Navigators and guides: the value of peer assistance in student use of electronic library facilities

Jager, Karin de

doi:10.1108/03055720410563450

Cited by 11 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“….] the University of Southern California" (De Jager, 2004). We have monitoring evidence that postgraduates have been using this facility alongside undergraduates, but more importantly we also have strong evidence of demand for a library service focused on research support.…”

Section: Second Component In His Diffusion Model) Is Presently Wide Omentioning

confidence: 93%

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The Research Commons: a new creature in the library?

Daniels

Darch²,

Jager³

2010

Performance Measurement and Metrics

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Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to explore the use made of the Research Commons during its first year of operation in an attempt to establish whether it actually provides a genuinely new and different service from the point of view of the end-users, and whether a facility such as this could indeed be presumed to support research and enhance research output at the university. Design/methodology/approach -Using Lippincott's assessment grid, an attempt was made to assess activities in the Research Commons according to the dimensions of extensiveness, efficiency, effectiveness, service quality and usefulness. Methodology was mixed, with quantitative and qualitative components that logged the extent and nature of the use of the various facilities in the Research Commons and sought to establish from stakeholder perceptions whether the services on offer are regarded as substantially different from those in the undergraduate Knowledge Commons and whether they are indeed seen to be supporting research activities. Findings -It was found that a combination of numerical and qualitative measurements has yielded sufficient evidence for the drawing of preliminary conclusions. The evidence gathered demonstrates that the Research Commons, designed primarily as a site for the creation of new knowledge in the form of original writing by researchers at postgraduate and academic level, is indeed an advance on the well-established "library commons" concept, and that its creation represents an instance of "parallel invention" -the "new creature" that the title refers to. Originality/value -This paper provides a multifaceted perspective on the activities taking place in a new library facility and should provide librarians and researchers with evidence-based insight into how meaningful research support may be provided to young researchers from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds as part of an academic library service in a middle income country.

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Section: Second Component In His Diffusion Model) Is Presently Wide Omentioning

confidence: 93%

“…The library had already been operating a highly successful “Knowledge Commons” (primarily for undergraduates) since 2001 (De Jager, 2004). The new Research Commons is part of an integrated consortial project generously funded by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Research Commons: a new creature in the library?

Daniels

Darch²,

Jager³

2010

Performance Measurement and Metrics

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“…1 They feature direct access to a variety of traditional print resources, electronic databases, Internet service, word processing software, and printing devices, creating what De Jager calls a ''one stop shop'' for library users. 2 Although these descriptions indicate what changes are taking place on an external level, they often fail to consider the philosophy of knowledge creation, that is, the underlying reason why change is necessary. Stripped of any theoretical underpinning, rearranging furniture or repackaging the same services under a trendy new name is not likely to produce a substantive change.…”

Section: The Information Commons: a Philosophical Approachmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…As fellow students, the GAs understand the demands placed on the students and their information needs on a more personal and empathetic level than the professional or technical library staff; one researcher found that students were more comfortable asking their peers rather than figures of authority for help. 2 Since their degree focus is in Library and Information Studies, GAs are able to apply the concepts and procedures learned in their classes to the reference services they provide and gain theoretical and practical skills as they work toward their degrees.…”

Section: The Graduate Assistants' Role In the Commonsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Education in the Commons: A New Approach to Reference Services

Neal

Ajamie

Harmon

et al. 2010

Medical Reference Services Quarterly

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In planning for a new library construction project for the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa, graduate students enrolled in the University of Oklahoma (OU) School of Library and Information Studies collaborated in an innovative effort to develop a commons-based reference service. By first considering a philosophical approach to the need for a commons, blending in the experiences of other libraries that have created similar spaces, and focusing on the workflow issues likely to be encountered by the graduate assistants staffing the commons itself, this planning team developed an uncommon peer-to-peer approach to reference and education services, one focused on the patron as student.

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“…In other cases, students are employed by, for instance, IT and deployed within the Library to provide IT support. This model reflects some of the early information commons models of student employment to support increasing ITrelated activities in library spaces (De Jager, 2004).…”

Section: Australian Experiencementioning

confidence: 99%