A short article from the Laramie Daily Boomerang on April 22 stirred up a lot of conversation at the University of Wyoming this week. No online link to the article is available… a faithful transcription of the print article is below, followed by my thoughts:
SHERIDAN – A proposal to reduce a full-time reference librarian at Sheridan College to a half-time position has drawn opposition from some students. Student Senate President-elect Paul Foster told the college’s board of trustees Thrusday many students need assistance when conducting research on databases available there. College President Kevin Drumm said students need to learn how to find information on their own. He noted that most students already use their own computers or other computers on campus outside the library for research. Drumm said he will make a final decision on the library position by May 31.
A couple of things seem odd to me about this debate. 1) The students believe a librarian will further their research, while the college president does not. 2) While students may well be using their own computers to complete assignments, I presume they are using sophisticated tools to answer research questions, tools which may require some instruction and training to be utilized fully.
The short news item in the Boomerang led to more questions than answers for me. What role does President Drumm want from his librarians? From his students? What do you think? Do students need to find information on their own? Or are librarians an important part of the college research process?
[A parting caveat and an observation: My perspective on the Sheridan College debate is just that, mine. The blog entry above is in no way an official statement from the UW Libraries on this issue. And why can't I find any information about this story online? No web-based news in Sheridan? Strange.]
