Have any of you tried to get round this problem by using using link
resolution or federated search tools? If so, I'd be interested to know
how you got on.
Roland Scales
Buckinghamshire New University
Chalfont St Giles
Bucks HP8 4AD
Tel. 01494 605135 ex. 2333
-----Original Message-----
From: Information literacy and information skills teaching discussion
list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Peter Godwin
Sent: 04 February 2008 16:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: CIBER Report on the Google generation
I have read with interest the somewhat conflicting opinions re.our
"beloved library databases"!
I think Roddy is right : different subject disciplines will require
different emphases with the components of Information Literacy. The
importance of getting to grips with the way that each discipline is
organised and therefore the ways in which that information is
transmitted is very important.
I used to make the mistake that all subjects could basically be taught
information skills in a similar way. In practice, as I have learnt,
health students will have much greater needs (e.g.evidence-based
practice, extensive attention to referencing) than, say engineers.
I believe that all students need to become Information Literate, and the
major part of this is to do with being able to evaluate what they find.
To do this effectively they will also need to become familiar with the
type of sources that they will encounter in their subject discipline,
in both print and electronic format.
When we complain about not being able to cover everything in sessions,
the usual answer is to go for more time, and to aim to make our
intervention fit into the subject curriculum at assignment time. Too
often we make do with what we are offered rather than negotiate for what
we need!
As for those "beloved databases" I am pleased to say that more fit into
"families" e.g.EBSCO, but too many are, as Roddy says, a law unto
themselves. It is a killer to tell a group about lots of different
interfaces too soon. We are not trying to make librarians out of them
and not too many are really interested in Boolean searching. I agree
that the real researchers should be using advanced search modes, but
suspect that increasingly they are not. (see RIN report
http://www.rin.ac.uk/researchers-use-libraries)
We should be pushing for simpler interfaces. We will not save our jobs
or serve our patrons well by harping on about advanced searching
facilities on our databases!
Peter
Peter Godwin
Academic Liaison Librarian
University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
LU1 3JU
01582 743248
Information Literacy meets Web 2.0 http://infolitweb.blogspot.com/
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