The Information Professional as Educator

For most information professionals, one of our key roles is that of educator - whether we acknowledge it or not. While this role is clear for information professionals that work in academic or even public libraries, it is seldom put front and centre by special librarians, or their professional associations. However, if we drill down deep enough in examining the core competencies for information professionals as put forth by SLA we will find that it is something that most Information Professionals do on a regular basis.

SLA’s “Competencies for Information Professionals of the 21st Century” lists a number of core professional competencies including: Applying Information Tools & Technologies. One of the applied scenarios given to this competency is that “ Information Professionals educate others in the use of information tools and technologies in a variety of ways, from training people in finding the information they want on the Internet or in proprietary databases to integrating information tools into their clients' workflow or curriculum.”

Training or informing people is a regular part of our professional lives. We work one-on-one with our staff and clients to assist them to use the available information tools. We give presentations, seminars and workshops to colleagues, staff and clients on our work to inform and educate.

For Information Professionals in the special library sector our educational efforts are almost exclusively aimed at adults. To reach adults effectively in our efforts it may prove useful to know a little about adult education theory. In general, modern adult learning theory posits that learning should be student-centred and focus on the learner’s needs, while taking into consideration the previous experiences and knowledge of the learners. Adults learn best when they are treated as active participants in their own learning.

In the next issue of the Courier I will expand a little on the characteristics of the adult learner; and the role of the instructor to maximize successful learning.

Sandy Iverson is a consultant, researcher and educator based in Toronto. She holds graduate degrees in information science and adult education and is currently undertaking research on information literacy with senior citizens. This is the first of three articles. She can be reached at sandy@sandyiverson.info