Library and Information Science Commons^™

Teaching Matters: Developing As A Teacher/Librarian [Column]: Rules Of Engagement: Best Practices For Connecting With Students, Janelle M. Zauha

Communications in Information Literacy

This column focuses on the conceptual and practical aspects of teaching information literacy. Column co-editor Patrick Ragains and I write about trends and issues that have come to our attention, but we also solicit contributions to this space. Readers with ideas for Teaching Matters may contact Patrick Ragains at [email protected], or the editors of Communications in Information Literacy at [email protected].

Who's In Charge Here? Authority, Authoritativeness, And The Undergraduate Researcher, Marybeth Meszaros

Communications in Information Literacy

No abstract provided.

Unlearn What You Have Learned: Digital Disorganization And Information Literacy Instruction, Maryann Hight

Communications in Information Literacy

Traditional organizational schemes utilized for class design and for the organization of research materials means little to students comfortable with the disorganized internet environment. This article examines how constructivist principles and the disorganization of the internet was utilized to design a unique online information literacy course.

Best Practices For Online Video Tutorials: A Study Of Student Preferences And Understanding, Melissa Bowles-Terry, Merinda Hensley, Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe

Communications in Information Literacy

In order to develop best practices for online video library tutorials, this research study used an interview-based research method to investigate usability, findability, and instructional effectiveness. The findings document student learner preferences and are the basis for guidelines for future tutorial development.

User Education And Information Literacy In Agricultural Universities Of India, Neena Singh

Communications in Information Literacy

Twenty-six of the agricultural universities in India teach user education and information literacy (IL). This article evaluates these courses and investigates if and how the course curriculum blends research and technical writing skills effectively. Unfortunately, the courses lack uniformity in teaching IL and technical writing skills. Since the universities are under state government control, they are unable to provide uniform curricula throughout India. There is also a need for a credited course on IL, integrating ICT and computer skills, and another course for research and technical writing.

Research For Design: Exploring Student And Instructor Attitudes Toward Accessing Library Resources And Services From Course Management Systems (Cms), Merinda Mclure, Karen Munro

Communications in Information Literacy

The authors report a study concerning student and instructor attitudes toward accessing library resources and services from within course management systems (CMS). In spring 2008, the authors conducted semi-structured interviews with a small population of students and instructors at the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) and at Colorado State University (CSU). They asked participants to respond to examples of library integrations in course management systems at other institutions and to report their local experiences with both the campus CMS and library services. Participant responses frequently challenged and complicated the authors' assumptions about best practices in integrating a library presence and …

Aiming For Assessment: Notes From The Start Of An Information Literacy Course Assessment, Peter Larsen, Amanda Izenstark, Joanna Burkhardt

Communications in Information Literacy

To provide systematic assessment of a 3-credit, full-semester information literacy course at the University of Rhode Island, the library instruction faculty adapted the Bay Area Community College Information Competency Proficiency Exam to determine how well the students learned the material taught in the course and how well that material reflected the ACRL Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.

Instruction 2.0 - What Are We Actually Doing?, Greg Bobish

Communications in Information Literacy

This survey looks at ARL Libraries' instruction websites and tries to identify publicly available Library 2.0 tools focused on user education. The reasons for each tool's presence or absence are discussed and an overall assessment of the current state of the use of these tools in the field is offered.

Heard On The Net: One Byte, Two Bytes, Three Bytes For Dollars. All For E-Books, Stand Up And Holler!, Jill Emery

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

This column explores two e-book purchasing models, Evidence-Based Selection (EBS) and patron-driven (demanddriven) model. Both hold promise as new ways to purchase e-books in libraries and provoke interesting questions about the future of e-book purchasing.

Technology In Practice. Nurturing Innovation: Tips For Managers And Administrators, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article focuses on how library managers and administrators can encourage innovation in libraries and prevent the failure of new library services. The author suggests that managers should encourage staff to learn about new trends in technology, give staff time to experiment with new initiatives, and develop a work culture that is tolerant of risks. Other topics include budget cuts to libraries, patron population, and rate of return (ROI) for libraries.

Technology In Practice. Your Reality, Augmented, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article discusses library applications of global positioning system (GPS) functionality available in mobile telephones. Augmented reality applications and location-aware mobile Web sites are examined and their possible connection with radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to assist library users are explored. The development of location-based applications to enhance library services is also discussed.

Technology In Practice. Guided By Barcodes, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article explores the application of Quick Response (QR) barcodes in library settings, with particular focus given to their possible use in library orientation. It notes that QR codes can be scanned and read by camera-enabled mobile telephones, directing the user to a predetermined location which could include Web sites, telephone numbers, or images. Public service applications of QR codes are examined and the use of QR codes in Japan is discussed.

Working Overseas As A Librarian For The United States Or Non-Governmental Organizations, Joan Petit

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

In this article, I focus on international jobs with the US Federal Government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including the United Nations. Please note that this is not an exhaustive summary of opportunities available abroad for Americans, but I do hope it will get you started.

Tryin' To Get My Mojo Workin', Emily Ford

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article discusses the reasons why librarians in the U.S. get burned out in their jobs and lose their librarian mojo. It states that librarians are dependent on systems which make them prone to systems failure while most libraries rely on tools and technologies instead of their skills and subsequently lose their mojo. It suggests to attend the American Library Association's (ALA) annual meeting and meet other librarians and get inspired about librarianship.

Technology In Practice. A Library In Your Pocket, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article discusses the development of library Web pages designed for viewing on mobile devices and cell phones. The use of smartphones and cell phones to access internet content, library services that can be made accessible through the mobile Web, and population assessment options for libraries developing mobile Web sites are examined. Services designed for mobile use including reference services, library instruction, and catalog access are also discussed.

The Balanced Scorecard: A Systemic Model For Evaluation And Assessment Of Learning Outcomes?, Thomas Bielavitz

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The goal of this paper is to explore using Kaplan and Norton's balanced scorecard methodology as a systemic model for outcomes assessment. The expectations of academic accrediting agencies have shifted from measurement of inputs and outputs to that of the library's impact on learning and demonstrating accountability. Recent literature has presented methods for performing specific aspects of outcomes assessment. However, the scorecard methodology may provide a systemic advantage beneficial to library administrators and managers. Methods -- This paper provides a selective review of outcomes assessment in academic libraries and a description of the balanced scorecard methodology, focusing on its relevance …

Technology In Practice. Dipping Into The Stream, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article discusses the use of microblogging and social networking Web sites Twitter and FriendFeed by librarians for professional networking. Benefits of social networking for building professional relationships, keeping track of professional trends, and finding help are discussed. Ways of developing networks on Twitter and FriendFeed are provided and suggestions for managing social networking sites are included.

Valuing Information Literacy: Affective Learning And The Acrl Standards, Robert Schroeder, Ellysa Stern Cahoy

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

Higher education information literacy standards have readily addressed cognitive skills, although affective competencies--the emotional abilities that students must acquire in order to successfully navigate the research process--have not yet been incorporated into standards. This paper presents examples of current information literacy standards, integrating affective competencies or dispositions, including the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) "21st Century Learning Standards," and proposes a model for affective-focused higher education information literacy standards. The role of affect in library learning, the importance of affective competencies, and the centrality of affective learning to student mastery of research skills are discussed. Viewing information literacy as …

Working Overseas In A School Or University Library, Joan Petit

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

For two years, my family and I lived in Cairo, Egypt, while I worked at the American University in Cairo as an Instruction and Reference Librarian. It was a fantastic experience, and I get questions almost weekly from students and librarians interested in the same kind of job, either in Egypt or elsewhere.

This article will discuss jobs in academic and school libraries, including tips on finding and attaining these positions. This article focuses on jobs for expats (or potential expats) rather than jobs where an American is hired instead of a local.

Upstairs-Downstairs: Working With A Campus Assessment Coordinator And Other Allies For Effective Information Literacy Assessment, Amy R. Hofer, Margot Hanson

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

At a 2008 assessment conference, Megan Oakleaf and Lisa Hinchliffe noted that one barrier librarians face when trying to conduct assessment is lack of coordination. This barrier was removed for Golden Gate University's (GGU) librarians when Lisa Kramer was hired as Director of Assessment and Evaluation and made her expertise and support available to us. She helped us understand the difference between program evaluation and learning assessment, and acted as a sounding board in the design of a new assessment study. We describe our environment at GGU, our assessment goals, and our study design, then discuss preliminary results and possible …

A Library Technician Classification Study: Addressing Obsolescence, Compression, And Retention, Thomas Bielavitz

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

This article reports on the classification of library technicians and the role of job descriptions in collective bargaining. The classification of library technicians was revised by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) organization, affecting salary ranges for employees on university campuses including the Oregon University System (OUS). The article discusses the effects of these changes related to the changing job market, equity in wages, and unionization. Information is also provided on library support staffs and library management.

Technology In Practice. Finding Your Voice, Meredith G. Farkas

Library Faculty and Staff Publications and Presentations

The article offers suggestions for librarians seeking to develop a blog to add to a professional online portfolio. Discovering one's own voice and blogging style, selecting topics, and acquiring readers are examined. Increasing online visibility by commenting on topically similar blogs, linking to the posts of other blogs, and cross-posting entries through various social networking communities including Twitter, Facebook, and FriendFeed are also discussed.

A Program For Introducing Information Literacy To Commercial Art And Design Students, David A. Walczak, Diane L. Sammet, Monika E. Reuter

Communications in Information Literacy

This paper describes the process of developing and implementing a comprehensive, school-wide, and sustainable information literacy program at a commercial art and design school. The program requires that information literacy student learning outcomes be included in specific General Education and art and design courses across the curriculum. The results of this multi-year effort indicate that while the program is sound, teaching information literacy is an on-going effort requiring much more training of faculty and students. Best practices in information literacy in library science and art and design literature are reviewed

The Evolution Of A Testing Tool For Measuring Undergraduate Information Literacy Skills In The Online Environment, Elizabeth Mulherrin, Husein Abdul-Hamid

Communications in Information Literacy

The construction and validity of an assessment tool mapped to objectives in a high enrollment credit-bearing information literacy course delivered primarily online is the focus of this article. An open book and non-proctored objective test can be a reliable measure for assessing student competencies in basic information literacy skills, both at the course level and for reporting to national accrediting bodies and state agencies. An analysis of overall student performance on test items that are mapped to information literacy outcomes helps to identify competencies that need improvement in a course, as well as provide a baseline for informing the process …

Journal Editing In The Age Of Open Access: A Reflection On Opportunities And Challenges, Sarah Mccord, Terry Taylor

Communications in Information Literacy

No abstract provided.

Building A Seamless Environment For Assessment Of Information Literacy: Libraries, Student Affairs, And Learning Outside The Classroom, Scott Walter

Communications in Information Literacy

Assessment has been a topic of interest in higher education for decades, with its recent growth rooted in a number of scholarly traditions, as well as the broader interest in "accountability" that has been characteristic of American education since the 1980s. Many previous studies have demonstrated that the literature of assessment in higher education is a rich resource for those wishing to identify effective approaches to the assessment of information literacy. This piece invites readers to pay attention to the lessons taught by faculty development experts as well as by scholars of the science of teaching and learning, but also …

Using Cognitive Interviews And Student Response Processes To Validate An Interpretive Argument For The Ets Iskills™ Assessment, Eric Snow, Irvin Katz

Communications in Information Literacy

Evaluating the trustworthiness of Internet-based or other digital information has become an essential 21st century skill. The iSkills™ assessment, from Educational Testing Service (ETS), purports to measure such digital evaluation skills, along with other digital literacy skills. In this work, we use an argument-based approach to assessment validation to investigate the extent to which iSkills test scores can support inferences about the ability of college students to evaluate information in a digital environment. Eighty-eight undergraduates responded to iSkills assessment tasks and to more open-ended "naturalistic" tasks. These naturalistic tasks were designed to be like homework assignments that incorporate the critical …

The Ile Project: A Scalable Option For Customized Information Literacy Instruction And Assessment, Steve Borrelli, Corey M. Johnson, Lara A. Cummings

Communications in Information Literacy

With the vast amount of information available today, information literacy (IL) education is a critical component of undergraduate education necessary to prepare students for tomorrow's world. Instructors want students to demonstrate critical thinking skills and are often disappointed with student submissions resulting from undeveloped IL skills. Library Instruction programs are often tasked with addressing this educational need and often struggle to find a scalable method to provide IL instruction to the student body. The Information Literacy Education (ILE) Project is an asynchronous learning environment tailored to deliver instruction and assessment. Posited as a customizable option to present IL instruction, this …

Information Literacy Rubrics Within The Disciplines, Britt A. Fagerheim, Flora G. Shrode

Communications in Information Literacy

This paper reports the results of a pilot project in which the authors developed rubrics for assessing information literacy in the disciplines and examined whether rubrics are a feasible and effective method for librarians to assess their students' information literacy skills. We developed rubrics for capstone classes in chemistry and psychology based on benchmarks appropriate for each major. We then used the rubrics to assess the research and information literacy skills the students displayed in their papers or projects.

Mixing And Matching: Assessing Information Literacy, Carol Mcculley

Communications in Information Literacy

Authentic assessment of student learning outcomes is much in demand. This paper reviews a variety of assessment methods that measure cognitive, behavioral, and affective levels of learning that can be used to design library class instruction and assessments to improve student learning and teaching of information literacy concepts. The intentional use of these methods to assess undergraduate student learning in many disciplines through working collaboratively with faculty and integrating the assessments in a learner-centered environment is discussed.