ISSN 1039-3498 | no. 62 | April 2003
Teach Yourself Online
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Using a library catalogue and accessing a library’s services for the first time can be a daunting experience. The National Library of Australia has recently launched a new service, Teach Yourself Online, to help its users to become familiar with the Library’s web site and services and to improve their information literacy skills.
A working party of Reader Services staff, consisting of Fran Wilson, Suzanne Morris, Ian Morris and Mary Gosling, conducted a feasibility study to identify the best approach for the development of an online tutorial. The working party was looking for a product which had the following features: the modules should not be too lengthy, the text should be clear and concise, it should cater for a diverse range of users, it should be interesting and informative and should be flexible, allowing users to enter and leave at any module.
After reviewing the literature and evaluating several information literacy online products, the working party decided that the Web-ezy product best suited the requirements of the National Library’s users. Web-ezy is an Australian product developed collaboratively by UNILINC Limited and Charles Sturt University and marketed by Web-ezy Solutions. The Web-ezy software is a shell that is used to develop a customised, interactive, web-based library and information skills program. The working party worked in liaison with Web-ezy staff to customise the online tutorial to cater to the National Library environment. National Library staff were invited to suggest a name for the new service and Teach Yourself Online was chosen.
Teach Yourself Online is a self-paced tutorial designed to assist Library users, both off-site and within the Library, with their study and research skills. It is available at <www.nla.gov.au/nla/tutorial/>. The online tutorial provides an interactive environment that enables users to work through various activities and exercises within a series of seven modules. Additional modules will be developed as the need arises. The modules are:
As well as being a useful resource for Library users to make sure they use
the National Library catalogue and web site efficiently, Teach Yourself Online
will also be used to train new staff and to instruct groups who visit the Library.
Suzanne Morris and Mary Gosling are presenting a lunchtime talk on using Teach
Yourself Online on Wednesday 21 May 2003 at 12.30 pm in the Ferguson Room.
To find out more about this new service contact infoserv@nla.gov.au
—Mary Gosling and Suzanne Morris
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