Zone of intervention in library reference and instruction services¶

Element · All elements
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The zone of intervention is a service concept the author introduced to make concepts of information seeking as construction applicable to reference and instruction services. It is "that area in which an information user can do with advice and assistance what he or she cannot do alone or can do only with great difficulty". Uncertainty indicates a zone of intervention in the information search process, and the model of the stages of the information search process shows major decision points where users find intervention helpful.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Librarians concentrate help on the decision points shown by the stages of the information search process model

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• library users undertaking information seeking tasks

Target Learning Goals¶

• effective and efficient library and information services tailored to users' specific needs

Claims¶

Related Elements¶

Examples¶

• Guided Inquiry: immersing students in information seeking as a way of learning

Key Sources¶

• Kuhlthau, C. C. (2005). Towards collaboration between information seeking and information retrieval. Information Research, 10(2) paper 225. http://InformationR.net/ir/10-2/paper225.html