This workshop was on evidence-based practice and how teacher
librarians are important to the LIS profession. Having worked at the State
Library of Queensland setting up exhibitions and outings, I know first-hand how
important it is to educate users in the use of the library and to teach the
contents of the library for the future, to enhance use of the collections and
for general knowledge.
This stems back to the issues with library perception and as
a result, school students are hesitant to use a library. Why go look in a
library when you can simply google the answer? The discussion of authoritative
sources must take place and be led by both teacher librarian’s instruction.
This is but one example.
People need to be educated in library functions and the
collections contained within a library. The only way for this to happen is for
librarians to put themselves out in the community as teachers of research and
good use of a library. To do this, I
believe the industry first has to transition more fundamentally into the
digital age and get rid of this notion that libraries are ‘old’ and not needed
anymore. With the advent of the internet, guidance is paramount if people are
to find the right information that they need.
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