Information Literacy and Library Instruction   Tags: faculty, information_literacy, library_instruction  

The Amelia Gallucci-Cirio Library offers a library instruction program to help prepare students to be information literate in the 21st century. 

Information Literacy is the ability to identify what information is needed, understand how the information is organized, identify the best sources of information for a given need, locate those sources, evaluate the sources critically, and share that information.

If a full instruction session isn't able to be accommodated in your syllabus, consider these alternatives:

Embed A Librarian: We can help develop an assignment for your students, and then periodically visit class for hands-on help.

Research Guides: These provide students with a single webpage of starting-points for research - links, resources, etc. - tailored to meet class needs.  Guide links can easily be added to Blackboard, or the class webpage. (See box on this page.)

Here are some examples of guides created for specific courses:

The following sessions are one class-period in length, and are taught in the Hammond Instruction Lab on the 3rd floor of the library. However, we're happy to come to your class if you are in a mediated classroom and/or all students have laptops.

• Writing 1 - In concert with the intended outcomes for Writing 1, students are introduced to basic library skills - using the catalog and the databases, the difference between scholarly and non-scholarly sources, why Wikipedia shouldn't be cited in research, why citation is important, and how to structure an effective search. Sessions are designed to familiarize students with library resources and basic research skills.

• Writing 2 - Building on the Writing 1 curriculum, advanced search techniques are explored including subject development and keyword selection, and students are given an understanding of how to evaluate sources (particularly websites) for credibility and authority.

• Course Specific Sessions - Generally an advanced-level session focusing on specific databases and resources pertinent to a research-based assignment. Continues to develop advanced research skills, and content can be tailored to reflect assignment requirements and research expectations. PLEASE NOTE: A course does not have to be an upper level class to schedule this type of session.

• Tours of the Archives & Special Collections are available upon request.

Sign up for a session today!

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