1. "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."
American Library Association, 1989.
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
2. Association of College & Research Libraries - ACRL
Information Literacy Competency Standards
for Higher Education
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.
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
3. Association of College & Research Libraries - ACRL
Information Literacy Competency Standards
for Higher Education
An information literate individual is able to:
•Determine the extent of information needed
•Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
•Evaluate information and its sources critically
•Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
•Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
•Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding
the use of information, and access and use information ethically
and legally
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
4. The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
5. Network Literacy: A role for libraries
McClure (1994)
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
6. A Collaborative Approach to Information Literacy
Information literacy instruction needs to be tailored to students’
specific research tasks. One-shot de-contextualized library
sessions not tied to specific class assignments or activities,
especially at the beginning of the semester, won’t engage and
motivate students to learn. Multiple, tailored information literacy
sessions (or at least two sequential sessions) are essential in
addressing students’ information needs.
Skinner, Yena, Lynch, Kang 2007
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
7. Association of College & Research Libraries - ACRL
Collaborating with Teaching Faculty
Collaboration between teaching faculty and librarians is fundamental to information
literacy.
•Collaboration is based on shared goals, a shared vision, and a climate of trust and
respect. Each partner brings different strengths and perspectives to the relationship.
•The teacher brings an understanding of the strengths, weaknesses, attitudes and
interests of the students, and of the content to be taught.
•The librarian adds a thorough knowledge of information skills and methods to
integrate them into the course, pedagogical knowledge for teaching these skills and
an understanding of student’s frustration with the research process.
Successful collaboration requires carefully defined roles, comprehensive planning
and shared leadership.
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
8. Target faculty members you know or who are likely
to be receptive:
•Focus on adding value to a web presence
•Make presentations on “hot topics”
•Utilize social media, e-mail, listservs, departmental
newsletters, and other means of advertising
•Make yourself available
Thaxton, Sugarman 2008
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
9. Strategies for Preparing for Collaboration
Get to know your teaching faculty.
o Send an email, or drop by their office.
o Make an appointment with appropriate department heads to discuss the
possibilities, and get on his/her regular departmental meeting agenda.
Familiarize yourself with subject specialties/faculty research interests/publishers.
Foster two-way communication.
Focus on the repeat customer, slowly expanding information literacy programs.
Focus efforts on previously targeted programs, and expand those.
Gain credibility with faculty through reference and research assistance-present
yourself as the subject resource expert.
Initiating is the key to creating opportunities.
Never say no if someone else initiates.
Start small, and don’t take on too much too soon or expectations will run even higher.
Realize that some connections will take time to establish and continue improving
those.
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in with collaborative webleading urban research institution,
Experiment innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a technologies.
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
10. Interpersonal and Communication Strategies
Teach people to treat you as they would any member of their department.
Establish peer relationships with teaching faculty.
Give everyone individualized attention (includes faculty and students); become
their go-to. This will increase the number of referrals for classes, and grad
student visits.
Maintain a positive attitude and enthusiasm for libraries, instruction and
reference.
Show genuine interest in students, and student success.
Explore different avenues of communication, find out what individuals prefer.
Take risks, and be persistent and assertive. Don’t be afraid to say no, and then
suggest alternatives.
Establish boundaries with teaching faculty. Inform them how you would like to
work with them. Find out what is mutually beneficial.
The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
11. The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
12. The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
13. The UNLV Libraries will define the new academic research library—bringing people and
information together in innovative ways. As UNLV emerges as a leading urban research institution,
the Libraries will pioneer dynamic, user-focused methods of reaching, connecting, and engaging
learners.
Notas del editor
During these multiple sessions there should be a balance between upfront instruction and individual practice. Our experience indicates that formal library presentations should be brief (about 15 minutes) and focused on one or two specific databases or search strategies most pertinent to the course assignment. Such didactic instruction would do well to allow interactive work sessions of 30 minutes or more that encourage students to apply their newly acquired information literacy skills. These application sessions also allow time to assess students’ learning in order to plan more effectively for subsequent instruction. . When sequencing information literacy , we asked students in lower level developmental courses to begin with informative projects; in higher levels we gradually asked them to assume more critical and persuasive approaches to their research. For lower levels of developmental courses, we also pre-selected a limited number of sources, guided research questions, and structured the products. In higher level courses, we encouraged students to choose research questions and sources more independently as they gained confidence and competence. Although we recommend these general sequencing principles we believe that students at every level need opportunities to experiment, discover, and take risks as they conduct research projects that matter to them.
