I attended a demo of the new SirsiDynix Eps/Rooms OPAC + Website product this morning and one of the questions raised by a librarian colleague of mine got me thinking about the role of information literacy in libraries.
The Sirsi trainer was explaining the ability to attach qualifiers to users’ searches on the back end within a subject-specific room. Essentially, when a user performs a search of the catalog within the “Arts” room, the qualifier “AND Arts” or “AND (Art OR Arts)” can be added for contextual search results. Some of the librarians raised concerns about whether this was “leading” the user without informing him of the qualifiers on his search.
This got me thinking about whether the user cares of his search is changed on the backend. Do most of our users think more deeply about their searches than one or two words? No! Usability research continues to confirm that given a box in which to type a search, users very often use the “Google” approach. Are we going to change this with traditional library-centric information literacy programs? Will users *(especially undergraduates) begin forming complex searches using Boolean logic in our OPACs given the current information literacy programming? Unlikely. That is an enormous task, and with staffing, funding, and curricular integration issues it’s improbable. We need to begin a new approach to fostering life-long information literacy skills by targeting affective library/research skills.
The people developing the ACRL standards should closely follow the creation of the new AASL information literacy standards. These new standards address students’ feelings toward libraries and research and how those feelings may affect their information seeking behavior.
I see an opportunity here to raise library awareness and promote use of the skilled information professionals at the library. Maybe we should stop focusing so much effort on creating proficient searchers and start focusing on making users comfortable asking for help. It may help save our profession from the endangered list.
Thanks Dan, I’ve never given formal instruction on the Advanced Search of our OPAC to any class, just to interested individuals (maybe 2 in the last 5 years). I just want the first year students (and everyone) to be able to find an item in the catalog, interpret the record, and locate it on the shelf in our library in the most efficient manner (for them as novice end users!) and be happy. As a result, I stress the importance of subject headings over anything that the advanced search interface can do.
By: Jordana on May 1, 2007
at 9:28 pm