Developing lifelong learners: Controversy and the educative role of the academic librarian

Abstract

Academics and librarians in higher education share the goal of maximising learning opportunities for students. Cooperative effort between the two parties for this purpose is general practice. However, recent research and public debate provide evidence of disagreement between academics and librarians in regard to achieving mutually held educational goals. Specifically, there is evidence of opposing positions on the teaching role claimed by librarians in pursuit of developing students' information literacy. Some argue that the teaching role of the academic librarian will win greater acceptance if librarians undertake educational training. A case is made for building the teaching expertise of librarians at least in part on professional activities they already engage in. This could be done by researching these activities as educational events and investigating how to educate librarians to teach more effectively through these activities. Publication of research in this area would make known an aspect of the teaching role of librarians solidly drawn from their professional expertise and uniquely their own. It is believed that this evidence would facilitate more effective cooperation between academics and librarians. Such a strategy conforms to one aspect of Boyer's scholarship of teaching. © 2002, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.