Library Information Literacy Tutorial

The Library adheres to the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education as approved by the Association of College and Research Libraries on January 18, 2000. ACRL defines information literacy as:

"...the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, learning environments and levels of education. It enables learners to master context and extend their investigations, become more self-directed and assume greater control of their own learning."

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.
• Access and use information ethically and legally.

Instructional Philosophy

Students who are assigned projects requiring library research often lack basic library skills or are overwhelmed by an information explosion - the plethora and diversity of library resources provided through digital information technology.

Seminole State's Library Instruction Program is designed to teach students how to use both print and technology-based information resources while developing skills in lifelong information literacy. Achieving information literacy requires an introduction to library resources and services; acquisition of rudimentary electronic database-searching skills; and a basic understanding of the structure and function of contemporary information networks. Early meaningful introduction of the systems and processes will enhance student self-sufficiency to perform basic research. Such instruction provides students with an opportunity to meet with a librarian to learn about contemporary research processes and procure information on how to properly use Seminole State's libraries.

Objective

The purpose of Seminole State's Information Literacy Instruction Program is to enhance students' ability to locate, gather and evaluate information in any format. Overall objectives are to support the College's curricula and participate in the academic communication process to promote lifelong learning skills and continuous educational achievement.

Primary Modes of Instruction/Instructional Materials

With the exception of general tours, information literacy instruction is incorporated into class content research. Printed instructional worksheet exercises and online research subject guides - tailored to address specific course assignments - are the primary teaching instruments used to enable an understandable, hands-on approach to learning. Worksheet exercises require students both to utilize library research resources and services, and to answer a series of questions in the context of class assignments. Online research subject guides are Internet based clickable links navigating library services, resources and research instruction. The Quick Start Guides are accessible via any computer with access to the Internet with a graphical browser, such as Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Internet Explorer.

Both modes of instruction provide a step-by-step guide to the research process and introduce students to resources and search strategies that are most appropriate for their assignments and level of expertise. They also primarily address the navigation skills that are required to move through database menus and technical skills for searching library catalogs, and databases for citations or full-text periodical articles.

Further, extended research guidance support is provided. Students can ask an information specialist for assistance via e-mail, in person, by telephone or by traditional mail.

Additional Means of Instruction

• Point-of-Use Bibliographic Instruction: This demonstrates the use of library resources for a specific topic.
• Library Tours: Tours provide information on the location and availability of resources.
• Introduction to Internet Research (LIS2004; online one credit course): This course teaches the skills necessary for successfully searching the Internet. It reviews the parts of the Internet that are important for accessing the information that is necessary for Gordon Rule papers, essays or research reports. It demonstrates how information on the Internet is retrieved and evaluated for its content and credibility, and it stresses the development of critical-thinking skills.

Instructors

Seminole State's MLS degree librarians teach LIS 2004 and can introduce students to library services, policies and resources, as well as assist them with the worksheet exercises or online research subject guides during one-hour instructional sessions.

Given sufficient lead-time, the librarians can provide course/assignment-specific presentations and written materials, as well as general orientations for more inexperienced students. Librarians are also available to work with faculty to prepare course or topic specific resource pages that may be used on faculty Web sites, or in ANGEL.

Student Performance/Outcomes Objectives

Understand basic research fundamentals to:

• Appreciate that there is a process to searching for information.
• Identify key words or phrases that represent a topic.
• Formulate, broaden and narrow a topic.
• Use Boolean logic (e.g., AND, OR, NOT) to focus research.
• Recognize various formats of information.
• Locate bibliographic and reference sources that are appropriate to a topic.
• Distinguish between popular, scholarly, current and historical resources.
• Distinguish between indexes in various formats.
• Distinguish between online databases, collections of online databases and gateways to different databases and collections.
• Recognize what the library owns and how to find it.
• Understand how to secure materials not held by the library.
• Use appropriate documentation to cite sources.
• Use information ethically and legally.

• Access the Seminole State Library Web site and explore its components.
• Become aware of basic library policies, procedures and services, including contacting other libraries directly or through interlibrary loan/document delivery. 
• Discover locations of library collections, service desks and other physical features of the building.
• Use the LINCCWeb online catalog. 
• Search for a known item by author and title, or by subject and keyword. 
• Correctly interpret catalog information. 
• Access journals by title. 
• Search for periodical holdings.

• Search online databases by subject, keyword, author and title. 
• Search printed indexes and abstracting services by subject, author and title. 
• Use help screens in various databases to assist in research. 
• Understand different interfaces for basic and advanced searching in some databases. 
• Recognize the search functionalities common to most databases. 
• Determine means for recording or saving information (printing, e-mailing, saving to a disk, photocopying, etc.).
• Recognize that some material is not available online or digitized formats and must be accessed in print or other formats (video, microforms, etc.).

• Connect to research-oriented resources.
• Evaluate the contents, credibility, design and navigational features of Web sites.

Performance Evaluation/Assessment Measurement of Learning Outcomes

Measured outcomes will vary according to current class and library interaction. A syllabus will detail the current measurable evaluation.

Did you know?

Seminole State's Library has one of the most extensive collections of literature and educational materials in Seminole County.