Information Literacy Commons^™

"I Don't Think Librarians Can Save Us": The Material Conditions Of Information Literacy Instruction In The Misinformation Age, Amber Willenborg, Robert Detmering

Faculty Scholarship

This national qualitative study investigates academic librarians’ instructional experiences, views, and challenges regarding the widespread problem of misinformation. Findings from phenomenological interviews reveal a tension between librarians’ professional, moral, and civic obligation to address misinformation and the actual material conditions of information literacy instruction, which influence and often constrain librarians’ pedagogical and institutional roles. The authors call for greater professional reflection on current information literacy models that focus on achieving ambitious educational goals but which may be unsuitable for addressing the larger social and political crisis of misinformation.

Along For The Journey: Graduate Student Perceptions Of Research, Alissa Droog, Kari D. Weaver, Frances Brady

Faculty Peer-Reviewed Publications

Graduate student identities and personal lives are heavily tied to their experiences of research, and many struggle to find, understand, and use information for research purposes. Using a drawing exercise rooted in visual research methods combined with semi-structured interviews, a research team in the United States and Canada explored graduate student perceptions of research with 19 participants. Thematic analysis identified six themes: research is abstract; research is an odyssey; social support makes or breaks the student experience; research is an emotional continuum; interplay between identity/values; information is problematic. The study has implications for how librarians support graduate student research.

Responding To Chatgpt’S Impact On Higher Education Landscapes: Using Digital Initiatives To Support Undergraduate Information Literacy And Research Skills, Jayati Chaudhuri, Lettycia Terrones

Digital Initiatives Symposium

ChatGPT and AI technologies present novel and unforeseen challenges to the academic community, ushering in an intriguing era where the distinction between plagiarism and academic integrity can become less clear for many students. In response, the Cal State LA University Library created three new digital initiatives published on traditional and social media teaching platforms to help students understand how to avoid plagiarism and their use of ChatGPT in higher education. In the fall of 2023, librarians developed a new module focused on ChatGPT in higher education. The module enhanced the existing “Understanding and Avoiding Plagiarism” self-paced Canvas student tutorial, which …

Fiction Book Reviews

The Christian Librarian

No abstract provided.

Integrating Mindfulness In Media Literacy: A Culture-Responsive Training Programme For Older Thai Adults, Nuntiya Doungphummes, Kwanchit Sasiwongsaroj, Theeraphong Boonrugsa, Sirintorn Bhibulbhanuvat, Waraporn Suebwongsuwan

Journal of Media Literacy Education

Media literacy is a much-needed competency in the digitalised world, but it is still an unknown knowledge base for older Thai adults. This design-based research set out as an initiative to promote media literacy through an agefriendly and culture-responsive training programme. The design process involved focus groups with key stakeholders and older adult ‘learners’ as well as field observations. This type of research work, in the Thai context, revealed the primacy of integrating media literacy learning with the Buddhist practice of mindfulness. It also highlighted the importance of incorporating certain cultural values and practices - collectivism, a sense of enjoyment, …

That’S Using Your Brain!: Mind-Mapping And Ai Tools For Information Management And Information Literacy Instruction, Ruth L. Baker

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

TheBrain.com is a dynamic, mind-mapping tool you can use to manage your files, links to web sites, and other content–any kind of information you need to collect and manage. You can use your ‘digital brain’ to gather and visualize information from various sources and formats (i.e. create ‘thoughts’). The advantage is you can organize your files and information according to how you think about them, without the limitations of a typical folder-and-file organization system.

Your digital brain is an invaluable tool for collecting and managing information but it also can be used as a tool in the higher education classroom. …

A Real Package Deal - Ai & The Library Instruction Practitioner, Kay Coates, Jessica Garner

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

On the knowledge sharing spectrum artificial Intelligence (AI) coupled with skilled library instruction practitioners is an engaging, winsome combination. This powerful collaborative synergy can better substantiate the premise that teaching and learning is a two-way conduit — a commixture of tools (machine) and instructors (human). Undoubtedly, AI applications in scholarly enterprise could further substantiate worth by reinforcing the value of skilled support library instruction practitioners in an automated cosmos. Computerized deep learning technologies such as Generative AI which imitates human intelligence, and Large Language Models (LLM) are poised to revolutionize how research is conceived, designed, conducted, presented and preserved. Undoubtedly, …

Yes, Use Ai, But Not Like That! Helping Student Researchers Navigate Conflicting Messages About Generative Ai, Ali Krzton, Todd Shipman

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

University students are being encouraged by their peers, or even their institutions, to use generative AI tools to make the research process more efficient and less stressful. However, they are also cautioned against inappropriate use of generative AI by course instructors, research supervisors, and those same institutions. Many librarians are reluctant to enter the discussion and provide instruction in the appropriate use of generative AI, perhaps to avoid the appearance of endorsement. On the other hand, the implications of student use of AI for information literacy cannot be ignored. One possible strategy is for librarians to explore the use of …

Getting Student Buy-In On Information Literacy In A Generative Ai Information World, Vincent Larkin

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Even before the emergence of ChatGPT and similar programs, it could be difficult to get students interested in tracking down information sources and evaluating the authority, context and intent of content. With the emergence of generative AI tools, many educators are finding more unattributed or AI generated content in submitted student work, and for the students who use these tools, the speed and perceived authority of these tools may blind them to the difficulty of tracking and crediting the original sources. Given the emergence of these tools, how can we get students to value and put into practice information literacy …

Beyond Navigating: Empowering Ourselves And Our Communities Through Critical Technology And Information Research, Sarah Appedu

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly being sold to the public as transformative, world-changing, life-improving advancements in human evolution. Information literacy librarians have and will continue to play an instrumental role in challenging and critiquing new technological “advancements” that make their way into the lives and practices of their organizations and communities. However, librarians may be underutilizing the important skills they hold in evaluating complex information sources and systems when helping their communities critically respond to new tools like those powered by artificial intelligence. While emphasizing skills related to source evaluation, identifying algorithmic bias, and critically examining the economic context of …

Harnessing Generative Ai For Targeted Libguide Development, Autumn Johnson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

LibGuides are indispensable tools for librarians, facilitating information literacy teaching in a variety of contexts and enhancing the overall learning experience for users. This is particularly true for guides tailored to specific courses. Course guides and others that closely align with student learning objectives and assignment requirements, provide a more immediate and targeted response to user’s needs. Yet, developing guides with such customized content often proves to be a time-consuming process for Librarian creators.

Librarians might consider leveraging generative AI to assist them in creating guides with more focused and timely content, making their work easier and more efficient. Generative …

How Many Steps To Connect With The Library And A Librarian In Academic Libraries In The Southeast, Viki Stoupenos, Christine Woods Dr.

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Transactional distance is defined as the gap between the learner and the teacher in online classes. In other words, how far away does the learner feel from the teacher or the ability to get help. This definition is applied to how far away the learner feels from the library and the ability to get help from a librarian.

Two important issues in transactional distance are structure and dialogue. Librarians should be aware of the structure of learning materials and have clear visible pathways so that students may reach out to ask for assistance. Websites must have logical structure and students …

Exploring The Ethical Use Of Ai In Information Product Creation: A Guide For Librarians, Dawn N. Cannon-Rech

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Exploring the Ethical Use of AI in Information Product Creation: A Guide for Librarians

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized the way information products are created, raising ethical considerations that demand the attention of educators, researchers, and librarians. This poster presentation aims to delve into the ethical aspects of AI-generated information products, such as papers, Open Educational Resources (OER) materials, images, etc., and to provide practical tips for teaching librarians on how to navigate and address citation rules associated with these products.

Objectives:

1. Understanding AI in Information Product Creation: Explore the key principles behind AI algorithms and …

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A Collaborative Approach To Exploring Generative Ai With Undergraduate English Students, Chrissy O'Grady

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

How can librarians support students in exploring the use of generative AI to aid in the research process? This presentation will discuss a partnership between an academic librarian and an English faculty at a comprehensive state university in fall 2023 and spring 2024. In two sections of a 300-level major English course, students are required to use generative AI for an assignment. The collaboration consists of two information literacy sessions that utilize scaffolded activities. The first session focuses on students using generative AI to aid in their research process. We discuss their experiences using generative AI tools, develop an understanding …

Brewing Scholarly Connections: The Evolution Of Scholar Sips At Gs Libraries, Jessica L. Swaringen

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

The Scholar Sips lecture series at Georgia Southern University aims to facilitate student-faculty connections through intellectual exploration. Scholar Sips provides a space for faculty to present and discuss their recent, topical research with students who may or may not be in their classes already. Scholar Sips participants are also treated to complimentary coffee and tea. The library acts as a neutral third-space that levels the power dynamic between professor and student, positioning them both as explorers of a given topic. This presentation will describe the philosophical approach behind Scholar Sips, its gradual transformation over three semesters, as well as strategies …

Chatgpt And Friends: The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly, Lara Little

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

ChatGPT and similar large language models have taken the world by storm. Many librarians and teachers are trying to get up to speed on these new technologies and understand how they will affect information literacy, the classroom, and more. This presentation will give a not-too-technical overview of how these technologies work, what they can be used for, ethical issues of hallucinations, copyright, and potential student plagiarism, and considerations for libraries and librarians to take into account as students and teachers embrace (or avoid!) this form of artificial intelligence. Attendees will come away with a better understanding of what ChatGPT and …

The Dragon In The Room: The Perils And Possibilities Of Ai-Generated, Openly-Licensable Rpg Program Content, Nathaniel Lee Bareford

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

Role playing games (RPGs) like Dungeons and Dragons are becoming increasingly popular and more in-demand by patrons of both academic and public libraries. Research has demonstrated that role playing games are valuable tools for reinforcing discipline-specific knowledge, developing career-ready soft skills, and cultivating information literacy practices. However, librarians are taxed for time and the investment required to produce practically usable, openly licensed RPG content is substantial. Additional access barriers such as material costs and licensing restrictions often prevent librarians from being able to sustain roleplaying game programming. If AI can produce usable, open RPG resources based firmly on open licenses …

Artificial Intelligence: The Road More Traveled. Writing And Conducting Research With Ai, Laura Zucca-Scott, Samuel Stinson

Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy

This project illustrates and discusses actionable examples of how collaborative, supportive virtual or in-person environments can foster democratic learning models in the age of Artificial Intelligence.

The workshop models, whether in person or virtual, provide dialogical opportunities for growth. Critically examining information and developing writing skills become crucial in supporting scholarly growth and intellectual exploration while providing access to academic pursuits to otherwise marginalized individuals and groups.

The experiences we share are situated in a specific context and are interconnected with the perspectives, backgrounds, and expectations of the scholars involved. However, as the writing workshops continue to evolve due to …

Communication Branches Out: Developing Interpersonal Skills Through Genealogical Research, Julian Costa, Gary Snyder

Proceedings of the New York State Communication Association

Communication students of the twenty-first century must not only be able to interact in multiple formats but be able to express their ideas across varied platforms. A common deterrent faced by students conducting research is the lack of applicability of the subject matter to their lives. The integration of genealogical research can address this issue because it allows students to learn about, and celebrate, their family history. While engaged in such a pursuit, students will develop core communication skills, such as speaking and listening, online research, and message design.

Reframing Wikipedia As An Information Source: Concepts And Strategies For Critical Inquiry And Digital Literacy., Andrea Baer

Libraries Scholarship

Since its inception in 2001, Wikipedia has grown to become the largest and most popular reference source in the world. Contrary to the idea that it lives in the Internet’s Wild West, this resource has robust infrastructure, with editorial guidelines, processes, and dedicated volunteers who help to make Wikipedia an invaluable information source for learning about almost any topic. Of course, it’s also true that not every Wikipedia article is reliable, and that the quality and depth of articles ranges. The crowdsourced nature of Wikipedia, along with its extensive editorial processes, make it not only a powerful (albeit imperfect) reference …

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - April 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Patrons Of D.V.G Public Library, Kolar Are Aware Of And Using The Information Sources & Services: A Survey, Geetha C S, M S Akshay Kumar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

The most important aspect of any library is its patrons. Any library’s goal is to determine what its users need, meet those needs, and satisfy them to the best of its ability. When it comes to public libraries, they face greater challenges in meeting the requirements of their increasingly diverse readership. The present study is an attempt to analyze the awareness and usage of the information sources and services offered by the D.V.G. public library, Kolar. A well-structured questionnaire was distributed to draw the data from the users. Responses from the users show that 95% of respondents are aware of …

Teaching Ai Literacy Through Library Frameworks, Christopher M. Jimenez

Works of the FIU Libraries

This poster presents a comprehensive exploration of the integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) with the Association of College and Research Libraries' Frameworks for Information Literacy. It seeks to shed light on the implications and considerations of incorporating generative AI within the framework of information literacy, focusing on key concepts such as authority, information creation, value, research as inquiry, and scholarship as conversation.

Within the context of generative AI, questions arise regarding the credibility of AI-generated information. This poster delves into the factors that influence authority in information resources and examines how generative AI compares to traditional sources of expertise. …

Searching Govinfo.Gov/, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) database provides access to information legal, legislative, and regulatory information produced on multiple subjects by the U.S. Government. Content includes congressional bills, congressional committee hearings and prints (studies), reports on legislation, the text of laws, regulations, and executive orders and multiple U.S. Government information resources covering subjects from accounting to zoology.

Strategies For Reading Scholarly Articles, Hannah Krauss

All Musselman Library Staff Works

This handout reviews suggested strategies for reading scholarly articles in the sciences, social sciences, and humanities, recommending reading out of order based upon the discipline. The second page contains tips for taking notes on articles for research and classes.

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letter - March 2024, George Washington University, Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library

Himmelfarb Library Liaison Letters

No abstract provided.

Sela News & News From The States

The Southeastern Librarian

News from participating Southeastern states.

Sela Officers And Executive Committee, Sela State Representatives

The Southeastern Librarian

Current SELA officers and representatives.

Vaulting Ambition: Fdr’S Campaign To Pack The Supreme Court, David W. Young

The Southeastern Librarian

Michael Nelson Lawrence: University Press of Kan-sas, 2023 ISBN: 9780700634125 124 p. $24.95 (Pbk)

Skimpy Coverage: Sports Illustrated And The Shaping Of The Female Athlete, Loren Mixon

The Southeastern Librarian

Bonnie M. Hagerman Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2023 ISBN: 9780813949239 338 p. $34.50 (Pbk)