Librarians' Reflective Practice in Electronic Reserves: An Exploration of Sources of Copyright Knowledge and Professional Development

摘要

he research question of this study was what formal and informal sources librarians use in dealing with electronic reserves and in developing their copyright knowledge. The exploration of the sources of copyright knowledge was expected to drive issues and challenges in library practice to emerge, and to influence the design of further in-depth study. The study employs a qualitative, naturalistic data collection methodology and an inductive data analysis methodology. The study applies Schon's reflection theory as a sensitizing theoretical framework to help understand the processes of librarians' decision about electronic reserves. To date, three librarians have been interviewed. In interviews, librarians thought aloud critical incidents of electronic reserves requests and the sources of copyright knowledge they use. Qualitative analysis was carried out through in-depth analysis of interview transcripts and follow-up interviews for clarification and confirmations of the findings. The analysis aimed at formal and informal sources that librarians use and on evidence of reflection-on-action. The findings point to both formal and informal sources, and suggest that the sources represent social and institutional cues that undermine practice and decision making. Issues emerged are that librarians and stakeholders debate over copyright fair use guidelines and standards in electronic reserves, and over different meanings of fair use. To better understand library practice, it is important to explore social and institutional cues embedded in the real world.