CHAPTER 5: Variation in Ways of Experiencing Information Literacy: Phase One
5.2. The First Phase Categories
5.2.3. Category C IL is Using Library Skills
The focus of this category is on processing a set of basic library skills such as searching for books and articles and advanced library skills such as managing library collections and using technology to interact and manage information. For the student, this category represents the bibliographical skills which are related to searching, finding, using library collections and using technological tools in the library to use information while for the librarian it is indicative of to describe library management skills including the ability to use available information technology to administrate the library.
Information literacy … I think this term is a library-focus term. It is means the ability to use the library, to search for the books, find books and manage the library. (SL18)
I think the meaning of school library has changed, so, all related terms to school library also changed. I mean in the past we were calling the place where books were stored
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organized and used a school library and we called the required skills to use that place library skills. Now school library is a centre where information and technology are available and required skills to use that centre is information literacy. (SL4)
The context of this category is the library. The library is the place where the students find their information resources to meet their information needs. At the same time, it is the place where the librarian can apply management and communication skills. That the school library contributes in different ways to students‘ experiences and skills as well as school librarian‘s experiences and skills
Information literacy as a term is not far from the library. It is the library‘s skills. For the students it is their ability to search, find and use library books and for the librarian it is his skills to manage the library successfully. (SL20)
SL5: Well, I think information literacy is a term that is related to the school library.... [Silent] it is the result of the interaction between library collections, student and librarians.
Interviewer: Sorry but I am not really sure what do you mean, can you explain that to me please?
SL5: Silent... I do not know... [Pause] students need the school library to gain benefit from collections located in it. School library to them is the place, which must be well organized by the librarian, where information resources are stored and collected for their benefits. School librarians must have considerable skills to manage, organize and
administrate not only the collections but also the library. Information literacy is the link ... I mean the hidden link between librarian, collections and students. It helps librarian to administrate the library, collections to be organized and students to gain benefit from library. Can you see the relationship (laughing?)
Like previous categories, within this category, all textual, printed and electronic information are in focus. The librarian, according to this category is a person with management skills who can use technology to administrate the library. This means interacting with information and information technology is an essential skill to run the library business.
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Information literacy is the school librarians‘ ability to manage the library. I think as much management skills the school librarian has as much as he is able to serve his students and manage his library. The school librarian who is lack of literacy is illiterate person
because he could not perform his tasks and services on the optimal form. (SL5)
What the library would mean if it was a messy place. School library must be organized perfectly to allow students enjoy visiting the library. Today technological tools and facilities solve too complicated problems; old librarians used to stop hopelessly facing it. So, information literacy must include skills that help school librarians manage the library. SL9
Accordingly the students‘ role in this category is to be a professional library user who knows how to search and find the required books and information quickly and easily. That is, a student needs to be aware to his/her information needs and his/her skills must be in the same level that match his/her information needs
Information literate student is the student who know how to use the library, how to search on the shelves, where to find the books. I think her level of awareness to her reading needs is advanced. She knows what she wants, where to find it in the library and how to use the library collections. SL 1
SL3: that is a good question. Information literate student is effective user; he can use the library collections effectively to meet his needs. He knows how to invest any available facility in the library to meet his needs
Interviewer: what do you mean by effective user, can you describe this more please?
SL3: huuummm... effective users. I will explain it in my way
Interviewer: Please do
SL3… (Silent).There is an Arabic proverb says ―this person knows from where to start eating the shoulder‖ This means that person have the required knowledge to know from where to start and where to end. Effective user is the student who knows from where to start searching in the library, how and what to gain and where to finish and how to present. He has his map to know the way (laughing).
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The role of the school librarian, according to this category, is presented as a professional librarian. Unlike, previously categories, school librarians need to know how to run the library for the benefits of the school. Managing and organizing the library, according to this category, means the ability to classify, lend, store and save the library collections as well as using
technological tools to manage the library services
You can consider him from his library. He is well organized and tidy person. He is able to develop his library services. His students are able to reach to their required books easily. He knows how to use Dewey classification system to classify his library‘s books. He knows how to keep his library collection safe and tidy. (SL9)