Abstract
Information literacy has been defined as gaining the necessary skills required to access, process and present information for learning, research, problem solving and career development. The information literacy concept spreads across a vast span from user education programmes to knowledge extension or wisdom achievement. Mainly, information literacy skills are based on library skills and information technology skills. This paper discusses the value of information literacy programmes conducted by the universities in Sri Lanka in order to achieve the higher level of learning in the university sector; with special reference to Sri Lankan universities, with the focus on Outcome Space. The outcome space information literacy framework runs through Information sources, Information Technology, Information Control, Information Processing, Knowledge construction, Knowledge Extension and Wisdom as explained by Christine Bruce. Further the paper elucidates the information literacy initiatives commenced by the libraries of the University of Colombo, University of Kelaniya, University of Moratuwa, University of Sri Jayewardenapura and National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS). The survey results reveal that the information literacy programmes initiated by the university libraries and the Institute, range from user orientation to the credit based programmes. All the university libraries that were chosen for this study had commenced some sort of information literacy programme. But most of the programmes are at the lower level of the outcome space. Two university libraries and the Institute had made an attempt to initiate outcome space information literacy programmes.Keywords: Information Literacy; Information skills; University Education; University Libraries doi: 10.4038/jula.v14i1.2688Journal of the University Librarians Association of Sri Lanka. Vol.14 (Issue 1). 2010 61-75
Highlights
IntroductionBackground to the study The author has gained much exposure to the information literacy concept and the programme since he joined National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS), University of Colombo as a senior lecturer in June 2005
Information literacy programmes in Sri Lankan universities have a very brief history
National Institute of Library and Information Sciences (NILIS) introduced the information literacy programmes stand alone, as well as collaboratively with the curriculum. These integrated Information Literacy programmes were initially introduced by the NILIS staff to students of the 2006 – 2007 batch following the Post-graduate Diploma in Teacher Librarianship (PGTL)
Summary
Background to the study The author has gained much exposure to the information literacy concept and the programme since he joined NILIS, University of Colombo as a senior lecturer in June 2005. When the above definition is broken down into its practical aspects basically, information literacy skills in university education run through from problem identification, defining the research topic, identifying the probable information sources, searching capabilities via internet databases and other sources, evaluating the found information, writing, presentation or using the accessed information in academically, avoiding plagiarism and using the proper referencing style etc. The above idea has been explicitly explained by Bundy (2004), by dividing information literacy in higher education into three categories With this division it is clear that information literacy skills are not merely a set of skills, but those which direct the university students towards self directed life. Parallel (extra curricular but compliment specific subject area) courses related to information literacy
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