Information literacy course design based on student survey: The practice of subject librarians at NSL, CAS

Purpose: This paper aims to explore best practices in academic and research libraries in providing information literacy(IL) instruction to science and engineering graduate students.Design/methodology/approach: Using the questionnaire survey method, we conducted an IL assessment study on 114 graduate students enrolling in graduate courses offered by College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Graduate University of Chinese Academy of Sciences(GUCAS).Findings: The current situation of graduate students' IL competencies and the need to develop them are revealed. An IL course was designed by subject librarians of National Science Library(NSL), Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), with three patterns addressing the development of graduate students' IL competencies.Research limitations: It is only about the practice of subject librarians at NSL, CAS, in designing IL courses for graduate students enrolling in graduate courses offered by College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, GUCAS.Practical implications: The results can provide a lot of useful information for the improvement of IL competencies of graduate students in science and technology disciplines.Originality/value: It is significant for assisting future subject librarians in incorporating IL skills into their course, especially for academic and research librarians to prepare and develop IL courses for science and engineering graduate students.

Clinical surgery-oriented subject librarian services in medical colleges and schools

Regarding subject librarian services for clinical studies, researchers outside China have been focusing on subject service performance,evidence-based medicine, and comprehensive consulting services. In contrast, Chinese researchers have concentrated on service systems and methods but have not established mature systems and methods for clinical surgery-oriented services. Therefore,subject librarians in medical schools should become involved in clinical research and expand their perspective on medical library research. In addition, they should collaborate with clinicians to improve the overall level of research in hospitals while increasing the impact of subject librarian services in medical colleges and schools.

Enhancement of students' learning with mobile devices: Taking librarian-faculty collaboration in SJTU as an example

Purpose： This paper presents an innovative program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University Library which aims to help engineering students to make use of mobile devices to improve their learning efficiency. Design/methodology/approach： Information literacy training and course learning resources were integrated into students＇ learning process. Surveys on students＇ learning with the touch pads were conducted to help evaluate the program＇s effectiveness. Findings： Our practice showed that collaboration of library staff with faculty members is an effective way to integrate information literacy education and course-specific library resources into students＇ learning with mobile devices, which has greatly improved the efficiency of students＇ learning. Research limitations： First, our literacy training still focused on the use of mobile devices in information access, but not on how to evaluate and manage their information resources with mobile devices. Second, subject librarians need to shift their role from information service providers into information resource instructors while developing the partnership with faculty members and teaching assistants. Practical implications： This paper provides learning efficiency of university students with touch pads conveniently. a new insight into the way of how to enhance such new technical devices as smartphones and Originality/value： Our practice can be used as a valuable guide for libraries that plan to leverage mobile technologies to enhance students＇ learning efficiency.

Innovations of subject service in National Science Library,Chinese Academy of Sciences and the implications

Looking at the development of subject librarians and subject services in Chinese libraries during the past decade,this paper highlights the innovative concepts and practices of subject librarians in National Science Library(NSL),Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).After a two-year trial period,NSL,CAS,with 39 full-time subject librarians,has begun to provide personalized,subject-specific,and knowledge-based services to the end-users since 2006.Such a practice manifests that subject librarians and subject services should be embedded into the research process and working environment.And,the subject service should be made available to the users beyond the space restriction and time limit,and finally create a congenial environment for users.Librarians should develop new expertise to offer the user-oriented service,changing the role from book keepers to research instructors,advisors,even chief information officer(CIO)or chief knowledge officer(CKO).