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This research explores the professionalization of Library and Information Science (LIS) students who participated in a peer-tutoring service, "Research Rescue." Research Rescue was a collaboration of the Chapman Learning Commons and the School of Library, Archival and Information Studies (SLAIS) at the University of British Columbia. The purpose of the service was to provide an experiential learning opportunity for LIS students, benefit undergraduate students in need of assistance with term papers, and increase undergraduates' awareness and use of the campus libraries through targeted referrals. Research Rescue interactions were documented as "shift notes" in a wiki, which was moderated by a learning services librarian and SLAIS faculty. The wiki acted as a shared learning resource and a means of observing and exploring LIS students' learning and professional development as an outcome of participating in the service. In this paper, we report on our qualitative analysis of the shift notes, which provide evidence that peer tutors took steps towards the formation of their professional identities. We explore the learning and socialization that occurred as part of tutors' involvement in Research Rescue, while also advocating that peer tutoring is a viable model for LIS education.

Using a web-based survey, this study explored students' perceptions of their master's programs in information studies at six Canadian universities. Findings indicate that students rate most aspects of their programs positively, although few respondents give the highest ratings, indicating that there is substantial room for improvement. When asked directly, "How satisfied are you with the education you have received in this program?" the mean rating was 6.6 on a 10-point scale. Among the lowest ratings on quality measures were those for exposure to the latest developments in research and technology and exposure to the most significant developments in the field. We found a decrease in satisfaction as students progress through their programs. Compared to midstream students, a smaller proportion of students in their final term had positive perceptions on almost half of the measures. Findings from the study should be beneficial to information studies educators to inform decisions with respect to curriculum planning and program development.

Tests the use of questions as a technique in the query specification process. Using a within-subjects design, 48 people interacted with a modified Google interface to solve four information problems in four domains. Half the tasks were entered as typical keyword queries, and half as questions or statements. Results suggest the typical search box is a barrier to the creation of enriched queries. (Author/AEF)