The Development and Testing of Materials for Computer-Assisted Instruction in the Education of Reference Librarians.

Problems under Consideration?There are two problems in the field of library science concerning the education of reference librari ans which this project has attempted to make a start toward remedying. 1. Unsatisfactory teaching methods. One of the problems is associated with inadequate teaching methods. Many classes in the use of reference materials, for example, lack individ ual instruction in the principles of bibliograph ical organization and control. Students often, therefore, waste time through studying in a haphazard fashion and are sometimes unaware that they are not using their time expeditiously. 2. Variation of education and skill among students. A second problem is created by the fact that students enter the graduate programs at many levels of sophistication. Some are re cent graduates of poor undergraduate schools in which little use of reference or bibliograph ical materials has been made. Others have worked in reference departments. Still others have advanced degrees in such diverse fields as law, theology, history, or education. The better educated become bored with explana tions of simple reference tools, while the less skilled become frustrated when they are ex pected to have acquaintance with materials to which they have had no exposure. Much of the instruction in the use of these tools is done on the assumption that all students need the same education and disregards the fact that individuals in the classes enter with varied