Developing academic librarians’ skills in e-book services through Participatory Action Research
| Published date | 10 October 2017 |
| Date | 10 October 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/ILS-05-2017-0044 |
| Pages | 535-546 |
| Author | Valentina Gamboni |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library & information services |
Developing academic librarians’
skills in e-book services through
Participatory Action Research
Valentina Gamboni
Library Services Centre, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of thisstudy is to understand how to improve librarians’skills,using an active and
reflective participativeprocess, to develop a university e-book service.This research involved librarians who
could not participate in a formal learning course and exploredthe possibility of improving their skills with
e-books by means of informaland non-formal learning.
Design/methodology/approach –Using a qualitative meth odology framework, th e research was a
participatory action research (PAR) study, utilizing a recurrent five-phase cycle –analysis, plan, action ,
evaluation, reflection/sharing –that joins research and reflective practice in action. Each phase has been
discussed by categories defined from the gathered data, highlighting the evidence of participants’
contributions, to analyse the situation, plan and carry out interventions, and evaluate outcomes.
Participants suggested and put into action informal and non-formal methods of learning to develop e-book
skills that they named and included in broader categories such as technical, content selection, purchase
and management and use.
Findings –Participants increased their awareness of the topic, and the PAR process also contributed to
their personal development. PAR is recommended as a research process that fosters learning outcomes, as
well as personaland professionaldevelopment.
Originality/value –PAR has been applied in the Italianacademic setting to understand how librarians
can developskills in e-book services through informaland non-formal learning methods.
Keywords Skills development, Participatory action research, Academic librarians, e-books,
Reflective practice, Non-formal learning
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Digital library services require continuous development to fit the evolving needs of users.
Academic contexts, contents and services that are offered in digital environments require
specific skills. From handlingdatabases to electronic journals, from searching and linking to
sharing tools, and with the more recent introduction of e-book collections, digital library
services have increased their complexity to support the information needs of users and
facilitate their experiences.
Librarians must therefore be conscious of thefact that their skills need to be developed,
along with their practical skills and personal knowledge. Content and services offered in
digital environments require specialized and updated skills. Education studies on library
and information science are considering the issue of transforming the role of libraries and
librarians, suggestingnew developments in professional courses and programs.
As far as e-book services are concerned, at least in an Italian academic library context,
there are still universities without any active digital e-book services. Considering that such
services are a new phenomenon in Italy, and bearingin mind that new services require new
skills, this research involved librarians who could not attend a formal learning course
Developing
academic
librarians’
skills
535
Received22 May 2017
Revised28 July 2017
Accepted28 July 2017
Informationand Learning Science
Vol.118 No. 9/10, 2017
pp. 535-546
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2398-5348
DOI 10.1108/ILS-05-2017-0044
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