Making the Case for Information Literacy:

1. Making the Case for Information Literacy: Promoting information literacy across campus Polly Boruff-Jones Director of Library and Information Services Drury University pboruffjones@drury.edu

2. Why Information Literacy? • Implications for “future of libraries” • Access to scholarly information is complex • Framework for instructional efforts • Defines what you wish to accomplish • Builds skills for academic success • Student focused • Computer literacy is not sufficient • IL is the bigger picture

3. Program must-haves • Definition of IL • Mission • Tie to library and university missions • Keep it short, concise • Goals • 3 to 7 • Objectives • SMART

4. Define • The ability to recognize an information need and locate, evaluate, and use information effectively (ALA, 1989) • The ability to recognize an information need, acknowledge accurate complete information as the basis for decision making, formulate questions, develop strategies, access information from a variety of sources, and use information in critical thinking and problem solving (Doyle, 1996) • Information literacy is the set of skills needed to define an information need and to find, evaluate, interpret, and document a variety of information sources (Olin Library, Drury University, 2010)

5. Mission(Purpose) • Information alone, in all of its varied formats, will not bring about a knowledgeable and informed citizenry without mastery of the practical and conceptual skills needed to acquire, use, and evaluate information competently, ethically, and effectively. It is the mission of the Olin Library Information Literacy Program to teach a set of practical and conceptual information literacy skills to our students. (Drury IL Program)

6. Goals • To what do you aspire? • How will you achieve your mission? • Make them manageable - no more than 7

7. Objectives • SMART • Specific • Measurable • Assignable • Realistic • Time-limited

8. Resources for planning • Characteristics of Programs of Information Literacy that Illustrate Best Practices: A Guideline http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/characteristics.cfm • Guidelines for Instruction Programs in Academic Libraries http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/guidelinesinstruction.cfm • Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/standards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm

9. Make it relevant • No librarian speak • Simply the Standards for Higher Ed… • Approach from faculty perspective • Identify barriers to faculty involvement • Offer sample assignments

10. Have you met…? • the Student who says “There isn’t anything on my topic.” • the Student who asks “How do I know when/how to cite sources?” • the Student who can’t go to the library because - it’s too far away - she works off campus when it’s open - he is intimidated by the building

11. Have you met…? • the Student whose bibliography contains primarily - articles from Time and Newsweek - Wikipedia entries • the Student who actually uses the online catalogue and journal databases, but selects books and articles that are over 20 years old or are off topic

12. Communicate • Start where you are • Explore opportunities for collaboration • Find just one willing collaborator • Create a Community of Practice • Engage in faculty governance • Investigate accreditation criteria • Promote every chance you get!