PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the integration of information literacy into each year of a Bachelor of Arts and Science (BAS) program at the University of Guelph, Ontario, and to explain the role of librarian mentors in this program.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the literature related to mentoring and librarians, explains the BAS program, and outlines the library's integration into the BAS curriculum. It discusses mentoring, assessment, and future goals, and provides some librarians' observations and advice.FindingsThe paper demonstrates the benefits of librarian‐student mentoring and of integrating information literacy into each year of an undergraduate degree program.Practical implicationsSince the mentoring of students by librarians is rarely mentioned in the literature, this description of our mentoring program may inspire other librarians to set up librarian‐student partnerships at their institutions. Our successful application of information literacy into every year of a degree program and our partnerships with faculty and students may serve as models for other libraries.Originality/valueThe experience of the University of Guelph library may show other libraries how to integrate information literacy into a program efficiently and effectively.
Objective -This research compares two types of online reference services and attempts to determine whether the same sorts of questions are being asked; which questions are being asked most often; and whether patron and staff behaviour is consistent or different in the two types of online reference sessions. Patron satisfaction with the two types of online reference services is also examined.Methods -The researchers reviewed over 1400 online reference transcripts, including 744 from Docutek virtual reference (VR) transactions and 683 from MSN chat reference (IM) transactions. The questions were classified according to categories of reference questions based on recurring questions discovered during the review. Each transaction was also categorized as ʺinformalʺ or ʺformalʺ based on patron language and behaviour, and general observations were made about the interactions between patrons and librarians. In addition, results from 223 user surveys were examined to determine patron satisfaction with online reference services and to determine which type of service patrons preferred.Results -The analysis suggests that patrons are using VR and IM services differently. In general, VR questions tend to be more research intensive and formal, while IM questions are less focused on academic research and informal.Library staff and patrons appear to alter their behaviour depending upon which online environment they are in. User surveys demonstrated that patrons are generally satisfied with either type of online reference assistance.Conclusion -Both types of online reference service are meeting the needs of patrons. They are being used for different purposes and in different ways, so it may be worthwhile for libraries to consider offering both VR and IM reference. The relationship building that appears to take place more naturally in IM interactions demonstrates the benefits of librarians being more approachable with patrons in order to provide a more meaningful service.
The current political climate is characterized by an alarming pattern of global democratic regression driven by authoritarian populist leaders who deploy vast misinformation campaigns. These offensives are successful when the majority of the population lack skills that would allow them to think critically about information in the political sphere, to identify misinformation, and therefore to fully exercise democratic citizenship. Political science has theorized the link between information and power and information professionals understand the cognitive decision-making process involved in processing information, but these two literatures rarely intersect. This paper interrogates the links between information literacy (IL) and the rise of authoritarian populism in order to advance the development of a new transtheoretical model that links political science (which studies power), information science, and critical pedagogy to suggest new paths for teaching and research. We call for a collaborative research and teaching agenda, grounded in a holistic understanding of information as power, that will contribute to achieving a more informed citizenship and promoting a more inclusive democracy.
Objective -To investigate the types of questions students ask and the language they use in virtual reference. It is hoped that this examination will provide understanding of students' needs and thus improve/enhance library services.Methods -Over 600 virtual reference transcripts were reviewed, analysed and categorised. This work was focused on three levels of analysis: broad categories based on the general type of question being asked, subcategories based on the specific question and the language that students used to ask their questions.Results -Students are primarily using the library's virtual reference service for higher-level research assistance rather than using the tool to obtain quick answers to simple questions. The two most common types of questions involved staff providing detailed information or instruction on a topic. More specifically, the most frequently occurring type of question was related to finding journal articles on a given topic. Our analysis of the words students use to Evidence Based Library and Information Practice 2007, 2:268 ask their questions confirmed that students and librarians often do not speak the same language. Conclusion -The results of our analysis of students' needs and language can help us understand our users. This study demonstrated that our library can enhance services in five areas: online services, collections, relationships, staff skills, and the library as place.
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