Bringing information literacy to career services

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose and the importance of information literacy initiatives continue to gain recognition outside the walls of libraries. The success of these initiatives depends largely on their integration into institutional curricula. Librarian outreach to faculty and academic departments is instrumental for successful integration. Student services divisions, however, are often overlooked as areas in need of librarian outreach and information literacy instruction. This paper will show how innovative outreach activities have helped to forge a partnership between the University at Buffalo Libraries and the University's Career Services Office.Design/methodology/approachA review of the literature reveals how instruction librarians have employed outreach activities to integrate information literacy into the curricula of biology, business, chemistry, psychology, and many other academic disciplines. Examples of integrating information literacy into academic programs are also in evidence.FindingsThe aforementioned partnership benefits university students, librarians, and career services personnel.Originality/valueIntegrated library instruction, information literacy workshops, collaborative collection development, and librarian reference hours in the career services office are among the positive outcomes of the study.