Presentation
ECIL- Learning at the Reference Desk
European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL)
(2016)
Abstract
To put it simply, we are what we measure. If libraries measure books, then libraries are about books. If libraries measure learning, than libraries are about learning. One area in libraries that often has significant learning opportunity with patrons is the reference desk. Libraries often gather data about these interactions and traditionally categorize these transactions by question type, time spent answering the question, and time of day. Unfortunately, these traditional measures do little to connect to the learning aspect that may or may not occur during these reference encounters. Without proper evidence, it is difficult for libraries to say that reference encounters might allow patrons to practice critical thinking skills, build information literacy competencies, or support any other aspect of learning that happens during these patron interactions. This paper presents a case for using university or national learning outcomes, such as information literacy, as means to better articulate the impact reference services have. Library assessments derived through such learning competencies offer a potentially rich framework for libraries to re-envision the measures they employ to describe themselves to their educational partners both at a local level such as university administrators, as well as at a national level such as accrediting agencies. The objective of this research is to make the case for better assessment measures at library service points to capture desired learning outcomes such as information literacy. These assessments will allow libraries to better articulate their contribution to desired learning outcomes in the communities they serve. This data will also better convey the value reference services have in supporting and enhancing information literacy. Â The methodology for this project involved piloting a redesigned reference question intake form. This new form highlighted activities that supported student learning that often were not captured by traditional means such as teaching patrons how to evaluate resources, correctly cite materials, or other information literacy-related skills . These activities were then mapped to university and national learning goals such as problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking.The outcomes from this pilot have included a better aligned assessment instrument to campus learning goals, This instrument now allows reference services to evidence supported statements about the time and effort they contribute to information literacy building skills.
Keywords
- Information literacy,
- reference,
- learning goals,
- library assessment
Disciplines
Publication Date
Fall October, 2016
Location
Prague, CZ
Citation Information
Rick A Stoddart and Beth Hendrix. "ECIL- Learning at the Reference Desk" European Conference on Information Literacy (ECIL) (2016) Available at: http://works.bepress.com/richard_stoddart/69/
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons CC_BY-SA International License.