"Combining research, learning, teaching and service using an evaluation of student provided IT support in an undergraduate medical library"

In response to student feedback the IT Monitors programme was established in 2007 to provide a novel approach to enhance IT support in the RCSI library. This project entailed a peer to peer support programme with monitors drawn from the undergraduate Medical School. The programme was subsequently expanded in 2008 and IT Monitors were renamed ELFs (Electronic Library Facilitators) with a competitive application process open to the Schools of Physiotherapy and Pharmacy and Medicine. The role of these student facilitators was to be available outside of normal working hours to provide IT support and peer to peer support in using electronic information resources available through the library. Training was provided by the IT Department and Library. ELFs were recruited and paid by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and over two years their role developed significantly.The RCSI Student Selected Component is a module where medical students select faculty advertised research projects to be completed over a six week period. This was used as a means to evaluate the ELF programme. An evaluation of the innovative, peer to peer service delivered by ELFs in the library made the project unique in terms of immediate practical application to student and library services. It also offered an effective means of evaluating the programme thereby combining the teaching and learning of research skills to produce a report with recommendations for the future of the ELF programme. The student led evaluation used interview and survey methodologies. The conclusions were that the ELF service was valued amongst the student body. Constructive suggestions for improvement were made most important of which was promotion to increase awareness of the service amongst the student body. This project presents an innovative way in which Faculty and students work together to enhance the educational experience of the students at RCSI.