embedding information literacy within public libraries rónán o'beirne bradford libraries...

Embedding Information Literacy Within Public Libraries

Rónán O'Beirne Bradford Libraries Archives and

Information service

Aims

1. To explore how IL could operate outside a learning environment

2.To look at how IL fits in with the other literacies supported by public libraries

Aims

3. To identify the operational barriers that stand in the way of IL implementation in Public Libraries.

4. To gather rich information from those working in Public Libraries.

5. To enlist the assistance of those who may be regarded as IL champions in PL.

Working Definition

Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical manner. (CILIP 2005)

Using Public Libraries

“I can sit there and its like a wonderful bag of goodies. I’m trying to read all the old Derbyshire newspapers from 1785, and its superb – I know things the experts don’t ! When you’re studying for qualifications you go in straight lines – now I wander. (Chesterfield library user)”

(Proctor & Bartle 2002 University of Sheffield)

Policy Framework

● Framework for the Future

● Public library standards

these are related to :

● Local Authority funding priorities ● Workforce's capacity to deliver change

3 areas of IL activity

● Lifelong Learning - e-learning

● Digital Citizenship – e-government and democracy

● Digital skills Fuller use of People's Network

resource – closing the digital divide

Aims

1. To explore how IL could operate outside a learning environment

Mini Case Studies

Health information Environment information

Citizenship information

Learning information

IL in practice

Think of an information need, similar to the scenarios, which either you, a member of your family, or a close friend may have had and see if you might in theory be able to solve it in terms of a public library.

Key points

IL in PLs may be required to cover diverse and potentially boundless subject matter

IL in PLs needs to address a non-captive transient audience – a 'just-in-time' model

Aims

3. To identify the operational barriers that stand in the way of IL implementation in Public Libraries.

Operational barriers

No best practice model to follow in PLs

Empowering the user V serving the customer

Building staff capacity Others?

Aims

4. To gather rich information from those working in Public Libraries.

5.To enlist the assistance of those who may be regarded as IL champions in PL.

The Search

“Modern library searches do not lead from a point A (the catalog, the reference desk) to a point B (the book, the answer, the truth), but instead invite their computer-literate users to explore on their own the many recesses of a multicursal maze, placing them again and again in decision situations, at forks or nodes where multiple paths lead down through hierarchies of subject headings, on their way to what may or may not be useful or even existing documents.” (Garrett 1991)

And finally...........

● “Who's responsibility is it to ensure that the UK’s

population is information literate?”

ronan.obeirne@bradford.gov.uk