LIS 5513 - Information Sources and Services

This course aimed to furnish a comprehensive understanding of reference and information services, emphasizing the effectiveness of catering to the research requirements and overall information needs of diverse user groups (OU SLO 6 - Diversity). One of the course assignments entails crafting subject guides on a topic of our choice. I opted to explore Generative AI, given its relevance and widespread interest currently. As part of ensuring the quality of resources included in our guide, we were tasked with conducting a resource evaluation, which I have presented below. This assignment required us to evaluate a minimum of five resources intended for use in our guide to ensure their currency, relevance, and suitability for meeting the needs of our target audience (Personal Goal 2.1).

Analysis

While I've determined source credibility numerous times throughout my MLIS program, I've never conducted such a thorough evaluation, at least not in written form. This assignment prompted me to carefully consider all facets of the resources I intended to utilize (OU SLO 2 - Intellectual Skill). While I delved deeply into various aspects of the materials, some elements stood out to me as considerations I hadn't previously explored in a resource evaluation, such as the format of the material, ease of use, and unique features that might attract users (Personal Goal 2.1). Throughout this assignment, I observed that while an item might seem suitable based on a basic evaluation, incorporating the above-mentioned aspects revealed that it might still be a valuable resource on AI in general, but not necessarily for the specific subject guide I'm developing (ALA Competency 2 - Information Resources). 

Reflection

I intend to apply the insights gained from this resource evaluation to carefully evaluate any materials I utilize for scholarly research needs in the future. Additionally, I aim to impart the lessons learned from this evaluation to library users whom I assist as a reference librarian (ALA Competency 5 - Reference and User Services). By doing so, I hope to broaden their perspective on resource evaluation, enabling them to consider a broader range of factors and ultimately locate resources that more precisely align with their specific information needs.