Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Nature of information needsmay relate to:
commercial sensitivities and implications
degree of specialist assistance required
delivery or presentation method
level, detail and currency of information
purpose of requests
required formats
special requirements
timeframes
topic or subject definitions.
Level of complexity may relate to:
availability in print or electronic formats
clarifying customer requirements
content
need for sophisticated packaging or presentation of information
obscure or difficult to obtain nature of information
purpose for which information is being obtained
scope of information request
specialised access protocols
specialised nature of information
wide range of information sources, tools and access possibilities
wide range of information to which access is required by customers.
Complex search strategies may relate to:
availability of current information
commercial sensitivity of search processes
complexity of the subject field, its concepts and methodologies
cost implications
difficulty of finding or obtaining information
information belonging to a new or developing field where sources are not well-established
limited access to print and electronic resources
missing, vague or conflicting information
variety of possible sources requiring judgement about the best options.
Review and revisemay include:
changing search terms or using different combinations of search terms
changing to another topic due to lack of resources
limiting by date of publication, language, and country of publication
limiting by format
narrowing or broadening topics
revising list of keywords or phrases
use of Boolean operators.
Access may relate to:
constantly changing conditions
high cost of electronic databases or datasets
network interfaces that are not user friendly
poor organisation of information
varying quality.
Information sources may be:
biographical sources
books
conference proceedings
databases
discussion papers
e-books
e-journals
geographical sources
internet websites
items in library collection
items obtained through interlibrary loan or document supply/delivery options
local, state and government agencies
newspaper or journal articles
periodic indexing databases
print or electronic formats
reports
scientific or technical journals
statistical information from sources, such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
working papers.
Search techniquesmay include:
basic and advanced catalogue searches
combined searches using federated search engines across multiple databases
internet searches
limiting search parameters by criteria, such as:
date
format
language
place of publication
reviewing and revising search terms
searching electronic databases using basic or advanced search features
searching one database at a time
searching other library catalogues
seeking assistance from colleagues or external organisations.
Packaging and presentation of information may include:
annotated bibliographies
articles supplied through document delivery services
electronic copies sent as email attachments
physical copies of information resources
presentation of information or resources in person to customer
printed or electronic copies of newspaper or journal articles
providing explanation of search strategy
reference lists or bibliographies
resources in audiovisual or multimedia formats.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the ability to:
analyse information to ensure suitability to meet customer needs
apply knowledge of the organisation’s reference, research and general collections
apply knowledge of types and scope of databases and other accessible reference tools
define, locate, analyse and evaluate information
effectively interview, communicate and negotiate with customers about information needs
respond to complex and varied information requests
use effective search techniques using a range of print and electronic information sources and tools
work within time constraints that reflect industry practice and standards.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
use of current industry systems and equipment
interaction with others to reflect the communication and negotiation aspects of this unit
access to:
relevant policies and procedures documents
a range of information sources and information systems.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of onthejob performance
evaluation of candidate’s response to different scenarios to assess ability to research, analyse and present information in response to a range of complex requests
review of reports prepared by the candidate in response to a particular information need
review of reports prepared by the candidate detailing the development of strategies to respond to a given need, including challenges faced and how these were overcome.
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular client groups (consider the requirements of different age groups, clients with English as a second language, clients with disabilities, remote library users, etc.).
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
CULRSK501A Monitor compliance with copyright and licence requirements.