General
A survey reported in 1978 of 74 North American libraries providing point-of-use library instruction (“any presentation that informs the patron about the use of a particular reference/research tool and is found at the location of that tool”) showed that, in response to the question of whether or not point-of-use instruction worked, the following answers were given:
it worked 46 (62%) libraries
it worked under certain conditions 15 (20%) libraries
uncertain 6 (8%) libraries
it did not work 5 (7%) libraries
[not accounted for 2 (3%) libraries]
However, only 40 (54%) respondents reported that they had employed any evaluation of their point-of-use instruction. (Source)
Ibid…. showed that, in response to the question of whether or not point-of-use instruction saved time for librarians, the following responses were given:
it saved time 28 (38%) libraries
it saved time under certain conditions 9 (12%) libraries
doubted that it saved time 17 (23%) libraries
it did not save time 13 (18%) libraries
[not accounted for 7 (9%) libraries] (Source)
Academic
A survey reported in 1981 of bibliographic instruction in business school libraries (sample size: 120 libraries; responding: 65; usable: 61 or 50.8%) showed thatrespondents rated the overall effectiveness of the orientation/instruction methods used as follows: “highly successful” (5%), “moderately successful” (58.3%), “needs improvement” (30%), and “total failure” (1.7%). (Source)
School
A survey of teachers and librarians at 2 high schools (sample size: 133) reported in 1967 showed thatthe greatest areas of disagreement between teachers and school librarians were:
1. librarians should help students select research topics (teacher agreement, 58%; librarian agreement, 88%);
2. the librarian ought to establish separate resource centers equipped with pertinent equipment and supplies for every academic area (teacher agreement, 75%; librarian agreement, 44%);
3. librarians should visit classes and give book talks (teacher agreement, 63%; librarian agreement, 88%);
4. room libraries are more effective than resource centers as a central library (teacher agreement, 25%; librarian agreement, 0%). (Source)
Ibid…. showed thatover 90% of the teachers and school librarians agreed with the following 8 statements:
1. school librarians should be considered part of the school’s instructional staff;
2. high school students should be given instruction in library skills;
3. librarians should help direct student’s leisure reading;
4. librarians should keep teachers informed of new materials available for their use;
5. many teachers don’t use the library and its facilities effectively;
6. instruction in effective use of the library should be given as part of a teacher’s in-service training;
7. the library staff should include someone to help teachers prepare audiovisual aids;
8. teachers would use the library more effectively if they knew more about what resources are available and how to locate them. (Source)