Introduction
Over the years, librarians have chosen to view library patrons through a prism of collections they have as opposed viewing collections through the patron’s eyes. To ensure this is done, it is imperative that librarians devise effective strategies to achieve these objectives (Glass & Holyoak, 1986, p. 23). One of the strategies that librarians should consider prioritizing on is in search for literature (Morgan, 1995, p. 15).
Librarian’s main duty is pegged on helping patrons to search for whatever information they want. In circumstances where patrons are conducting research on decision-making, literature search is a requisite in defining research problem as it transforms problems into research designs (Morgan, 1995 p. 15).
Literature search enhances a patron’s awareness about similar problems, which are potentially useful as well as types of analyses techniques available that would make data useful (Morgan, 1995, p. 22). By using the strategy of literature search first, librarians engage in searching and evaluation of results by titles, abstracts, or scanning of texts (Morgan, 1995, p. 45).
This helps in formation of a conceptual framework of the topic thereby making librarians see their collections in the eyes of patrons (Zweizig, Johnson, Robbins & Besant, 1996, p. 55). Through literature search, patrons get to report on similar projects that reveal weaknesses that can be avoided (Morgan, 1995, p. 26).
The patrons also get to report on projects that provide useful data for comparison. Literature search done by librarians also enables patrons to consider replicating or building on published reports. This is very important in setting benchmarks in strategic plans. Other than using printed sources, librarians can use CD-ROM (Trudi & Newkirk, 1996, p. 70) and other online databases in their literature searches.
The Web can also be used in literature searches because many institutions, associations and government agencies share a great deal of information on their websites. Literature search can also be diversified to capture other related disciplines that can help shed light on useful methods and design perspectives for similar problems.
In ensuring that librarians see their collections in the eyes of their patrons, it is imperative that literature search process integrates aspects of preliminary search and retrieval of potentially useful material. In addition, they should not only search but also engage in detailed review of documents to determine their usefulness. It is also imperative that librarians make notes of possible search terms and terms that should be included in the search strategy.
Librarians can also participate in online discussion groups as a strategy for ensuring that they look at their collections in the eyes of their patrons. In this respect, the internet helps librarians to study and solve problems cooperatively. Online discussion forums like Listservs and news groups can be very resourceful to professionals. These have ensured that librarians get to share information regardless of the distance and time that separates them.
Moreover, they can easily seek advice and opinion within their profession from colleagues who gladly offer solutions to issues raised. This puts librarians in better positions relative to their peers who previously suffered similar predicaments. A major advantage of professional online discussions lists is that it maintains web archives of all the postings. These archives serve as sources of information that can be used in solving problems that librarians work on.
Moreover, they act as a service to the profession. For gainful use of these forums, librarians have to join relevant online discussion lists, listen to them for a while, search their archives, gather important information and finally ask questions. Through this, librarians would have several exchanges on the topic.
This is a very important step in ensuring that librarians see their collections through the eyes of their patrons. Furthermore, it ensures that their library experience becomes fruitful. This enhances patron’s experience if the knowledge gained from online discussion forums are used in improving service delivery.
Other strategies include articulation of research information needs where open questions are used to help patrons think systematically about different aspects of project topics. These include topics like what they want to accomplish with the project, what they know about the topic, what they need to know about the topic, and how the information would be useful (Neuman, 2012, p. 15).
Other strategies include collaboration, looking for existing data, engaging in review, revision, and replication. Here, systematic observations are used in place of informal observations (Neuman, 2012, p. 39).
Contribution to LIS field
The study of this topic is important to library because it makes librarians to begin thinking in terms of solving problems that patrons encounter (Koenig & Weller, 1998, p.40). This they do by engaging in online discussion forums where they freely interact regardless of differences in distance and time (McDonald & Basney-Micikas, 1994, p. 10).
Professionals who engage in online discussion forums maintain web archives that act as source of information about problems that librarians work on. They also act as useful referrals to resources that are indispensible in improving services that libraries offer to their patrons (Nahl-Jakobovits & Lakobovits, 1987, p.165).
When librarians join online discussion forums in a bid to ensure that they see their collections through the eyes of their patrons, they gather pertinent information that can be used in improving services that the library offers (Nahl-Jakobovits & Lakobovits, 1987, p. 165).
Consequently, studies on this topic are also important in the field of LIS. Instructors can work with librarians to create information literacy components as undergraduates work with graduate LIS students on a project in their course. In this respect, they get to ventilate issues pertaining to information literacy, computer literacy, and librarian-instructor cooperation (Neuman, 2012, p. 65). These are the pillars of concept analysis.
Information literacy integrates aspects of user literacy, library literacy and information technology skills. Computer literacy involves web tutorials, web/internet skills and technology literacy. Librarian-instructor cooperation captures much of course-oriented instruction, course-integrated instruction and teacher involvement.
Significance of LIS study
It is intriguing that library staffs, in spite of their frequent engagements with patrons, do not actually understand them. It is thought provoking that librarians still view their patrons through the prism of material that the libraries stock (Applegate, 1993, p.527).
Sources
I have decided to study this topic professionally to compel library managers to contemplate a stop on looking their patrons through the prism of their collections. Instead, they should create a scenario where library service delivery draws from experiences of needs and expectations of patrons (Neuman, 2012, p. 10). I have also decided to conduct this professional study to emphasize on the need for devising strategies that take cognizance of the view of patrons. This, if adopted would enhance patron satisfaction (Cullen, 2001, p.663).
What I know
Libraries normally make use of strategies that view patrons through the prism of collections they have.
What I need to know
In trying to come up with strategies that librarians can use to improve patron’s library experience, it is imperative that these strategies be tailored to respond to different service needs and expectations of patrons (Neuman, 2012, p. 28).
Key concepts, terms and vocabulary utilized
Key concepts that I encountered in the process of working on this proposal worksheet were user literacy, library literacy and information technology skills. Other terminologies encountered were research information needs, online discussion groups, online databases, and CD-ROM (Trudi & Newkirk, 1996, p. 11).
Further reading and research sources
I checked for most information from the websites and journals. The websites are as named below.
Citations/URLs
Some of the links that were resourceful to me included www.ala.org/aasl (Habley, 2012, par. 1), www.ala.org/acrl (About ACRL, 2012, par. 1) and www.arl.org/stats/ (Statistics Assignments, 2012, par. 1).
Difficulties
It is also important to note that literature ventilates strategies that librarians can use to improve experience of patrons in the library. However, this is in scarce. This forces researchers to do a lot of reading and relate whatever has been read into the topic under study. Some journals that have valuable information cannot be used because of subscription requisites. This makes search for existing data a complete nightmare to persons conducts these studies.
Conclusion
In the recent past, librarians have chosen to view library patrons via a prism of collections they have instead of seeing collections through them. This has led to lower efficacies in productivity. However, this trend is about to change with the introduction of new strategies aimed at improving their views and understanding of LIS.
Several issues have been found to affect LIS. These include librarians’ angle of view and search for literature, among others. Other issues that directly affect completion of this project touch on financial support, access to articles, reports and publications. For instance, availability of resources relies heavily on funds. This, among others. Issues, needs to be addressed.
References List
About ACRL. (2012). Retrieved from: www.ala.org/acrl
Applegate, R. (1993). Models of User Satisfaction: Understanding False Positives. RQ, 32(4), 525-539.
Cullen, R. (2001). Perspectives on User Satisfaction Surveys. Library Trends, 49 (4), 662-686.
Glass, A.L., & Holyoak, K.J. (1986). Problem Solving and Creativity. New York: Random House.
Habley, J. (2012). Tekeuchi to speak on how families matter in the digital age. Retrieved from: www.ala.org/aasl
Koenig, H., & Weller, A.C. (1998). Using Transaction Log Analysis to Improve OPAC Retrieval Results. College & Research Libraries, 59(I), 39-50.
McDonald, J. A., & Basney-Micikas, L. (1994). Academic Libraries: The Dimensions Of their Effectiveness. Westport, C.N: Greenwood.
Morgan, S. (1995). Performance Assessment in Academic Libraries. New York: Mansell.
Nahl-Jakobovits, D., & Lakobovits, L. (1987). Teaching the Analysis of Titles: Dependent and Independent Variables in Research Articles. Research Strategies, 5(4), 164-171.
Neuman, W. L. (2012). Basics of social research: Qualitative and quantitative approaches. 3rd ed. Boston: Pearson: Prentice Hall.
Statistics Assignments. (2012). Retrieved from: www.arl.org/stats/
Trudi, E.J., & Newkirk, J.G. (1996). The Effect of CD-ROM Instruction on Search Operator Use. College & Research Libraries, 57(1), 68-76.
Zweizig, D., Johnson, D.W., Robbins, J., & Besant, M. (1996). The Tell It! Manual: The Complete Program for Evaluating Library Performance. Chicago: American Library Association.