Librarians and breaking barriers to information literacy: Implications for continuing professional development and workplace learning

Abstract

Purpose

This paper reports on a descriptive study undertaken to gain an overview of library and Information workplace needs (as of early 2002) for library professionals with knowledge and skills related to user education and information literacy instruction.

Design/methodology/approach

A description and discussion of a small‐scale research project that used content analysis techniques to study job advertisements posted to the international LIBJOBS listserv over a period of three months.

Findings

A little over half of the advertisements required at least some experience of and/or skills in user education or instruction of some kind.

Research limitations/implications

The analyses reported in this paper were carried out early in 2002. However, more recent literature, and more recent research reported elsewhere, indicate that the findings remain valid.

Practical implications

The findings of the study, and recent literature, indicate that skills associated with user education and information literacy instruction are important in today’s libraries.

Originality/value

The paper focuses on demonstrable employer and workplace requirements for the LIS professional, rather than abstract formulations and discusses the resultant implications for librarians’ continuing professional development and workplace learning.

Citation

Clyde, L.A. (2005), "Librarians and breaking barriers to information literacy: Implications for continuing professional development and workplace learning", Library Review, Vol. 54 No. 7, pp. 425-434. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242530510611929