The document discusses challenges and opportunities for information consultants and libraries. It notes changing user preferences towards more open access information online rather than physical collections. While search engines are popular starting points, databases require more training. Younger generations are more accustomed to evaluating large amounts of online information. The role of libraries is ensuring users can effectively search, evaluate, and ethically use information for learning as needs change. Opportunities exist for libraries to guide users on search refinement, evaluation, and avoiding plagiarism using familiar tools.

1. Gilian Dawson
Information Consultant
University of Aberdeen Library

2.  Higher education
◦ Undergraduates to researchers
 Secondary schools
◦ S4 to S6
 Age range for 16 to 70
 Information to support the learning process
 & gain the bit of paper

3.  Physical collections unnecessary say users
 More open access information not buried in
databases
 Print groups fighting back in some disciplines
 Google generation is older than 25
◦ Our teachers and professors rely on it

4. Source;
AU LibQual
survey 2009

5. Source:
AU LibQual survey
2009

6. 17
70
58
72
20
53
24
70 68
62
30
58
Staff % Students %
Source: AU Library survey 2010

7.  Search engines used by 89% of students at
start
◦ Don’t even use advanced search
 Databases have to be found and then learned
 Catalogues no longer fit for purpose
 New generation of resource discovery
systems
◦ Encourages refining of searches

8.  Changing the way people communicate and
access information
 Information is changing from books to blogs

9. MEEBO Twitter Facebook Smart
phone
download
app
88
94 93
23
60
88
94 93
24
75
Staff % Students %
Source: AU Library survey 2010

10. Staff top 3 Students top 3
OPAC 34
Library databases 18
Metalib for e-
journals
15
OPAC 56
Library databases 35
Google Scholar 27
Source: Aberdeen University Library survey 2010

11.  Information overload doesn’t exist
 Evaluation unnecessary
◦ Take the easiest to find
 Ethical use only if caught
◦ Plagiarism is rife from primary school onwards
◦ Spend 20% of my time instructing on avoiding
plagiarism to schools and PGs
 Role of information is changing in education
◦ Learning by discovery/ active learning rather than
learning by absorption

12.  Huge market for librarians to write about
 LISTA subject search
◦ IL = 3000 hits
◦ User education = 270 hits
 Obama’s IL declaration in 2009
 Yet IL has failed to make an impact outside
libraries
 CoE barely acknowledges it
◦ Survey of teachers in E & S did not link IL to learning
process
◦ Separate skills process
 HE strategic plans rarely mention libraries or IL
 Where is Obama now?

13.  Big industry
 Spend time and staff salaries
 Some of us do it for a living
 Librarians & teachers/academics see its value
 Must demonstrate value for money
 Are we failing?
 Will next generation of search tools make us
redundant?

14.  Librarians are optimists
 Librarians are adaptable

15. Printed guides are
useful
e-guides are
useful
Library instruction
is useful
37 39
25
44
36
45
Staff Students
Source: AU Library survey 2010

16.  Information gathering is still complex
 3 systems of finding are in use
 Browsing print as a technique is only as
recent as the open shelves
 Database searching built on traditional
catalogue/keyword techniques
 Web type discovery systems/Google
searching the invisible

17.  Our role in a shinking market
 Show them how to use the things they use
better even if it is Google Scholar
 Spending less time on databases means more
time to talk about…..
 Evaluation
 Ethical use
 Tie search results to the library

18.  “It’s time to stop boring our users with
conducted tours of libraries, earnest library
guides, and endless demonstrations of those
arcane databases that we love so much”. (Godwin,
2008)
 Peter Godwin, (2008). Conclusion. In Information literacy meets library 2.0, ed. P.
Godwin and J. Parker, 165–81. London: Facet.