Library Information Literacy

Faculty

Prof. J. Andrew Newgren, Director of Howard Colman Library

This program builds information literacy competencies through courses designed to teach individuals how to become more effective in their scholarly research and add to a lifetime academic toolkit.

Courses offered build from introductory to advanced levels of research rigor and are customized to address the varying methodology and resources used across a broad range of disciplines. Courses teach the principles, concepts, and practices of information literacy, including Internet research, citation formats, copyright and intellectual property, computer technologies, and the critical thinking skills necessary to identify, analyze, evaluate, and use diverse information sources effectively. The knowledge and skills gained in these courses prepare students to conduct university level research and develop skills necessary for life-long learning and success.

According to the Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education published by the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL): Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning. Information literacy is increasingly important in the contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources. Due to the escalating complexity of this environment, individuals are faced with diverse, abundant information choices--in their academic studies, in the workplace, and in their personal lives.