Dataset Information

Current status of information literacy instruction practices in medical libraries of Pakistan.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The research explored the current practices of information literacy (IL) instruction in medical libraries of Pakistan.

Methods

A semi-structured questionnaire was mailed to the head librarians of all 114 academic medical libraries in Pakistan. It investigated the types of IL instruction provided, topics covered, methods of delivery and assessment, level of integration in the curriculum, and level of collaboration with teaching staff.

Results

The study revealed that 74% of the respondents had offered some types of IL instruction in their institutions during the previous year, ranging from library orientation to research-level skills. IL instruction is typically only offered to new students or first-time library users or on demand. A majority of the respondents developed IL instruction programs without faculty involvement. Librarians were primarily responsible for offering IL instruction in medical institutions. Face-to-face instruction in computer labs or lecture halls and individual instruction at reference desks were identified as the most common IL instruction delivery methods. The data indicated that oral feedback, written feedback, and searching in a computer lab were the most popular assessment methods that medical librarians used.

Conclusion

IL instruction activities in medical libraries of Pakistan are in their infancy. Medical librarians also lack systematic approaches to IL instruction.

Implications

Medical librarians need to develop educational partnerships with faculty for integrating IL instruction into the mainstream curriculum.

SUBMITTER: Ullah M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4188055 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Current status of information literacy instruction practices in medical libraries of Pakistan.

Ullah Midrar M Ameen Kanwal K

Journal of the Medical Library Association : JMLA 20141001 4

<h4>Objectives</h4>The research explored the current practices of information literacy (IL) instruction in medical libraries of Pakistan.<h4>Methods</h4>A semi-structured questionnaire was mailed to the head librarians of all 114 academic medical libraries in Pakistan. It investigated the types of IL instruction provided, topics covered, methods of delivery and assessment, level of integration in the curriculum, and level of collaboration with teaching staff.<h4>Results</h4>The study revealed th ...[more]

PMID: 25349546

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Project description:BackgroundTo conduct a systematic assessment of library and informatics training at accredited Western U.S. medical schools. To provide a structured description of core practices, detect trends through comparisons across institutions, and to identify innovative training approaches at the medical schools.MethodsAction research study pursued through three phases. The first phase used inductive analysis on reported library and informatics skills training via publicly-facing websites at accredited medical schools and the academic health sciences libraries serving those medical schools. Phase Two consisted of a survey of the librarians who provide this training to undergraduate medical education students at the Western U.S. medical schools. The survey revealed gaps in forming a complete picture of current practices, thereby generating additional questions that were answered through the Phase Three in-depth interviews.ResultsPublicly-facing websites reviewed in Phase One offered uneven information about library and informatics training at Western U.S. medical schools. The Phase Two survey resulted in a 77% response rate. The survey produced a clearer picture of current practices of library and informatics training. The survey also determined the readiness of medical students to pass certain aspects of the United States Medical Licensure Exam. Most librarians interacted with medical school curricular leaders through either curricula committees or through individual contacts. Librarians averaged three (3) interventions for training within the four-year curricula with greatest emphasis upon the first and third years. Library/informatics training was integrated fully into the respective curricula in almost all cases. Most training involved active learning approaches, specifically within Problem-Based Learning or Evidence-Based Medicine contexts. The Phase Three interviews revealed that librarians are engaged with the medical schools' curricular leaders, they are respected for their knowledge and teaching skills, and that they need to continually adapt to changes in curricula.ConclusionsThis study offers a long overdue, systematic view of current practices of library/informatics training at Western U.S. medical schools. Medical educators, particularly curricular leaders, will find opportunities in this study's results for more productive collaborations with the librarians responsible for library and informatics training at their medical schools.

Dataset Information

Current status of information literacy instruction practices in medical libraries of Pakistan.

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Implications

Publications

Current status of information literacy instruction practices in medical libraries of Pakistan.

Similar Datasets

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