Re: Magnolias in Toronto

["Gerald R. Brown" <browner@CYBERSPC.MB.CA>]

        Nonie Metzler is a teacher-librarian on exchange from Australia,
working at the Toronto French School.   If you can be of assistance to her
in this project, please respond directly to her at the address below.
Thanks.  GRB

From: "nmetzler" <nmetzler@istar.ca>
Subject: Re: Magnolias in Toronto
Date: Thu, 30 Apr 98 16:57:05 PDT

Colleagues:

        Toronto in Spring sunshine with gorgeous magnolia trees in full bloom,
 is a great place to be. Temperatures are around 18C, and Winter has
disappeared entirely.

        I'm writing to ask if anyone is interested in information skills
achieved
by high school graduates, especially those going on to university?  My
interest has been stimulated by meeting university librarian Eileen Daniel
who has presented a paper at the Ontario Library Association conference here
in Toronto in January 98, entitled
" ARE HIGH SCHOOLS TEACHING THE LIBRARY SKILLS THAT         STUDENTS NEED IN
UNIVERSITY"

        Eileen works at the university opposite my exchange school in
Toronto, and from her research and experience that there are many shortfalls
identified
by academic librarians.
eg Survey at John Hopkins University, 1993:
        97.5% knew a catalogue may be searched by title, author and subject;
40% used them incorrectly in the online catalogue
        44% knew that "and", "or", and "not" are Boolean operators;
        72% used them incorrectly
        86% knew what a bibliography is;
        69% could not distinguish between citations to books and citations
to                 articles

        After talking to Eileen I suggested that I try to come up with a survey
to give to final year high school students to gather data on just what skills
the kids have when they leave high school. I could then ask the public and
private school contacts I have here to help in completing the survey (and
others too if they were interested).

        SUGGESTED SURVEY QUESTIONS are what I need! A search of ERIC and the
Internet generally revealed no results on a query for surveys completed in
information skills.

        If you are interested in such a survey please send me some suggested
questions designed to reveal the level of student exit skills. I will then
draw up a draft survey and post it on the list for comment.

        Eileen has listed these "problem items" which  may be a guide. These
are:
        finding and using periodical articles,
        understanding computer search pinciples,
        understanding how libraries are organised,
        defining the search topic,
        knowing who to ask for help,
        understanding controlled vocabulary,
        familiarity with library terminology,
        understanding the difference between citation to books, chapters and
periodicals,
        understanding the principles of classification,
        realisation that good information takes time and many steps.

        I'd appreciate your suggestions and help. Have a good day, and lots of
cheer,
               Nonie Metzler
               Home:                           School:
               Apartment 603               Toronto French School
               44 Stubbs Drive             296 Lawrence Avenue, East
               Willowdale                     Toronto, Ontario
               Toronto,Ontario              Canada M4N 1T7
               Canada M2L 2R3
        email:  nmetzler@istar.ca                nmetzler@tfs.ca
        phone: (416) 391 0201                   (416) 484 6533


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
        Gerald R. Brown, Consultant, Library & Information Services
                & Honorary Ambassador,
                International Association of School Librarianship
        c/o 3403 - 55 Nassau Street North
        Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3L 2G8   Canada
        Phone & Fax: 204 - 284 - 5620
        E mail: browner@cyberspc.mb.ca
       Web site for IASL: http://www.rhi.hi.is/~anne/iasl.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++






++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

        Gerald R. Brown, Consultant, Library & Information Services
        & Honorary Ambassador,
                International Association of School Librarianship
        c/o 3403 - 55 Nassau Street North
        Winnipeg, Manitoba  R3L 2G8   Canada
        Phone & Fax: 204 - 284 - 5620
        E mail: browner@cyberspc.mb.ca
       Web site for IASL: http://www.rhi.hi.is/~anne/iasl.html
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
To quit LM_NET (or set NOMAIL or DIGEST), Send an email message to
    listserv@listserv.syr.edu    In the message write EITHER:
 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
  * NOTE: Please allow time for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help & Archives see:  http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=