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A comprehensive study of users and use of information resources moving through reference and research support, UX, information behaviour, current and retrospective bibliography, and serials control, to general and subject specific resources for library and information services in the 21st century.

Our sessions will examine librarian and user information and research practices as well as entities such as factual reference sources, bibliographies, databases and library catalogues. We will consider this most traditional area of LIS in a professional context now it has undergone revolutionary change, as the scope of the profession moves to address the digital challenge, printed works are replaced by their digital counterparts, and new communication formats emerge.

This module aims to give participants an understanding of information resources and bibliographic control, and confidence in working with differing resources in a range of subjects to answer both reference and research queries in today’s complex and diverse information environment. Students will have an awareness of the impact of bias, supporting diverse user groups, factors for change and their likely impact on information resources and retrieval.

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

• Explain and critique the function and functionality of a wide range of general and specialized information resources
• Distinguish between and select different resources in a range of subjects to answer reference and research enquiries reflecting the information needs of diverse populations
• Recognise factors for change and their impacts on information resources and retrieval
• Design a subject-specific research guide for a particular population drawing upon detailed knowledge of subject-specific information and research practices as well as relevant resources in the field