Over the last three decades, promotion of information literacy has become one of the main goals of librarians and academics. As the emergence of information technologies has raised new challenges and roles for users, information literacy has shifted from the concept of simple training to the provision of the skills and competencies that are…

In the digital era, information literacy skills enable users to locate and use online materials effectively. One persistent library service for libraries is providing skills training to students. This article traces the creation of online library instructional tutorials, currently referred to as digital learning objects, in academic libraries. It…

Surveys the literature on the teaching of bibliographic search strategies to college students, emphasizing the areas of instructional content and teaching methods. (FM)

This study looked for patterns in the search tactics and behavior of Israeli high school students. A sample of 200 students that were engaged in final projects filled out questionnaires to reconstruct their bibliographic searches. The relation between search patterns and student characteristics--bibliographic instruction, project adviser, and home…

This study investigated university student information literacy skills benchmarked by the Association of College and Research Libraries: (a) determine the extent of information needed, (b) access the needed information effectively and efficiently, (c) evaluate information and its sources critically, (d) understand the economic, legal, and social…

Discusses the needs of remote users of online public access catalogs (OPACs). User expectations are discussed; problems encountered by remote-access users are examined, including technical problems and searching problems; support services are described, including instruction, print guides, and online help; and differences from the needs of…

Discusses the definition of an online library catalog; five factors to be considered by the online catalog designer; user-computer communication (error messages, help screens, prompts, unnatural language); online tutorials and offline instruction offered by bibliographic instruction librarians; and the current situation. Nine references are…

An instruction program that covers search tools on the Web should incorporate a user's information need as the basis for teaching these tools. This article lays the theoretical groundwork for such a query-based approach, deriving its argument from the literature published in the early days of databases in libraries. A review of recent literature…

This examination of misunderstandings between librarians and teaching faculty over concepts of library use and research concludes that library skills and research skills are essentially different things that can be learned in isolation from each other. Implications of these findings for bibliographic instruction and library policies are discussed.…

Reviews research findings that indicate students learn more and produce better research products following planned, integrated information skills instruction by the teacher and teacher-librarian together. Topics include the search process, search strategies, concept mapping, integrated resource-based instruction, and the need for formal planning.…

This study focused on how CD-ROM systems were being used in a college library and training users had received or assistance they required. Patrons completed surveys and librarians logged assistance requests to determine the level of assistance needed for CD-ROM workstations. Results showed most patrons need assistance from librarians even for…

Considers the success and satisfaction of end users' searches on CD-ROM systems. Topics discussed include introductory training lessons; the selection of appropriate databases; search strategies; and implications for the role of library staff and for staffing patterns. Examples of end-user search techniques and common errors are included. (11…

Presents a methodology for describing, analyzing, and evaluating the public service functions of serial file systems, and describes a user study conducted in a university departmental library to determine the efficiency and effectiveness of its system in enabling students new to the library to locate known-items in the serials collection. (CDD)

Presents literature review of concept-based search theory and its relationship to end user instruction for online bibliographic information systems. Existing search models and search curriculums from the library and information science literature are surveyed, scholarly patterns of information access are discussed, and commercial sources of…

Highlights the changes that have occurred from 1987-93 in database access systems. Topics addressed include types of databases, including CD-ROMs; enduser interface; database selection; database access management, including library instruction and use of primary literature; economic issues; database users; the search process; and improving…