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)

Dr. David Kohl

 "Libraries in the digital age are experiencing the most profound transformation since ancient Mesopotamian scribes first began gathering and organizing cuneiform tablets."

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