Chapter D - User Empowerment (UEm)

Abstract

In the emerging digital environment libraries need to adequately empower the users to enable them to not only efficiently and speedily identify the pertinent information sources and find the needed information from those sources, but also to evaluate and utilize the information so obtained to their advantage. There are various direct and indirect methods of user empowerment. Two important direct methods are information literacy (IL) development and user education. Seven important components of a holistic approach to IL have been suggested, viz., tool literacy, resource literacy, social-structural literacy, research literacy, publishing literacy, emerging technology literacy, and critical literacy. There are different methods and models for developing IL among the users. Several organizations engaged in IL work have formulated IL standards, which serve as a framework for designing IL programs and also as a basis for assessment of the competency of an information literate person. Various IL initiatives have been taken in different countries. As for the second method, there are different levels of user education, viz., user awareness, library orientation, library instruction, bibliographic instruction, and literature search. There are also different methods of user education such as lecture, guided tour including practical demonstration, and distribution of printed guide. In the new environment, several new methods are being employed for the purpose, such as film/DVD show, slide show, power-point presentation, computer-assisted instruction, conducting of workshops, and web-based instruction.