Teaching Adult Learners by Jessica A. Curtis

Author:Jessica A. Curtis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ABC-CLIO

What have you already tried?

What would you like to do or have happen?

Where did you get stuck?

The tone of the interaction should be positive and encouraging. It is important not to interrupt patrons when they are describing their issue or what they’ve already done before they came to the library, even if their information is not strictly relevant to their issue. This is because they may think that it’s important and essential information that the staff needs in order to help them. Interrupting or negating their experiences may make them self-conscious or they may leave with a feeling that their issue was not fully addressed. With the right questions and the right demeanor, soon “I need help with Facebook” turns into a specific request like “How do I ‘un-friend’ someone?”

This sample interaction takes place between an adult, online student at a public library who does not have access to his college’s physical library and the reference staff. The library only carries popular magazines in print, but they have several databases in which to access journals and articles.

Patron: Where are your journals?

Librarian: What subject do you need?

Patron: Health care.

Librarian: I can show you some online journals that might work. You can even access them from home.

Patron: No. The articles have to be from a print resource and from the past five years.

Librarian: These will count because the articles can come from print journals. I can show you how to tell. We can narrow down the time as well. What’s your specific topic, if I may ask?

Patron: I’m looking for how changes in insurance have changed the jobs of healthcare professionals. Mainly doctors.

Librarian: Okay. Let me show you some things that might work. I think trade journals might have some information. Your college library site may have even more. Let me know if you want me to show you that when we’re done.

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