Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Librarians in Developing Library Users’ Information Literacy

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Information Literacy: Moving Toward Sustainability (ECIL 2015)

Part of the book series: Communications in Computer and Information Science ((CCIS,volume 552))

Included in the following conference series:

  • 1731 Accesses

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore how Estonian librarians assess their information literacy (IL) and which knowledge, skills and attitudes they consider important in facilitating the development of IL of library users. The research strategy chosen was a multiple case study. Document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and expert interviews were the main data collection methods. The study results revealed that librarians needed knowledge and skills in pedagogy and andragogy, instructional design, information technology, foreign languages, marketing, information sources and databases as well as on the learning domain. They also highlighted social skills and found that personal characteristics and attitudes of librarians were very important in facilitating IL. The study participants expressed the view that all librarians and information professionals must be able to advise users individually to facilitate their IL, but not all should be required to deliver courses and lectures for a group of students or library users.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Bishop, B.W., Cadle, A.W., Grubesic, T.H.: job analyses of emerging information professions: a survey validation of the american library association’s map and geospatial information round table (MAGIRT) core competencies to inform geographic information librarianship (GIL) curriculum. Libr. Q. 85(1), 64–84 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Grealy, D., Greenman, B.A.: Set new standard for academe. Inf. Outlook 2(8), 7–22 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Giesecke, J., McNeil, B.: Core competencies and the learning organization. Libr. Adm. Manag. 13(3), 158–166 (1999)

    Google Scholar 

  4. McNeil, B., Giesecke, J.: Core competencies for libraries and library staff. In: Avery, E.F., Dahlin, T.C., Carver, D.A. (eds.) Staff Development: a Practical Guide, pp. 49–62. American Library Association, Chicago (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Dole, W.V., Hurych, J.M., Liebst, A.: Assessment: a core competency for library leaders. Libr. Adm. Manag. 19(3), 125–132 (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Tanloet, P., Tuamsuk, K.: Core competencies for information professionals of Thai academic libraries in the next decade (A.D. 2010–2019). Int. Inf. Libr. Rev. 43(3), 122–129 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Soutter, J.L.: Academic librarian competency as defined in the library and information science journal literature of 2001–2005 and 2011. Partnership: Can. J. Libr. Inf. Pract. Res. 8(1), 1–19 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Immroth, B.: Improving children’s services: competencies for librarians serving children in public libraries. Pub. Libr. 28(3), 166–169 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Levett, J.: Key competencies and public librarians: shaping a new curriculum. APLIS 6(2), 53–57 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tan, S., Gorman, G., Singh, D.: Information literacy competencies among school librarians in Malaysia. Libri 62(1), 98–107 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lewis, S.: Competencies for health librarians. HLA News 1, 8–9 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ullah, M., Anwar, M.: Developing competencies for medical librarians in Pakistan. Health Inf. Libr. J. 30(1), 59–71 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Lawton, A., Burns, J.: A review of competencies needed for health librarians - a comparison of Irish and international practice. Health Inf. Libr. J. 32(2), 84–94 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Hazelton, P.A.: Law libraries as special libraries: an educational model. Libr. Trends 42(2), 319–341 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Todd, K.M.: Competencies of law librarianship: reference, research, and patron services. Leg. Ref. Serv. Q. 26(1–2), 7–22 (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Hartnett, E.: NASIG’s core competencies for electronic resources librarians revisited: an analysis of job advertisement trends, 2000–2012. J. Acad. Librarianship 40(3/4), 247–258 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Saunders, L.: Identifying core reference competencies from an employers’ perspective: implications for instruction. Coll. Res. Libr. 73(4), 390–404 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Saunders, L., et al.: Culture and competencies: a multi-country examination of reference service competencies. Libri: Int. J. Libr. Inf. Serv. 63(1), 33–46 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Han, M., Hswe, P.: The evolving role of the metadata librarian. Libr. Resour. Tech. Serv. 54(3), 129–141 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Fisher, W.: Core competencies for the acquisitions librarian. Libr. Collect. Acquis. Tech. Serv. 25, 179–190 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Leach, M.R.: Collection development competencies for science and technology libraries. Sci. Technol. Libr. 28(1/2), 11–22 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Cohen, L.: A librarian’s 2.0 manifesto (2006). http://liblogs.albany.edu/library20/2006/11/a_librarians_20_manifesto.html

  23. Stephens, D., Hamblin, Y.: Employability skills: are UK LIM departments meeting employment needs? The results of a survey of employment agencies identifies gaps in UK LIM curricula in the UK. New Libr. World 107(224/1225), 218–227 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Peltier-Davis, C.: Web 2.0, library 2.0, library user 2.0, librarian 2.0: innovative services for sustainable libraries. Comput. Libr. 29(10), 16–21 (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Breivik, P.S.: Student Learning in the Information Age. Oryx Press, Phoenix (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Doskatsch, I.: Perceptions and perplexities of the faculty-librarian partnership: an Australian perspective. Ref. Serv. Rev. 31(2), 111–121 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Peacock, J.: Teaching skills for teaching librarians: postcards from the edge of the educational paradigm. In: COMLA Seminar 2000: User Education for User Empowerment. Christchurch 19–20 October 2000. http://eprints.qut.edu.au/720/1/COMLA-2000_Final-paper1.pdf

  28. Peacock, J.: Teaching skills for teaching librarians: postcards from the edge of the educational paradigm. Aust. Acad. Res. Libr. 32(1), 26–40 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Brophy, P.: The Library in the Twenty-First Century: New Services for the Information Age. Library Association Publishing, London (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Virkus, S., Metsar, S.: General introduction to the role of the library for university education. Liber. Q. 14(3/4), 8–16 (2004)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Kirk, T.G.: Bibliographic instruction, library education, and the role of the academic librarian. Champaign, Illinois, Illinois University at Urbana-Champaign, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, pp. 97–112 (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Bruce, C.: Information literacy programs and research: reflections on ‘information literacy programs and research: an international review. Aust. Libr. J. 60(4), 334–338 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Virkus, S.: Development of information-related competencies in european higher open and distance learning: an exploration of contextual factors, Ph.D. thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Virkus, S.: Information literacy in Europe: a literature review. Inf. Res. 8(4), paper no. 159 (2003). http://informationr.net/ir/8-4/paper159.html

  35. Asher, C.: Separate but equal: librarians, academics and information literacy. Aust. Acad. Res. Libr. 34(1), 52–55 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Elmborg, J.K.: Critical information literacy: implications for instructional practice. J. Acad. Librarianship 32(2), 192–199 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Calzada Prado, J.C., Marzal, M.A.: Library and information professionals as knowledge engagement specialists. theories, competencies and current educational possibilities in accredited graduate programmes. Inf. Res. 18(3) (2013). http://www.informationr.net/ir/18-3/colis/paperC12.html#.UulE2LRc-f4

  38. Yin, R.K.: Case Study Research: Design and Methods, 3rd edn. Sage, London (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Creswell, J.W.: Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions. Sage, Thousand Oaks (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Robson, C.: Real World Research: a Resource for Social Scientists and Practitioner-Researchers, 2nd edn. Blackwell, Oxford (2002)

    Google Scholar 

  41. Denscombe, M.: The Good Research Guide for Small-Scale Research Projects, 2nd edn. Open University Press, Maidenhead (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  42. Eisenhardt, K.M.: Building theories from case study research. Acad. Manag. Rev. 14(4), 522–550 (1989)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Stake, R.E.: The Art of Case Study Research. Sage, London (1995)

    Google Scholar 

  44. Simons, H.: The paradox of case study. Camb. J. Educ. 26(2), 225–240 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Herriott, R.E., Firestone, W.A.: Multisite qualitative policy research: optimizing description and generalizability. Educ. Res. 12, 14–19 (1983)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. ALA: American Library Association Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report. American Library Association, Chicago (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  47. CILIP: Information Literacy – Definition. http://www.cilip.org.uk/cilip/advocacy-campaigns-awards/advocacy-campaigns/information-literacy/information-literacy

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Information Studies, Tallinn University, Tallinn, Estonia

    Jaana Kulbin & Sirje Virkus

Authors
  1. Jaana Kulbin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sirje Virkus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sirje Virkus .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Information Management, Hacettepe University, Beytepe, Ankara, Türkiye

    Serap Kurbanoglu

  2. DICEN IDF EA 7369, Université Paris Descartes DICEN IDF EA 7369, Paris, France

    Joumana Boustany

  3. University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

    Sonja Špiranec

  4. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Esther Grassian

  5. University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Diane Mizrachi

  6. School of Information, The University of Texas School of Information, Austin, TX, USA

    Loriene Roy

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Kulbin, J., Virkus, S. (2015). Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes of Librarians in Developing Library Users’ Information Literacy. In: Kurbanoglu, S., Boustany, J., Špiranec, S., Grassian, E., Mizrachi, D., Roy, L. (eds) Information Literacy: Moving Toward Sustainability. ECIL 2015. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 552. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28197-1_55

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28197-1_55

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-28196-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-28197-1

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation