Paper No: 15Library Use and User Studies

Principal Investigator
Dr. Jagdish Arora, Director
Module : 09 User
&
SubjectEducation:
Coordinator Concept and Need
INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar

Development Team
Paper Coordinator
Principal Investigator
Dr. Jagdish Arora, Director
&
INFLIBNET Centre, Gandhinagar
Subject Coordinator
Content Writer

Dr Arvind K Sharma, Assistant Professor,

Paper Coordinator Department of Library and Information Science,
Content Reviewer
Maharani Laxmi Bai Government College of

Dr Neerja Verma,Professor, Maharani Laxmi Bai

Content Writer Government College of Excellence

Dr Arvind K Sharma, Assistant Professor,

Content Reviewer Department of Library and Information Science,
Maharani Laxmi Bai Government College of
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Library and Library Use and User Studies

Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
Paper Coordinator
Content Reviewer
 Description of Module

Subject Name Library and Information Science

Paper Name 15Library Use and User Studies

Module Name/Title User Education: Concept and Need

Module Id LIS/LIUS-U/09

Pre-requisites Library orientation, User and their characteristics and needs

To understand the concept of User Education.

Objectives
To know the need of User Education.

Keywords User Education, Library Orientation, Library Instruction, Bibliographic Instruction

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Objectives
2. Introduction
3. Origin and definitions of User Education

4. Components or levels of User education

4.1 Library orientation

4.2 Library instruction

4.3 Bibliographic instruction

5. Aims and Objectives of User Education

6. Need of User Education

7. Summary

8. References
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Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
 1. Objectives

After reading this module, you will be able to:

· understand the origin and definitions of user education

· know the components or levels of user education

· enumerate the aims and objectives of user education.

· Understand the need of user education.

2. Introduction

Education is a lifelong process. User education means to educate users in the use of library resources, activities
and services. It means to educate the users or to help them to make the best use of the library. When a user comes
to the library for the first time, he or she does not know about different kinds of resources, activities and services of
a particular library. User education gives introduction about these to them.

In this age of information and computer, libraries are adopting newly emerging technologies and changing their
ways of rendering services to the users. In this changing environment, users require a specific training in the use of
library services. So user education may be defined as process or programme through which users are motivated to
use information resources and different kinds of library services. They need assistance and guidance in form of
instruction, initiation and education to know how to use library resources and services as the collection of libraries
are very complicated now-a-days.

There is an old Chinese proverb: “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to
fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” If you train users, how to select, locate and retrieve
information, certainly you helped him for a lifetime.

Library and Library Use and User Studies

Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
 3. Origin and definitions of User Education

The origins of library user education can be traced back more than 170 years. The earliest evidence of
instruction-a librarian lecturing to undergraduates-was found at Harvard College in the 1820s. Most
early academic librarians were professors with part-time library appointments who taught the use of
libraries for academic purposes. Library lectures were the chosen form of instruction by such
institutions as Harvard, Indiana University, and Columbia. Separate courses were implemented in the
late 1800s by Ray Davis at the University of Michigan, Oberlin College, and others.

In 1971, the term “bibliographic instruction” originated with the creation of the Association of College
and Research Libraries (ACRL) Ad Hoc Committee on Bibliographic Instruction. This was followed in
1973 with the establishment of the Library Orientation Exchange (LOEX), a clearinghouse for
materials used in library instruction. In the mid seventies, the American Library Association’s Library
Instruction Round Table (LIRT) came into being. Its mission is “to advocate library instruction as a
means for developing competent library and information access skills, along with their use, as a part of
lifelong learning.” Unlike ACRL, it represents all types of libraries, academic, public, school, and
special. In the last few years a new term has emerged, “information literacy,” and it seems destined to
supplant bibliographic instruction as the catchphrase for library instruction.

There are so many definitions of User Education are available. Some are as follows:

Fleming (1990) defines user education “as various programmes of instruction, education and
exploration provided by libraries to users to enable them to make more effective, efficient and
independent use of information sources and services to which these libraries provide access”.

Mews (1972) defines this as instruction given to help the users to make the best use of library.

Library and Library Use and User Studies

Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
 Nancy (1984) defines - “User Education is concerned with the library whole information and communication
process and one part of this involves the total user interaction

Jacques Tocatline (1978) defined `user education' to include any effort or programme which will
guide and instruct existing and potential users, individually or collectively with the objectives -

Ø the recognition of their own information needs;

Ø the formulation of these needs;
Ø the effective and efficient use of information services; and
Ø assessment of these services.

Reitz (2004) has defined User education in Dictionary of Library and Information Science -“all the
activities involved in teaching users how to make the best possible use of library resources, services
and facilities, including formal and informal instruction delivered by a librarian or other staff member
one-on-one- or in a group. Also includes online tutorials, audio visual materials and printed guides
and pathfinders. A broader term than ‘bibliographic instruction’.”

According to Shahi “It is a process of activities involved in making the users of the library conscious
about tremendous value of information in day to day life to develop interest among the users to seek
information as and when they requires”

According to Mishra and Phadke (1988), User education can be defined as ‘educational potential library users ,
jointly by the library and academic staff in successive stages to help them to make the best use of the library
resources (library collection and library personnel) and acquire sophisticated knowledge in its use”.

Library and Library Use and User Studies

Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
 According to Wikipedia “Library instruction, also called bibliographic instruction (BI), user education
and library orientation, consists of "instructional programs designed to teach library users how to locate
the information they need quickly and effectively”

Broadly defined, library user education (also called library instruction) teaches users how to make the
most effective use of the library system. At Ohio State University (OSU), user education encompasses
all activity undertaken to help students become efficient users of information--i.e., how to identify the
information need and then how to find, evaluate, and select the best information to meet that need.
Activities to achieve that goal include orientation sessions, workshops, handouts, and course-related
and course-integrated instruction. The term "library user education" has more recently been broadened
to include the concept of information literacy.

All these definitions focused on strengthening or empower the library user to get his / her required
information.

The synonyms of user education are user orientation, library orientation programme, library
instruction, user instruction, and information literacy are all one and the same. Orientation is a process
of familiarizing the library to library users. Library users should have very good knowledge about the
library to retrieve the information and making use of the library services and facilities effectively.

USER
ORIENTATION

INFORMATION LIBRARY
LITERACY ORIENTATION
USER PROGRAMMES
EDUCATION

USER LIBRARY
INSTRUCTION INSTRUCTION

Library and Library Use and User Studies

Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
 4. Components or levels of User education

There can be three components or levels of User Education, namely :

Ø Library orientation
Ø Library instruction
Ø Bibliographic instruction

4.1 Library orientation

Library orientation means ways of introducing the users to the general methods of usage and services and to the
layout such as building and sections of the libraries, stacking arrangement, rules and regulations and facilities
available in a particular library. It means to try and create the right kind of environment for effective
communication between user and the library staff and to present an image of the library as a pleasant and friendly
institution. Orientation makes user confident in the use of the library. After orientation users feel that library staff is
competent and is always willing to help.

4.2 Library instruction

Library instruction means to provide specific instruction to how to use and understand specific information
sources, information systems, information services and tools. It gives instructions to the users how to select, get
and use specific information resources. Library instructions are concerned with learning to make use of the
information resources available in a specific library. It includes techniques in using indexes, catalogue, reference
materials and bibliographic tools.

4.3 Bibliographic Instruction

These instructions aim to use the bibliographic tools, to provide guidance to understand the features of these tools
and their nature of subject coverage. These instructions educate users on how to find materials manually or
electronically using online public access catalogues (OPACs) and CD – ROMs. It is concerned with the problems
of information retrieval and the techniques of exploiting information resources to the maximum extent.
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 5. Aims and Objectives of User Education

Objectives for library instruction were established as early as 1881 when Otis Hall Robinson called for
clarification of instructional goals at the American Library Association conference. He wanted
purposeful instruction.; As relevant today as they were a hundred years ago, three important objectives
were cited:
1. Students need to "develop the art of discrimination" to be able to judge the value of books to develop
critical judgment;
2. Students need to become independent learners--to teach themselves
3. Students need to continue to read and study--to become lifelong learners. (Tucker, 1979)

From these objectives has recently come the idea of information literacy.

The aims and objectives of User Education are as follows:

Ø To familiar the users with the library and library resources;

Ø To introduce the general objectives of the library;
Ø To establish contact between user and staff;
Ø To instruct the users with the use of library resources and services;
Ø To bring the awareness or to guide the users about library facilities, collection and services etc.;
Ø To familiarize the user with the automated library services such as OPAC.
Ø To identify the users specific information resources as per their information needs;
Ø To enhance and improve the user’s abilities to select appropriate information sources;
Ø To train the users in the use of information resources;
Ø To extract the information from information system;
Ø To train the users to exploit the library resources effectively;
Ø To encourage the users to get the assistance of library professionals;

Library and Library Use and User Studies

Information Science User Education: Concept and Need
 Ø To train and develop the skills in the users for independent specific information searching;
Ø To acquaint them with various national and international information networks and databases.
Ø To educate the users in CD – ROM database searching as well as online searching.

6. Need of User Education

With the changes in technology and society, goals of library user education have been changed from
library instruction to information literacy and lifelong learning. In present days, libraries have
developed and expanded programs to meet the changing needs of library users. Prominent among these
is the library user education program.

There are several reasons for providing User Education. They are as follows:

v Literature explosion and information explosion – There is a tremendous increase in volume and
variety of publications so that it is essential to familiar the users with these different kinds of information
sources. User Education plays an important role for the same.

v E – Resources – Now - a – days information is available in electronic format such as CD – ROM

databases, online database, e – journals, e – books etc. and to search the information from these e –
resources, it is essential to familiar the users with them.

v Automation – No doubt that the information environment in libraries is changing in India.

Now – a days libraries are automating their activities and servicarrangement and thees. Use of
ICT is making libraries more advanced. Users feel hesitation when they enter in such libraries.
They require someone to help them, to tell the general arrangement and layout of the library.

v Variety of Library Services – Modern libraries are providing a variety of services in this age
of information such as literature search service, document delivery service, bibliographic
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 services, current awareness service, selective dissemination of information service etc. Users
are not aware about the kinds of services provided by the modern libraries. User Education is a
mean in this regard.

v Multiple Database Searching Techniques – Information is available in CD – ROM databases

and online databases in these days. A number of searching techniques are available to retrieve
the information from these databases and the organisation and arrangement of information in
these databases is so difficult and complicated that a user can not extract their required
information from these databases without guidance and proper training. User Education makes
familiar the users with these databases and also trains them with the searching techniques to
retrieve their required information.

v Internet – Internet is a global network of several networks. It is a World Wide Web of

interconnected university, business, defense and science networks. It is made up of Local Area
Networks (LANs), Metropolitan Area Networks (MANs) and huge wide area networks
(WANs) of the whole world. In present days, Internet has become an important tool for
researchers, political activists, scientists, journalists, librarians, businessmen etc. for retrieving
their required information. Om Shankar Shekhar Singh (2003) has given common facilities
provided by the Internet:
Ø Access to data stored on remote computers;
Ø Exchange of electronic mail and other datafiles in a wide area environment;
Ø Online real time interaction with other network users;
Ø Receipt and delivery of electronic publications;
Ø Participation in electronic media mailing lists and conferences; and
Ø Access to remote scientific computing equipment such as supercomputers, remote
sensing equipments, telescopes and graphic processors.

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 Users are not aware about above facilities provided by Internet and User Education trains the
user in the use of Internet.

Information System and Information Networking – In present days users may get their
information existed in remote areas just sitting at one place through networking. There are
various information systems. As per Encyclopaedia Britannica “information system, an
integrated set of components for collecting, storing, and processing data and for delivering
information, knowledge, and digital products. Business firms and other organizations rely on
information systems to carry out and manage their operations, interact with their customers and
suppliers”. An Information system is a combination of hardware, software, infrastructure and
trained personnel organized to facilitate planning, control, coordination, and decision making in
an organization. In information technology, a network is a series of points or nodes
interconnected by communication paths. Networks can interconnect with other networks and
contain subnetworks. Information Network is a supportive system of sharing information and
services among individuals and groups having a common interest. User Education is essential
to familiar the users with these facilities.

7. Summary

Information technology plays a unique role in storing, managing and retrieving information
effectively. In the age of computer, libraries are changing themselves from traditional to digital.
Library resources are changing from traditional print resources to electronic and digital resources.
Libraries are changing their ways of rendering services to the users. Networking and multi user
environment and multimedia have been important development in the field of IT. Libraries are
increasing their efficiency and effectiveness of their operations and services in this environment. To
familiar the users with these technologies, User Education is essential. Library user education
programs need to support the concept of educating for a lifetime.

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 8. References

· B. Ravi Kumar. User education in libraries.International Journal of Library and Information

Science Vol. 1(1) pp. 001-005 June, 2009 Available at http://www.academicjournals.org/ijlis

· Hernon, P. (1982). Instruction in the use of academic libraries: A preliminary study of the
early years as based on selective extant materials. Journal of Library History, 1 7(l), 16-38

· Mishra, V.N. and Phadke, D.N. (1 988) User education programmes at different levels in academic
libraries. In Satyanarayana , N. R. , Ed. User education in academic libraries. (P.93-96) New Delhi, Ess
Ess publications

· Ojha, D.C. and others. Impact of Information Technology on Libraries: A Futuristic

Approach. ILA Bulletin, 2000,36 (3). P. 87-92
· Singh, Jagtar and Trishanjit Kaur End-User Training: A new Dimension in the Expanding
Role of Library and Information Professionals. ILA Bulletin. 1999-2000, 35 (3-4). P.43-45.

· Singh, Om Shashi Shekhar. Internet and Libraries in Digital environment. ILA Bulletin 2003,
38 (3), P.40-42

· Tocatline, Jacques(1978).Training Information Users. Unesco Bulletin for Libraries 32

(1978)

· Tucker, J. M. (1979). The origins of bibliographic instruction in academic libraries, 1876-

1914. In R. D. Stueart & R. D. Johnson (Eds,), Neto horizons for academic libraries (pp. 268-
276). New York: K. G. Saur.

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