their conceptions of information literacy; (b) their teaching focus in the project instruction; and (c) the instructional approach employed. Six information literacy conceptions, six information literacy teaching focuses, and four types of information literacy instructional methods are generated from the study. The findings suggest that the teachers' conceptions of information literacy in Malaysia are quite comparable to those from developed countries. However, the outlooks are more superficial and lack richness and depth. Further findings show that these conceptions influence and shape teachers' information literacy teaching focuses, as well as their project instructional approaches.

While a simultaneous data collection process is generally not recommended in qualitative research, this technique becomes necessary under certain circumstances where conducting one-site-at-a-time fieldwork is not possible. This article discusses the design of an information literacy case study that is driven by time and ethical constraints, and the strategies employed to overcome them. The constraints, (a) a brief three-month school project under study; and (b) restricted access to the respondents, have greatly influenced and shaped the design of this qualitative study. The theory applied in the study also has its impact in the research design. We argue that with meticulous planning, brief phenomenon and other challenges could still be investigated qualitatively. The study employed simultaneous data collection activities, carried out in three stages over an 18-month timespan to overcome the two constraints. This is done by carefully crafting the research protocol: firstly, by adhering to the Gorman and Clayton’s research plan circle framework; secondly, by constructing the multi-stage, simultaneous data collection protocol that addresses the unique challenges in the context of the study; and finally, by operationalizing the research plan.

The study explores how the prison information environment supports the information needs of the male juvenile delinquents in correctional schools in Malaysia. It may be tempting to assume that information seeking failure is inevitable, in a large measure due to the shortcomings on the part of the prison library itself. Apparently, it is not due to the juvenile delinquents' lack of desire to seek for information, but rather, the prison institutions provide inappropriate choices of sources. The study involved twenty six (26) participants living in five (5) correctional schools in Malaysia. Collection of material needs to be upgraded to increase their interest in reading and to appreciate the function and role of the library. The male juvenile delinquents need to be trained to stay alert to the worldwide issues happened outside of prisons as the information can help them when being released at one day.