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Information literacy for amateurs and professionals: The potential of academic, special and public libraries

Tibor Koltay (Department of Information and Library Studies, Faculty of Applied and Professional Arts, Szent István University, Jászberény, Hungary Department of Library and Information Science, University of West Hungary, Szombathely, Hungary)

Library Review

ISSN: 0024-2535

Article publication date: 22 March 2011

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of information literacy (IL) and digital literacy under the circumstances and challenges of the Web 2.0 environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Desk research was done in order acquire a picture about the nature of the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 in regard to their influence on literacy requirements. The hypothesis that differential literacies have to be offered to diverging groups of users, similarly to traditional library services that cater for different user needs depending on the type of the given library was tested.

Findings

Professional goals characterize first of all different groups of professionals, teaching staff and researchers, as well as students. Thus, their need in information is different from that of other categories of users. Consequently, they require literacies similar to services traditionally offered by academic and special libraries. Amateur content is more compatible with the mission of public libraries and it is more suitable for Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 applications.

Research limitations/implications

New principles of IL are outlined in this paper which will help practitioners in designing goal‐oriented IL education.

Practical implications

The practical implications need to be studied in the course of further research.

Originality/value

The findings represent a small but valuable asset to the discussion about new approaches towards IL education.

Keywords

Citation

Koltay, T. (2011), "Information literacy for amateurs and professionals: The potential of academic, special and public libraries", Library Review, Vol. 60 No. 3, pp. 246-257. https://doi.org/10.1108/00242531111117290

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2011, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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