O papel do bibliotecário na mediação da informação em bibliotecas universitárias: caso Biblioteca Central Brazão Mazula da Universidade Eduardo Mondlane

Abstract

The research objective was to analyse the role of the librarian in mediating the information of Brazão Mazula Central Library (BCE) of Eduardo Mondlane University. In order to guarantee a better achievement of the established objectives, the quantitative and qualitative method were chosen, as it’s a research that represents numerical data as a way to measure variable relationships by association aiming to obtain information from the sample, however, it also has the environment as direct source of data, maintaining a direct contact with the environment and the object of study in question, requiring an intensive fieldwork. The research used a script of questions with essentially structured questions. In that order, the questionnaire was used as a data collection instrument to eleven BCE professionals which we had a 100% return. The investigation study included aspects such as professional profiles, professional’s performance, information literacy, abilities and attitudes. The results were presented and analysed together, allowing to understand that the professionals of BCE admit the use of information mediation as a form of propitiating paths to the users when searching for answers to their demands, as well as a form of extending the profile of the professionals attached to BCE. However, such actions lack a better theoretical and practical foundation, due to some fails identified in the profile and abilities of these professionals. Therefore, the research concludes that there’s the necessity of the professionals of BCE to have domain of some set of techniques and abilities that can be used deeply in research and orientation of the users, in that order, the BCE must develop activities of continuing the formation of their professionals in order to guarantee information literacy from them. It’s also concluded that there’s a lack of a plan or program of training for users that can serve them to familiarise and also provide them autonomy when using the resources of BCE. Therefore, among other recommendations, it’s suggested the adoption of training plans for the professionals of BCE in what concerns to mediation of information to the public, as a way of them exercising their role as Educators by orienting in what concerns to intermediation of information to the users