Perspectives of Five Library and Information Studies Students Involved in Service Learning at a Community-Based Literacy Program

Abstract

Literacy education may be a stronger issue today than ever for public libraries in serving those who lack access to print and electronic sources because of limited literacy skills. Case studies of five library and information studies (LIS) students who participated in an interdisciplinary service learning course on community service and literacy are presented in this article. The students worked closely with adult learners in a community literacy agency and attended class once a week to discuss their experiences and their reactions to the readings and lectures. Their problematic experiences and insights are examined through sources such as their journals, reflection papers, and interviews. Findings and implications about how LIS students learn about the unique learning and communication styles of adult learners who have different backgrounds from themselves, the ways they perceive the roles of the public library in the lives of adult learners, and for integrating literacy education with service learning into LIS education are presented.