EduLib: The National Network of Electronic Library Accredited Trainers

EduLib is an eLib project from the training and awareness section of the programme. Jane Core describes the project, and how it will affect librarians in the Higher Education community.

What will EduLib do for librarians and "user education"?

ser education, information skills, librarians as educators? - the literature is more plentiful than rich. Paradoxically, references to the application of educational theory, concerning the way people learn, and how this is reflected in the activities and skills of librarians, are most infrequent. Librarians are involved now in training and supporting the users of information, and have every reason to be optimistic about the value and need for this in future. Changing terminology, trying to redefine the image conjured up by user education, has often served to do little more than perpetuate the cliché that librarians really want to be teachers! The majority of librarians like being librarians but appreciate that they have an evolving educational role. EduLib aims to make a more lasting change happen in libraries by recognising and providing staff development opportunities for the unique and complementary role librarians have to play in higher education.

Why should EduLib succeed now?

Demand from librarians already evolving their education and training role is fueled by the widespread availability of networked information services e.g. under the auspices of JISC . The exploitation of such information services has occurred alongside educational initiatives designed to harness technology in the service of learning, teaching and research e.g. CTI's and TLTP (within which TILT has been the first to address generic courseware for "electronic library" skills ). The Follett Review Group, and as a result the Electronic Libraries Programme has positioned libraries to respond strategically to such educational and technological innovation. As these initiatives have developed librarians have been identified as key agents in the provision of training in the use of networked information, and as such now have an opportunity to contribute to the cultural change taking place in higher education. The developments above issue an exciting challenge and prospect for librarians.

Are we any better prepared to meet the challenge than we were when "user education" EduLib cascade began 20 years ago? EduLib and other eLib training and awareness projects mean that we are. As the focus shifts from classroom centred teaching towards enabling active learning, librarians are empowered to contribute. Any change or innovation must prepare to address strategic and cultural issues and these have been well documented elsewhere in respect of an educational role for librarians.[1] The major issue for many individual librarians is whether they feel skilled to deliver "electronic library" training and support.

EduLib aims to provide librarians with the opportunity to acquire, or further develop their existing educational skills in order to ensure the design and delivery of effective training programmes. This will be achieved by developing a nationally recognised and accredited network of library trainers. EduLib trainers will possess both the networked information skills, and the pedagogic skills required to make the use of electronic libraries an everyday part of learning, teaching and research.

Noon, Patrick (1994) Finding a stragetic role for information skills in academic libraries in Information Skills in Academic Libraries SEDA Paper: 82. Staff Education and Devlopment Association.

Contents Page - Electronic Libraries Programme and Project Information
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January 17th 1996 - Comments can be emailed to Ariadne