Dr. Patricia Senn Breivik :Librarians as More (Far More) Than Teachers

Abstract:
An international context will set the stage for the papers and discussions which will follow. Particularly emphasis will be given on outcomes of the UNESCO, National Commission on Information Science and the National Forum on Information Literacy conference of experts on information literacy which will have taken place a week earlier in Prague. The mixture of information literacy needs among developed and developing countries will be noted as a context for considering differences in the learning needs of today’s students.

Within higher education, increasing concerns for all students’ acquiring lifelong learning, critical and analytical thinking abilities now offer fertile ground for the development of comprehensive programs of information literacy on campuses. Tying information literacy planning efforts into parent institutions’ missions and priorities will lay the groundwork for greater support.

However, to launch and sustain successful programs of information literacy will require librarians to assume multiple roles. Librarians need to aspire to achieving more than traditional faculty roles to becoming facilitators of learning. This will require them to also function in multiple partnerships as well as becoming student advisors, entrepreneurs and educational leaders. Practical working-smart steps to success in these expanding roles will also be addressed.

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