User Education in Health Sciences Libraries

Here is ready access to a wide range of information for librarians who teach users how to best utilize information resources. Library and information science students and practitioners can learn from the educational programs that have been developed over the last decade, as represented in this volume, to build and expand their roles as consultants and educators.Over the past decade, the role of the reference librarian has been radically altered due to the rise of end-user searching, the development of information management software, and the creation of the information superhighway. User Education in Health Sciences Libraries helps prepare librarians to deal effectively with these role changes. Bringing together the best information on the subject from the pages of Medical Reference Services Quarterly, this book is intended to create an interest in user education in libraries and generate ideas for new or expanded user education programs. Articles range from very practical applications to education theory.User Education in Health Sciences Libraries focuses on user education, emphasizing the teaching of electronic resources, and ranges from educational theory to very practical applications, including descriptions of educational programs that have worked in health sciences libraries. Examples are based on experiences in health sciences libraries, but concepts and principles are applicable to other types of libraries. Articles in the book are divided into five sections. These sections are: Program Planning and Implementation: Discusses planning for both new and existing programs and the implementation of user education programs. Teaching End-User Searching: Focuses on teaching end users how to search databases. Research in User Education: Argues the need for research in user education and presents research which has been done primarily in the area of database searching. Information Management Education and Computer Literacy Programs: Discusses both information management education (IME) programs and courses aimed simply at computer literacy. Computer-Assisted Instruction and Audiovisual Aids: Presents examples of new and different products which have developed as teaching aids.User Education in Health Sciences Libraries is a handy guide for library school students and librarians involved in user education programs such as bibliographic instruction, educating end users, and information management education. It complements materials for graduate library school students and aids practicing librarians in their daily work.