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Information Literacy Services
Table of Contents
- What is Information Literacy?
- Why Information Literacy in your classroom?
- First Year Seminar (FYS)
- I'd like a librarian to work with my students
- FYS and Library Assignment Ideas
What is Information Literacy?
The American Library Association defines information literacy as 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" (Introduction to the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education). In addition, the information literate person is able to "understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally."
The ALA also distinguishes between information literacy and information technology:
"Information literacy is related to information technology skills, but has broader implications for the individual, the educational system, and for society. Information technology skills enable an individual to use computers, software applications, databases, and other technologies to achieve a wide variety of academic, work-related, and personal goals. Information literate individuals necessarily develop some technology skills...(but) Information literacy...is a distinct and broader area of competence."
"Information literacy is a survival skill in the Information Age. Instead of drowning in the abundance of information that floods their lives, information literate people know how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively to solve a particular problem or make a decision---whether the information they select comes from a computer, a book, a government agency, a film, or any number of other possible resources." (Presidential Committee on Information Literacy)
Why Information Literacy in your classroom?
Information Literacy class sessions are designed to teach students how to search, evaluate, and use information; and, how to use the library effectively and independently. Helping students develop their information literacy skills early in their college career will allow them to continue to use them during their undergraduate years at the College of St. Benedict/St. John’s University; during their graduate work; careers; and, throughout their lives.
"Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning." (American Library Association, Introduction to the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education)
The Information Literacy program involves the librarians providing instruction on all levels, from first-year through graduate, generally at the request of the course instructor. Almost all of our instruction is directly related to or integrated with a course. While some of this is provided through reference consultations and orientation tours, student learning is enhanced when Information Literacy goals are integrated into course assignments. Librarians are happy to help you develop such assignments as well as work with individual classes or student groups. Also, librarians are willing to participate in Moodle or other course activities. Please Ask a Librarian.
Library instructions are usually held in the library or computer lab, where a projection screen and computers are available for hands-on activities or in your classroom where a projection screen is available. Instructions can be for 10, 15, 30 and 70 minutes or whatever length you prefer. Again, librarians are happy to help you develop sessions to be incorporated into your class activities.
First Year Seminar (FYS)
“Discover and practice sound principles of information literacy and effective use of information technology by becoming familiar with library resources and staff.” FIRST YEAR SEMINAR: COURSE LEARNING GOALS
Librarians typically provide FYS students with orientation sessions in the fall semester and more in-depth, topic-related instruction in the spring semester.
The fall sessions are an “Introduction to Information Literacy at your Library”. This introduction can involve several mini-sessions that include orientation to the building(s), the libraries’ web site, general online indexes and journals; or, we can do an orientation session in one class period. It is highly recommended that you incorporate an assignment with these sessions. Students learning and understanding of their introduction session at the library will enhance their information literacy skills.
Either semester, students may also be introduced to RefWorks, a web-based bibliography and database manager they can use to create a personal database of citations to sources, for FYS as well as for other purposes. They can insert the citations into their papers and automatically format the paper and the bibliography using their choice of citation styles.
The spring FYS sessions are more varied and involved, with helping students begin the process of researching and understanding the scholarly articles, books and other materials needed for their research project. Guides by Course web pages can be created at this time to be tailored to an individual class's needs. These pages typically include information on both print and electronic resources with links to resources for citing materials. These web pages can be updated as needed throughout the semester, and students can use it as an active and dynamic "base" for their literature research needs. Guides by Subject web pages are also available as well as a quick list of databases for students to use when doing research.
Library Instruction classes will allow the student to:
- analyze and evaluate research sources
- understand scholarly vs. non-scholarly publications
- develop search strategies for specific assignments
- use of the catalog and online periodical indexes
- find specialized resources relevant to the discipline
- understand the basics on conducting research (e.g. topic narrowing, using primary sources, citation, etc.)
The librarians are always willing to work with instructors in helping them incorporate the library into their assignments. For potential ideas, see FYS and Library Assignment Ideas.
I'd like a librarian to work with my students
Faculty, staff, current students, and members of the Benedictine communities at SJU and CSB may request Information Literacy services. Arrangements for instruction in a particular subject area can be made by contacting the reference librarian listed for that subject on the Library Contacts page. For more information call Sarah Gewirtz at SJU Alcuin Library (#3207), or send an e-mail to sgewirtz@csbsju.edu.
Comments to Sarah Gewirtz.
Last updated: July 29, 2009. Links checked: August 18, 2007.