Discusses active learning techniques in elementary education and postsecondary education and describes the successful conversion of a research methods lecture to an active learning session at the University of Nebraska library. Ideas for increasing student participation in university library instruction are suggested, and effects of active…

Discusses bibliographic instruction (BI) from the viewpoint of community college librarians based on responses to a previously published journal article that questioned the effectiveness of BI. Topics addressed include definitions of user education; changing student demographics in higher education; and unique characteristics of the community…

Describes a search strategy method for bibliographic instruction in academic libraries that includes the major types of bibliographic tools and the prescribed sequence in which to use them. The strategy begins with dictionaries and encyclopedias, progresses through bibliographies and subject guides, and ends with periodicals and books. (five…

Discusses bibliographic instruction in academic libraries as an appropriate teaching strategy to encourage and reinforce the development of critical thinking in the college curriculum. Theories about critical thinking are examined, and an example of how bibliographic instruction is related to critical thinking in a course at North Park College is…

Reprints the introduction to a past theme issue that discussed library instruction and reference services in academic and public libraries. Topics include library instruction as part of public services; and two main viewpoints of library instruction, one of which believes in its value and one which believes it is unnecessary. (LRW)

Discusses principles of learning and instructional theories and relates them to instruction in academic library user education. Highlights include a conceptual approach, Gagne's hierarchical knowledge and instructional design, Merrill's instructional theory, Reigeluth's elaboration theory, Kolb's experiential learning, Perry's cognitive…

Presents guidelines for the development and evaluation of training sessions for the use of electronic information resources. Outline includes audience level, content, audience size; registration/publication, length of session, trainer's experience, location and facility, workstations, handouts, other equipment and resources, type of presentation,…

Considers the new roles of librarians that have evolved from changes in technology. Discusses new job titles for librarians; changes in bibliographic instruction; training the trainers; virtual branch libraries; teamwork and collaboration; changes in organizational structures; and outsourcing options. (LRW)

Describes how a student-based program at the University of Maine at Farmington encouraged students to use the renovated library facilities. Following a needs assessment, Writing Center peer tutors were trained to deliver a library instruction workshop. The key factor in the instructional program was that it was student-led. (AEF)

In order to improve library instruction and to produce data that shed light on the value of this core library service, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Library conducted a formal assessment on its instruction program in 2004. A group of 688 users from 25 one-shot sessions was surveyed by a questionnaire four to eight weeks after…

Given the many changes in our students and their study and research practices, libraries are finding it necessary to seek new ways to reach these students. The Undergraduate Library at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign created a new model to do so. Librarian's Office Hours are a hybrid of reference and instructional services that…

Libraries devote serious resources to user-education programs and need to measure their effectiveness with hard data. This guide was designed to simplify the evaluation planning process and the making of evaluation instruments. The material was developed from hundreds of survey instruments used by librarians around the country. The handbook…

Staff shortages and high service ideals collided when the Iowa State University Parks Library recognized its need to find an alternative to the human-conducted tour for various groups of library users, including hundreds of non-native speakers of English who arrived at the school to enter a degree program. An audiocassette taped tour was developed…

A brief questionnaire was sent to a random selection of 70 librarians in the State University of New York Librarians' Association Directory to determine the frequency of their use of humor at the reference desk and in the library instruction classroom, their perceptions of classroom humor, and their reasons for using humor in these situations.…

This annotated bibliography and library guide were developed for use by nursing students at the City University of New York, College of Staten Island library. The bibliography covers handbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other materials. The guide also includes information on locating relevant articles and how a researcher can obtain a…