User Education Task Force Final Report.

Overview & Synopsis

As part of a strategic planning process, Northwestern University Library appointed a User Education Task Force to address the challenges and opportunities facing its library user education program. The overriding goal was to create an action plan for positioning the library to be an active partner in the educational and research processes of the university. Northwestern University, as are other academic institutions, is re-evaluating its longstanding user education program in light of new technologies, redefined curricular emphasis, and changing teaching models. This report outlines the task force charge and provides a brief summary of the current status of user education at Northwestern University Library along with a discussion of the purpose and role of user education in libraries. Eight major areas for future planning are identified: (1) articulating and communicating the institutional value of user education; (2) creating a more varied instruction program to better meet the needs of a diverse clientele; (3) expanding outreach to faculty; (4) integrating information technologies more fully into the user education program; (5) improving the coordination and communication of user education library-wide; (6) enhancing the use of space to further the educational function of the library; (7) recognizing and promoting staff initiative; and (8) promoting evaluation in all aspects of the user education program. The report reflects the conviction of the Task Force that user education is more than a set of activities; it must be an institutional value. Six attachments present the charge to the User Education Task Force; a mission statement of Northwestern University; a draft mission statement for the University Library; a mission statement for undergraduate user education; information handling skills for various levels of users; and environmental factors affecting bibliographic instruction. (Author/BBM)