Abstract

This study aims to investigate and analyze the current status of user education and the school library staffs’ perceptions in elementary school libraries in Gyeongnam, and then to propose a plan to improve user education in school libraries. Among the 168 school libraries in the Gyeongsangnam-do where librarians are deployed, 120 that responded to the survey were selected as research subjects. The contents of the study include the contents and methods of user education, the status of librarian education for user education, school library staffs understanding and interest in user education, school library staffs’ perceptions of the necessity and effectiveness of user education, and school library staffs’ efforts to strengthen capacity of user education. Based on the current status of user education and the results of the school library staffs’ perceptions survey, the following are proposed as a way to improve user education of the school library: 1) expanding librarian education opportunities for user education, 2) development and distribution of educational materials that diversify the content and level of each grade, 3) organizing normal school hours for user education, 4) continuous efforts to strengthen capacity for user education.