The INHALE (Information for Nursing and Health in a Learning Environment) Project

Abstract: Purpose – To examine the INHALE Project, completed at the end of February 2003, which evaluated the information-seeking skills of over 1,600 students and also developed a dynamic database (now known as the INFORMS database) of information skills teaching and learning objects for use across the broad spectrum of subjects taught in higher education (HE)/further education (FE).
Design/methodology/approach – This is a follow-on article to one already published (VINE, Vol. 126 No.1, 2002, pp. 24-34) and provides an overview of the results of key evaluations undertaken during the project; the factors identified as having an impact on the delivery of effective information skills teaching and learning across an institution; plus the developments of the INHALE (now INFORMS) database of information skills resources.
Findings – Reveals that the evaluation of student information seeking behaviour clearly points to the continuing need for information skills teaching within the HE community and for librarians to embrace this need within the evolving information environment.
Originality/value – This article holds useful information for understanding the information-seeking skills of students and how these can be facilitated.