Library assistants as situated learners: How they can learn more effectively

Many libraries are working hard to facilitate user learning, but in fact, staff learning is even more important. It is the staff members who implement plans and services, and it is their adaptability to the growing world that will directly affect the success and effectiveness of library functions. The staff are therefore expected to upgrade their knowledge and skills continuously in order to contribute and enhance the library’s roles and services in meeting the increasing user needs. This paper presents a research on Library Assistants (LA) as situated learners and how they learn in a university library in Hong Kong. LAs are core members of libraries and they often carry out a whole spectrum of duties and services that are indispensable. The most crucial target of this research is to explore, analyse and interpret the learning issue of the LAs and provide the administrators of the Library with some useful recommendations on how to facilitate a more effective learning environment for staff.