Ms Sheila Webber

Senior Lecturer
BA (Kent at Canterbury), Dip Lib (London Metropolitan University), FCLIP, FHEA

Teaching

My core areas for teaching are information literacy and information behaviour. This includes looking at models and concepts of information literacy (e.g. experiences of information literacy in different cultures and sectors) as well as practical skills in finding and using information. It also includes exploring information literacy in the use of Web 2.0 applications (e.g. weblogs) and of virtual worlds. My interests in research methods and Inquiry Based Learning mean that I teach aspects of research and inquiry, at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. My other areas of teaching (all at the postgraduate level) include educational informatics (using technology in learning and teaching), and management.

Professional standing

• Awarded the inaugural Information World Review award for Professional Excellence in 1999
• Member of the Committee of the International Federation of Library Association and Institutions (IFLA) Management and Marketing section (2001- )
• Member of the Society of College, National and University Libraries Working Group on Information Literacy (2004- )
• Member of the committee of the CILIP Community Services Group Information Literacy Group
  (2004- )
• Chair of Institute of Information Scientists (IIS) Scottish Branch Committee 1994-96 and Elected Member of IIS Council (1988-1994)
• Chair of the European Chapter of the American Society for Information Science (1999-2000)

Research interests

Information Literacy: conceptions; approaches to teaching; IL in context of formal and informal learning; IL research agenda; IL in a Web 2.0 context e.g. weblogs, Second Life. I have also undertaken research in the areas of business information and marketing.

Key publications

Webber, S. (2007) The Information Literacy Weblog [online]. http://information-literacy.blogspot.com/

Boon, S., Johnston, B. and Webber, S. (2007) "A phenomenographic study of English faculty's conceptions of information literacy." Journal of documentation, 63 (2), 204-228.

Johnston, B. and Webber, S. (2006) "As we may think: Information Literacy as a discipline for the information age" Research strategies, 20 (3), 108-121.

Webber, S. and McGuinness, C. (2006) "State of the art of Information Literacy in English speaking European countries: United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland." In: Lau, J. (Ed) Information Literacy: an international state-of-the-art report. Published on behalf of UNESCO, UNESCO ID 600015. http://www.infolitglobal.info/

Webber, S., Boon, S. and Johnston, B. (2005) "A comparison of UK academics´ conceptions of information literacy in two disciplines: English and Marketing." Library and information research, 29 (93), 4-15. http://www.cilip.org.uk/specialinterestgroups/bysubject/research/publications/journal/archive/lir93/article93b.htm

Johnston, B. and Webber, S. (2004) "The role of LIS faculty in the information literate university: taking over the academy?" New library world, 105 (1/2), 12-20.

Webber, S. (2003) "Information Science in 2003: a critique." Journal of information science, 29 (4), 311-330.

Johnston, B. and Webber, S. (2003) "Information literacy in higher education: a review and case study." Studies in higher education, 28 (3), 335-352.

Webber, S and Johnston, B. (2000) "Conceptions of information literacy: new perspectives and implications". Journal of information science, 26 (6), 381-397.

Webber, S. (1999) "Pricing and marketing of online information." In: Williams, M. (ed) Annual Review of Information Science and Technology 33. Medford: Published on behalf of the American Society for Information Science by Information Today Inc. 39-83.

p. 1 - 2