USER EDUCATION — FOR LIFE?

Abstract

User education programmes fall into two categories. They may aim simply to help the student through his course and familiarise him with a single library (short‐term objectives), or to provide a fuller awareness of the generation, role, and use of information which may allow him to research problems in any subsequent professional situation (long‐term objectives). It is argued that the latter are more valuable; the objectives of librarian and student on such courses are discussed in detail. A user education course based on long‐term objectives is described, and its effects on student and library discussed. Finally, the contribution of user education to the “information society” is considered, and user education programmes with long‐term objectives preferred.

Citation

RENNIE McELROY, A. and BATE, J.L. (1982), "USER EDUCATION — FOR LIFE?", Library Review, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 3-10. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb012732