The government and society are increasingly questioning the value of libraries and higher education institutions (HEIs). While there is no one agreed upon standard of value or a way to measure it, both Library and Information Science (LIS) and Education research have suggested that library and educational resources and services should demonstrate…

Libraries are continually changing to meet the needs of users; this includes implementing discovery tools, also referred to as web-scale discovery tools, to make searching library resources easier. Because these tools are so new, it is difficult to establish definitive best practices for teaching these tools; however, promising practices are…

This article describes the rationale and efficacy of a graduate-level teaching module providing loosely structured practice with real archives. Introducing early career scholars to archival methods changed their beliefs about knowledge, research, teaching, and their discipline(s). This case study suggests that archives can be productive training…

This study identifies the development of information search expertise of 12 beginning research students (six in education and six in engineering) who were provided with a set of systematic search training sessions over a period of one year. The study adopts a longitudinal approach in investigating whether there were different stages in the…

Describes a study that sought to identify successful and unsuccessful search patterns for known-item serial literature. The results indicate that multiple factors contribute to an unsuccessful outcome. Information gathered through in-depth interviews is used to suggest further evaluation and development of public access to serials holdings and…

Discussion of information literacy focuses on a study at Rutgers University that was conducted to determine how undergraduates evaluate the results of their CD-ROM database searches. A proposed instructional model is explained that is designed to give students the skills they need to use information sources successfully. (three references) (LRW)

Discussion of information skills and library skills instruction focuses on a study of the information retrieval process used by grade six children in New Zealand. Selection of keywords, use of the card catalog, and location of books using the Dewey Decimal system are investigated, and the role of cognitive skills is discussed. (17 references) (LRW)