The Role of Academic Librarians in Providing Assistance to Postgraduate Students in the Information-Seeking Process

Abstract

In today’s information environment, characterized by the availability of information and information overload, navigating successfully both in everyday life and in an educational setting poses a challenge. Given this, one can assume that postgraduate students, within such an environment, face various difficulties in seeking and using relevant information for scientific research, as well as throughout their postgraduate studies in general, requiring assistance in this prolonged process. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of existing knowledge on the traditional and evolving role of academic librarians in the research process of postgraduate students. Additionally, this paper will clarify the concept of zones of intervention by Carol Kuhlthau, which can serve as a framework for instructing this user group. The purpose of this paper is to prompt librarians to reflect on how academic libraries currently contribute to the educational experience and research work of postgraduate students and to emphasize the importance of adapting and enhancing information and library services, the significance of collaboration between academic librarians and supervisors (and/or other postgraduate faculty members), and the active involvement of academic librarians in the information literacy of postgraduate students.

Keywords

• postgraduate students
• information-seeking behaviour
• academic librarians
• zones of intervention