Understanding Librarians : Communication is the Issue

ISBN-13: 9781843346159 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 200 str.

J. Paulo Davim

Opis

Aimed at professionals and trainee professionals within the library and information service (LIS) fields, this book reminds the reader of the frequently ignored communication-gulf between the professional and the layman, and in particular the lack of true communication between LIS professionals and the user. It focuses especially on 'non-standard' users, such as non-native speakers or those with some disability. The author provides accessible examples of good practice, assesses their degree of success and suggests further ways to improve performance in information provision.

• Written by a "poacher turned gamekeeper" - an information professional who is also an experienced adult educator
• Jargon-free and accessible style of delivery
• Highlights the human aspects of using libraries, even if this is in a virtual environment

Recenzje

"Hull provides a well-researched argument, which is anchored in evidence. While written mainly from an academic library perspective, the themes remain relevant to all libraries." --The Australian Library Journal

"Provides a comprehensive overview of the various barriers a library professional needs to keep in mind when dealing with customers." --The Australian Library Journal

"This easy-to-read and easy-to-understand book can be treated both as a starting point for further research and as a code of conduct for librarians, library managers, and library practitioners." --Journal of Librarianship and Information Science

Spis treści

Dedication

List of tables

About the author and contributors

Chapter 1: Defining the problem

Chapter 2: What are libraries for?

Chapter 3: Images of librarians

Chapter 4: Psychological barriers

Chapter 5: Social class and lack of education as barriers

Chapter 6: Language as a barrier

Chapter 7: Lack of literacy numeracy skills as a barrier

Chapter 8: Information CommunicationTechnology as a barrier

Chapter 9: Disability as a barrier

Chapter 10: Clarity of purpose

Chapter 11: Evaluation the value of systematic research

Chapter 12: Librarians as reflective practitioners

Chapter 13: Staff development

Chapter 14: Self publicise

Chapter 15: Breaking down the library walls: responding to the needs of the Google generation

Chapter 16: Communication within partnerships at Deakin University Library: the liaison link

Chapter 17: Where are we now?

Index

O autorze

Dr Barbara Hull is the author of the British Library-commissioned report, Barriers to Libraries as agents of lifelong learning. Hull has published widely in both the information profession literature and to a wider audience, she has delivered numerous international conference papers on overcoming barriers to accessing libraries, a number having come by invitation. As a lifelong practitioner in Adult and Community Education, Hull focussed her PhD. research on the changes in the self-esteem of students from previous educational disadvantages. With 27 years' experience in management of libraries in Special, College, Further and Higher Education, she has always had a special interest in empowering the end-user. For 13 years Hull was Social Sciences Librarian with special responsibility for library research at Teesside University, where she currently teaches English for Learning to Speakers of Other Languages.