Sharpening The Infodesk Toolbox: Peer Learning Through Flexible Modules To Ensure Sustainability In Professional Development

Abstract

The Lund University Library reference service is influenced by students’ and researchers’ changing information behaviour. The service consists of a physical and a virtual reference desk that engages about 30 librarians from different departments with different educational backgrounds and experiences. To meet new challenges, the Library has launched a training programme for the reference staff. The programme is intended to develop professional skills and competencies and to create a new workplace culture based on openness, sharing and dialogue. The programme runs from autumn 2014 to spring 2016. After the end of the first part in December 2014, an evaluation was carried out by the participants and, based on the outcome of the evaluation, some adjustments were made in the continued programme design.