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Research Trends Timeline
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Raymond Walkley
Walkley found library instruction was necessary because only 29% of students at the University of Maine had any previous library instruction. Walkley's library created a program of instruction for freshman during orientation week. The program consisted of three parts:
1. Lecture
2. Tour of the Library
3. Hands-on session where students applied what they learned to answer questions. Walkley, R. (1924). Library instruction for college freshmen. Library Journal 49, 753-771. -
James A. McMillen
The college and University Round Table of ALA reported that an estimated 80% of students did not receive library instruction in high school. An outline of instruction was given by McMillen with a proponent about improving the reading habits of students by purchasing books not directly associated with the curriculum. McMillen, J.A. (1925). College and university round table. Library Journal, 50, 951. -
Mary E. Downey
Downey compiled the results of a survey about college library administration. It was agreed that library instruction, as a separate course in the curriculum, best prepared students to do research and to deal with their information needs in the future. She stated, "A separate course adds dignity to the library and to the library as a profession. Downey, M.E. & Ward, A.P. (1926). The college library survey. Library Journal, 51, 131-132. -
Susan Grey Akers
Akers conducted a study to determine the extent that students use the information on the catalog card and, in 1931, it showed that students do not know how to use the card catalog and other bibliographic aids. Akers, S.G. (1931). To what extent do the students of the liberal-arts colleges use the bibliographic items given on the catalogue card. Library Quarterly, 1, 394-395, 407. -
B. Lamar Johnson
Johnson promoted an experiment at Stephens College in which the aims were to do library instruction effectively, to encourage recreational reading to students, and to make the library the center of the college. Johnson, L. (1933). Stephens College Library Experiment. User Education in Academic Libraries, 205-211. -
Peyton Hurt
Hurt's study of 354 graduate students at the University of California and at Stanford University found that 62% of them had never received any library instruction at the undergraduate or graduate level. 68% of the students felt that they needed instruction in using the library. Hurt, P. (1934). The need of college and universityinstruction in the use of the library. Library Quarterly, 4, 436, 439-440, 443. -
Ralph W. McComb
Evidence of the use of audiovisual aids in library instruction began to surface in the 1950s. One article described the use of closed circuit television in Pennsylvania State University's orientation program. Approximately 2800 students participated in the orientation. 60% of the men and 54% of the women felt the program was useful. McComb, R.W. (1958). Closed circuit television in a library orientation program. College & Research Libraries, 19, 387. -
Lloyd W. Griffin
A survey stated 20 out of 24 libraries did not take formal responsibility for providing instruction to graduate students. Many of the libraries cited lack of staff time, scheduling complexity, and diversity of subject matter as problems. The survey showed that closer cooperation with faculty was necessary. Griffin, L.W. & Clarke, J.A. (1958). Orientation and instruction of the graduate student by university libraries: a survey. College and Research Libraries, 19, 451-454. -
Paul Wendt
One study at Illinois State University at Normal found that there was no appreciable difference between instruction by TV or by traditional methods. However, computer-assisted instruction in library use was being used in 40 universities by the end of 1967. Fagerburg, D.S. (1961). TV library instruction: the teacher's angle. Library Journal, 86, 44-45. -
Charles H. Stevens
Experiments were conducted such as writing pathfinders and preparing self-guided tours. Many tmes, librarians would draw from previous ideas in articles and try to improve on them. One librarian took an article on self-guided tours from the 1960s and created a self-guided tour for students in her library. Stevens, C.H., Canfield, M.P., & Gardner, J.J. (1973). Library pathfinders: a new possibility for cooperative reference service. College & Research, 24, 40. -
Edward G. Holley
Edward G. Holley, in a study about libraries in 1876, stated that the importance of libraries and instruction reached as far west as Iowa State University. Holley E.G. (1976). Academic libraries in 1876. College & Research Libraries, 37, 36. -
Thomas Kirk
Kirk determined four weaknesses to explain decline in library instruction.
1. Librarians did not distinguish between orientation and instruction.
2. instruction was not given in context of what students need to know about the library.
3. instruction was given from the content of reference training for librarians.
4. librarians were not sensitive to changes occurring in higher education. Kirk, T. (1977). Past, present, and future of library instruction. Southeastern Librarian, 27, 16-17. -
Donald J. Kenney
The literature in the field shows an increase in the discussion of bibliographic instruction. The 1955-57 volume of Library Literature had 95 entries under the subject heading, "Instruction in Library Use." In the 1967-69 volume, 147 entries were listed under the subject heading, and the 1984-5 volume listed 262 entries. Kenney, D.J. (1987). Assessing library instruction: where it has been and where is it taking us? Catholic Library World, 59, 39-40. -
Teresa B. Mensching
A 1987 survey of academic libraries found that 65% offer some form of library instruction requirement compared 24% in 1979. The survey also found that credit courses in library skills were in decline due to low enrollment and a lack of professional staff. Mensching, T.B. (1989). Trends in bibliographic instruction in the 1980s: a comparison of data from two surveys. Research Strategies, 7, 4-10. -
Ann Bevilacqua
A survey published in 1989 polled research libraries and found instruction was strongly influenced by technology. In addition, bibliographic instruction has become a standard library service. Bevilacqua, A. (1989). Computer-assisted bibliographic instruction. Bibliographic Instruction in Practice: A Tribute to the Legacy of Evan Farber, eds., 67-76. -
N.P. McCluskey
McCluskey found instructors felt that the public high schools are failing to adequately develop students' abilities to "read and comprehend complex materials (70%), think analytically (66%), and do research (59%). All skills needed to succeed in higher education. McCluskey, N.P. (2005). Public high school graduates unprepared for college work. Schol Reforms News. Available online at http://www.heartland.org/policybot/results/16669/Public_High_S=chool_Grads_Unprepared_for_College_Work.html -
Association of College and Research Libraries
The Association of College and Research Libraries emphasized the need to enable students to master content and become self-directed learners. Implementing college-level skills creates new opportunities to develop teamwork and apply acquired knowledge across a wider sphere. Association of College and Research Libraries (2004). Information literacy competency standards for higher education. Available online at http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/standards.pdf.
