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What is Information Literacy?
Information literacy is a set of abilities requiring
individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have
the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the
needed information."
The Schurz Library Instruction Program strives to instill
the concepts of Information Literacy in our students. In every
instruction session and one-on-one at the Reference desk,
librarians are teachers – helping students
to learn not just how to find information at any given moment
– but how to see that information and the information-seeking
process in a larger way.
The Schurz Library has adopted these
Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction (revised
from the
ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards)
Schurz Library's Information Literacy
objectives:
- Provides the student with an
understanding of the organization of knowledge and
information, including terminology and types of resources
available.
- Teaches students how to construct a
research question and form a research strategy, including
the selection of appropriate research tools.
- Provides the student with the theory,
skill and technique required to be an effective online
databases searcher.
- Helps the student to apply knowledge
gained about types of resources, search strategy and the
organization of information to the critical evaluation and
use of materials.
- Introduces students to issues
regarding the ethical and legal use of information.
- Encourages student to develop
research skills and habits that will contribute to their
success as students and future professionals.
Faculty Collaboration
True information literacy competency is best achieved when
librarians and disciplinary faculty collaborate to introduce
students to information literacy concepts throughout the
curriculum.
The introduction to information literacy course,
Q110, is a broad introduction to the concepts and skills
necessary to be an informed literate person.
Only through continued use and expansion of information
literacy skills throughout the curriculum can students truly
become competent in finding and using information. Additional
instruction and utilization of more specialized resources in
some upper-level courses is desirable. To that end, we
encourage faculty to design assignments that include the use
of advanced information resources and consult with librarians
when advanced instruction in the use of these resources is
advantageous for the students.
Additional Information Literacy resources:
Introduction to Information Literacy (from ACRL)
Information Literacy for Faculty (from ACRL)
For more information, contact:
Nancy Wootton Colborn
Head of Information Literacy Services
Coordinator of Staff Development
(574) 520-4321
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