Library‐based information services in higher education: towards a reappraisal

Some British academic libraries are offering information services which are misconceived and/or inappropriate. There is also a possibility that some services canvassed as a means of improving academic library standards are, in fact, contributing to their decline. The provision of such services is in need of reassessment and the efficiency and effectiveness of individual services need to be monitored closely. The ‘mix’ of services and their place in the totality of library services need careful planning and scrutiny. A model service is prescribed which includes enquiry service, induction, instruction in literature searching techniques, publications and current awareness services. It could probably be adopted by most general academic libraries without extra funding or could be used as a checklist against which to evaluate existing information units.