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Unit 11: User Education
has generated new concerns in developing library user education programs that would be more Notes
responsive to their needs. Current user education programs have expanded from teaching tools to
teaching concepts and from library instruction to information literacy and lifelong learning.
Self Assessment
State whether the following statements are true or false:
7. Developments in computers, microelectronics, and communication technologies have
radically changed the library and information environment.
8. Bibliographic instruction, also called library use instruction, or user training.
11.5 Summary
• The various definitions of information literacy focuses on how it has evolved from library
user education, and the aims of various information literacy programmes. It emphasize that
information literacy is a signal skill for lifelong and flexible learning situations.
• Tremendous increase in the volume of publication as well as the resulting complexity of
libraries and the methods by which literature is organized and disseminated necessitate the
user education.
• Many instruction librarians have espoused, and continue to espouse, the search strategy
approach because it provides a conceptual framework for teaching students research
techniques.
• Academic libraries support the teaching and research needs of institutions they serve. It is the
libraries’ responsibility to ensure that the use of its information sources, resources and services
are maximized to benefit its users, hence the necessity for user education programmes.
• Libraries provide a support service to the institutions they serve. It is important to understand
the goals of the institution served to enable librarians to come up with a mission statement
which should reflect the library’s commitment in helping the institution achieve its goals.
• An evaluation of user education literature reveals the importance of user education in academic
libraries. It is believed that improving users’ knowledge of their libraries’ collection and services
could be a motivating factor for more usage and more demands on the library.
11.6 Keywords
The Gateway to Information : The Gateway to information is developed by the Ohio State University
Library.
User Education : User education helps publicize library services.
11.7 Review Questions
1. Define the term information literacy.
2. Define user education.
3. Brief out the challenges in information services.
4. Mention any one specific components of user education.
LOVELY PROFESSIONAL UNIVERSITY 71
