Instruction Training for LIS Students and New Librarians Amanda Click Instruction and Reference Librarian The American University in Cairo Claire Walker Reference and Instruction Librarian Cumberland University Help Us Help Them 1

Literature Review  Public service job listings referencing instruction responsibilities  %  %  1999 study of LIS programs  More than half of LIS programs regularly offered instruction courses 2

Literature Review  2002 study of LIS programs  58% of LIS programs offered instruction classes  63% as part of another course  Similar study in 2008  46 of 54 ALA-accredited LIS programs (85%) 3

Our Survey  27 questions distributed on ILI and NEWLIB  310 responses from librarians who graduated from LIS graduate programs between 2003 and 2008  39% in 2007 or 2008, 33% in 2005 or 2006, and 25% in 2003 or

Instruction Training in Graduate School How many respondents took a course on library instruction while in graduate school? 40% Of the 191 respondents who did NOT take an instruction course, 53% stated that there was no course of this type available. 5

Instruction Training in Graduate School Would be better prepared for their current jobs with additional instruction courses 70% 6

Instruction Training in Graduate School How important were instruction courses in relation to your career goals? 56% “important” or “very important” How important were courses in library instruction in relation to your current job? 61% “important” or “very important” 7

Instruction Training in Graduate School Satisfaction level with the availability of library instruction courses: 75% “neutral,” “somewhat satisfied” or “not satisfied at all” Satisfaction level with the quality of library instruction courses: 32% “satisfied” or “very satisfied” 8

Instruction Training in Graduate School Actual instruction experience was rated 66% “important” or “very important” Gaining instruction experience outside of coursework? 30% not able to 26% through practicums 44% through on the job experience 23% through other avenues 9

Our Experiences 10

Instruction Training On the Job 78% are employed in either a college or university library How would you describe your instruction duties? 68% “instruction is a major component of my position” 11

Instruction Training On the Job What are your instruction responsibilities? 85% “teach individuals at the reference desk” 81 % “teach one-shot library instruction sessions” 12

Instruction Training On the Job Have you received instruction training on the job?  56% No  44% Yes Have you sought additional instruction training on your own?  61% Yes  39% No 13

Instruction Training On the Job How satisfied were you with the availability of training?  38% “somewhat satisfied” or “unsatisfied”  32% “neutral”  30% “satisfied” or “very satisfied” 14

Instruction Training On the Job How satisfied were you with the quality of training?  33% “somewhat satisfied” or “unsatisfied”  36% “neutral”  31% “satisfied” or “very satisfied” 15

Instruction Training On the Job Most helpful training activities:  78% observing other librarians provide library instruction  56% receiving feedback from colleagues/other faculty  39% attending library instruction workshops 16

Instruction Training On the Job How important is on the job instruction training to you? 71% “important” or “very important” 17

Our Experiences 18

New Librarians ’ Self-Assessment How confident do you feel in your instruction skills? 63% “confident” or “very confident” With which aspect of instruction do you feel most confident?  61% familiarity with concepts and lesson content  49% preparing a lesson  48% speaking in front of a group 19

Suggestions for Improvement  Graduate School  Offer instruction courses regularly  Increase awareness of the importance of instruction training  On the Job  Evaluation is key to confidence and improvement  Asynchronous and inexpensive online training 20

References Albrecht, Rebecca and Sarah Baron. The Politics of Pedagogy: Expectations and Reality for Information Literacy in Librarianship. Journal of Library Administration 36, no. 1/2 (2002): Avery, Christine and Kevin Ketchner. Do Instruction Skills Impress Employers? College and Research Libraries 57 (May 1996): Larson, Mary Ellen and Ellen Meltzer. Education for Bibliographic Instruction. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science 28 (Summer 1987):

References Sproles, Claudeen, Johnson, Anna Marie, and Farison, Leslie. What Are the Teachers Teaching; How MLIS Programs are Preparing Academic Librarians for Instructional Roles. Journal of Education for Library and Information Science 49, no. 3 (2008): Westbrook, Lynn. Passing the Halfway Mark: LIS Curricula Incorporating User Education Courses. Journal of Education for Library and Information Studies 40, no. 2 (1999):

Thank you! Questions? Comments? Contact us: Amanda Click Claire Walker 23