Librarians and the Evolving Research Needs of Distance Students

Abstract

Well-developed research skills are essential to a student's educational success. Students, who have not known a world without internet access often feel their research skills are good enough but usually fail to determine what the best information is and how to find it most efficiently. They have been raised in a world of instant access and instant gratification. Today we can book flights, buy cars and communicate across the globe with a keystroke. But asking Google for an answer is not equivalent to doing research. While these tools are constantly improving, and in our lifetimes will replace the need for research skills, the time has not yet come. Today our students still have a need for finding reliable scholarly information and online library research classes and services are the best methods for providing students with the skills they need to succeed. Designing, implementing, and teaching library research classes and embedding online research services into all online class offerings allows librarians to communicate research skills that meet our students at their point of need.