Making the Best Use of the Library

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Importance of Theme “Making the Best Use of the Library”

Having access to Library resources is central to studying and succeeding at university. Through “making the best use of the Library”, students are able to develop their knowledge of a subject and practice their research skills, which are key to their continuing success in their University career.

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Dr Phil Race, Addressing Student Satisfaction – adopted from material published in Making Teaching Work by Phil Race and Ruth Pickford, London: Sage, 2007).

How to ensure that the library resources and services are good ?

• Know what library resources and services your students will need in connection with your parts of the syllabus and give your library or learning resource centre staff good notice of your students’ requirements.
• Arrange with your library staff for there to be a “desk collection” of resources that cannot be used outside the Library.
• Give your students clear advance briefings about the books, articles and resources you expect them to use and remind your library or resource centre staff of the expected timing of the demand for these resources.
• Give clear briefings about exactly what the students should try to do when they use them.

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The theme is also significant in relation to the National Student Survey and the Higher Education Academy Fellowship.

National Student Survey

The theme has been taken from the National Student Survey question “the Library resources and services are good enough for my needs” under the category Learning Resources.

In the recent 2014 NSS results 85% of students agreed that the “Library resources and services are good enough for my needs”.

Higher Education Academy

The theme is also important in regards to the United Kingdom Professional Standards Framework (UKPSF) as “Making the Best Use of the Library” contributes to Areas of Activity A4 develop effective learning environments and approaches to student support and guidance.

For more information on the UKPSF follow the link https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/professional-recognition/uk-professional-standards-framework-ukpsf