The distant learning librarian: information needs and the use of university libraries for the master in information studies

Abstract

The research explores the perceptions and behaviour of the students of the Master in Information studies provided by the University of Northumbria (UK) and the University of Parma (Italy). The description of the framework in which the students prepare their assignements is obtained with informal consultation of different key informants. The teachers of the Master are consulted to explore what they demand from the students as to information resources; the librarians involved with the service to distant learners are also consulted. The project focuses on a specific cathegory of distant learners: the librarians and information specialists who are continuing their education and professional development. It studies their strategies and problems with personal, local and remote information sources and facilities, in the context of their everyday information seeking activity. Key findings are that, in the complexity of students behaviour, a general pattern is recognizable. Their use of the libraries and other information resources is intense: they make extended use of electronic resources with International scope, and they refer to the libraries that offer faster and convenient services: they exploit the “traditional services” of their own library, the Library of Northumbria University, for electronic resources, and other Italian libraries for document delivery. The libraries of the University of Parma are not considered by students that cannot easily reach them. However, there is a minority of students that make prevalent use of materials in paper format and in Italian, and do not exploit the information resources of Northumbria University.