Examining the Reference Library Users’ Information Literacy Skills in Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults: Offering Suggestions for Improving the Current Status

The current study deals with the reference library users’ information literacy in Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. It further examined the current responsibilities and activities of the reference library. Finally, a number of suggestions are presented for enhancing and improving the users’ information literacy. The current study is an applied one which used the survey method. In order to gather the required data, field research was used. In order to analyze the data, SPSS was run. Moreover, to display the data graphically in the form of tables and diagrams and to answer the research questions, Excel was utilized. The instrument used in the current study was Marshall’s questionnaire. The statistical population consisted of all the credible and permanent male and female members of the library. Based on Cochran formula, 181 respondents were included in the sample. The results indicated that the mean score for the users’ level of information literacy is 171, higher than the expected one, i.e.111. Since the library users’ level of information literacy was higher than the expected one and taking into account the higher educational degrees of most members (Master degree), new plans for improving their information literacy up to the ideal level should be developed. Bearing the results of the current study in mind, a conceptual model was proposed as a road map for improving the reference library users’ information literacy in Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults.

کلیدواژه ها:

Information literacy ، Information-finding skills ، Users ، Reference library ، Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults