Dear all,
it is indeed an interesting question - and one which arose for me very
recently, when a lecturer told me (during a course committee meeting!) he
did NOT think LIS should be teaching students how to reference etc.; he
seemed to be implying that this was an academic issue, rather than an
information skills one. I must admit that my personal reaction to this wa=
s
that libraries have useful expertise which could be drawn on, as Liz writ=
es
below.
However, I have been asked by other lecturers to include referencing in s=
ome
of my information skills sessions; we also have a guide (called "Citing
References") which was compiled by two of my colleagues, drawing on
extensive research, British Standards etc. Other lecturers regularly ask =
for
copies of this guide, to give out to students preparing for their
dissertations, and we also get plenty of student queries about how to
reference at our enquiry points. I am aware that the guide is used where =
no
other guidelines exist, so that there is some "approximate consistency" a=
s
Liz mentions below. Some staff within the Department I work with are keen=
to
establish a more definite departmental style, but I'm not aware this has =
yet
come to fruition.
So personally, I feel that teaching referencing skills is something we ca=
n
and should be involved with; but this viewpoint is not shared by all of m=
y
teaching colleagues.
Regards,
Nicola
Nicola Siminson
Information Specialist (Art and Design)
Library and Information Services
Nottingham Trent University
The Boots Library
Goldsmith Street
Nottingham
NG1 5LS
Tel.: 0115 941 8418 ext. 2110 or direct dial: 0115 848 2110
Fax: 0115 848 2286
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
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-----Original Message-----
From: Liz-MCDermott [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 8:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Referencing
I'm not sure it's got everything to do with areas of responsibility - it'=
s
also to do with areas of expertise and the Library has much expertise in
this area. While many academic departments have their favourite style ma=
ny
others simply allow anything that is approximately consistent and some of
the basic (to us) principles are ignored. It is also useful for students=
to
be able to read references and citations; many are totally confused by wh=
at
appears to them to be gibberish at the bottom of the page or the end of
chapters. I suspect many academics would be glad of your help in this ar=
ea
as long as there is no conflict over style.
Liz
----- Original Message -----
From: Jenny Booker <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 04, 2001 12:30 AM
Subject: Referencing
> We are currently in the process of developing an information literacy
> course. An issue that has arisen, that has caused much discussion among=
st
> my colleagues:
>
> "Is it the Library's role to teach the students referencing skills?"
>
> At the moment we are divided on this, some arguing that it is related t=
o
> information seeking and researching therefore our responsibility. Other=
s
> state that it is the academic's responibility to teach the students abo=
ut
> plagiarism, referencing, etc...
>
> I would welcome other's opinions on this, and especially to know if oth=
er
> academic libraries are teaching referencing skills.
>
> Jenny
>
> Jenny Booker Tel : 02-4349 4478
> Client Services Librarian Fax : 02-4348 4215
> University of Newcastle
> Central Coast Campus
> Chittaway Road
> Ourimbah
> NSW, 2258, AUSTRALIA
>
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