Help-seeking in the academic library in the digital age: a review of the research and a conversation

Help-seeking in the academic library in the digital age: a review of the research and a conversation

Asking for help with library research can be difficult for students for many reasons. In this presentation, I will discuss some of the research on the topic of help-seeking. Many students still use a traditional approach by talking to a librarian at a reference or service desk. But, more often there are other opportunities for seeking help online, such as email, chat services, courseware and other digital tools, which presents its own set of advantages and challenges. Understanding the psychological and social reasons our patrons do or do not ask for help will assist us in training library staff, in designing our physical spaces, electronic resources, and other factors that encourage openness. There will be an opportunity to discuss strategies to encourage and facilitate help-seeking, and to understand the value of asking for help.

Burns, Thomas

Chinese American Librarians Association

2016-05-13

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

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eng

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2016 CALA Midwest Chapter Annual Conference "Innovate! Advocate! Integrate! – Reinvigorating Your Library in a Digital Age"