Teaching the Library Research Process - Hardcover

Kuhlthau, Carol Collier

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0810827239 ISBN 13: 9780810827233

Publisher: Scarecrow Press, 1995

Synopsis

This practical resource gives academic librarians and school media specialists a complete instructional program for introducing students to the process of library research. The program has been tested and proven as an exceptionally effective method for guiding students in independent learning using library resources. The second edition of this highly regarded text incorporates use of newer library technologies into innovative process strategies, instructional plans, and coaching techniques. Seven basic steps of the research process are identified and described. Ready-to-use activities with worksheets are provided to help students achieve the specific task to be accomplished at each stage. In many ways the book is more timely than when the first edition was published in 1985. The library research process approach to learning integrates subject area content with essential information processing skills, preparing students to address real problems in real-world contexts in the information age.

About this title

About the Author

Carol Collier Kuhlthau (MLS, EdD, Rutgers University) is Associate Professor, School of Communication, Information and Library Studies, Rutgers and coordinates the school library media specialist certification program. Her many publications include "Seeking Meaning: A Process Approach to Library and Information Services, School Librarian's Grade-by-Grade Activites Program, Information Skills for an Information Age, " and numerous articles on information seeking, information skills, and information literacy. Her research on the information search process received the Jesse Shera Award from the American Library Association.

Reviews

Kuhlthau translates the results of her studies on the library research process into a manual for library media specialists and teachers to be used with secondary students. It contains overviews of the various steps in the process (from initiating a research assignment to preparing to present the research results) and a variety of accompanying activities with worksheets. An important feature is the stress Kuhlthau places on the importance of acknowledging student feelings as they proceed through the research stages. This book will be most useful when both a library media specialist and teacher take it to heart-a librarian acting alone will be hard-pressed to have the continued access to students necessary to follow through on the activities. While lower-level undergraduate research mirrors that done by high school students, college and university librarians without the luxury of a credit-bearing course would be unable to choose more than one or two activities outlined here, sacrificing the coherency of the process. For those not requiring a practical manual, Kuhlthau's recent Seeking Meaning: A Process Approach to Library and Information Services (Ablex, 1993) is a more scholarly treatment that provides all public service librarians with a better understanding of student frustration with the research process and suggests possible counseling strategies. School and academic libraries owning the first edition (1985) need not purchase the second, as the few revisions are minor.
Trudi E. Jacobson, SUNY at Albany Libs.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Scarecrow Press
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0810827239
• ISBN 13: 9780810827233
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 206