Information Literacy Outreach Research Articles

Information literacy outreach between universities and schools

Research shows that students starting higher education (HE) often lack an essential level of information literacy (IL). To address this issue, a growing number of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) engage with schools through Information Literacy Outreach Programmes (ILOPs). This paper explores the forces and motivations behind how and why HEIs engage with schools through ILOPs, and discusses their impact on beneficiaries. Using a UK research-led university in the North of England as a single case study (hitherto XXXX), this research project adopted a qualitative case study approach and used Situational Analysis to explore and analyse the data collected. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with key staff that participated in the IL outreach programme, and a model was developed to illustrate diagrammatically the key outcomes and phases of the IL Outreach Programme. Key findings revealed that the IL Outreach Programme at XXXX is an effective mechanism for bridging the social worlds of schools and HE; for creating partnerships and knowledge sharing between institutions; for breaking down social barriers and inequalities; and for developing critically aware, independent learners. The significance of this paper is that it helps us understand the impact of IL outreach programmes, and how such programmes provide schools and HEIs with an opportunity to work collaboratively and share knowledge and best practice. It also provides a valuable addition to IL literature.

Game of Pros

This pre-conference workshop examined how we, as librarians, collaborate with campus stakeholders to incorporate effective information literacy outreach into programs and courses, especially of the distance-learning kind. All three presenters explored how to cultivate relationships with faculty, market library instruction effectively, schedule for both student and instructor availability, and ensure that students are prepared for our courseloads before the classes are held.

Information Literacy Outreach: Building a High School Program at California State University Northridge

University and secondary school educators recognize many high school students will undertake a post-secondary education but find themselves unprepared for the academic demands once they arrive on campus. Although many high school students appear to possess basic abilities in retrieving information, particularly when searching the Internet, they often lack the critical evaluation skills needed to succeed at the college level (Jackson & Hansen, 2006). Developing the necessary information literacy skills among high school students to support a successful transition to college is a unique undertaking for any institution. The authors provide a case study of an outreach effort between an academic library and an urban high school during challenging budgetary times. Lessons learned from the development of their information literacy instructional program and the instructional tools created will be discussed. Student outcomes within the collaboration which include the development of research and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed after high school will be addressed as well. This collaboration may serve as a model for other institutions developing similar programming.

Patent Information Use in Engineering Technology Design: An Analysis of Student Work.

How might engineering technology students make use of patent information in the engineering design process? Librarians analyzed team project reports and personal reflections created by students in an undergraduate mechanical engineering technology design course, revealing that the students used patents to consider the patentability of their ideas, to explore the state of the art in given areas of technology, and to inspire creative problem solving. These results have implications for future patent-related instruction and for conducting information literacy outreach to engineering and engineering technology departments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Beyond the first year: Supporting sophomores through information literacy outreach

ABSTRACTThe sophomore year is increasingly becoming a target of retention efforts, as universities and colleges realize that nearly as much attrition occurs between the sophomore and junior years as between the first and sophomore years. As a result, there is an opportunity for libraries to reach out to and target second-year students. This article presents a case study of a sophomore outreach program at the University of Puget Sound focused on citation management software. Our results suggest that libraries should pursue outreach targeting the sophomore population.

Health Information Literacy Outreach: Improving Health Literacy and Access to Reliable Health Information in Rural Oxford County Maine

The goal of this health information outreach project was to increase access to health information and improve health literacy in rural Maine. A health literacy curriculum was developed and piloted by teachers and librarians in local schools. Among students who completed the pre-survey (N = 121), 18% said they were confident in their ability to evaluate Web-based health information before participating in the curriculum compared with 48% after their participation. Sixty-five percent said on the post-survey that they were confident in their ability to share what they learned with others in the community. These findings indicate that teachers and librarians have an important role to play in improving health information literacy.

Undergraduates' academic information and library behaviors: preliminary results

PurposeThis paper proposes to present preliminary findings from a larger study which examine and describe five issues of undergraduates' academic information and library behaviors: where students begin their research; how they evaluate online sources; what library resources they use; what formats they prefer for reading academic material; and specific laptop behaviors. Student perspectives on these issues and their impact on libraries and information literacy outreach and instruction are discussed.Design/methodology/approachThree ethnographic methods were used to triangulate the data: tours of students' work areas in their dormitories, semi‐structured interviews, and free‐write essays about their information management systems. During October and November 2009, 41 participants were interviewed.FindingsUndergraduates displayed a broad diversity of behaviors that reach beyond the stereotypical lifestyles of this age group as presented in popular media. Behavioral tendencies showed more of a hybridity of high‐tech and traditional formats and tools than a rush towards total embracement of the newest gadgets and applications. Students also showed an understanding of the need to create strategies that help them to lessen the ubiquitous distractions when trying to focus on their academic tasks.Originality/valueListening to students discuss their library and academic information behaviors and preferences can help librarians and educators to become more aware of their unique perspectives as one strives to create more student‐centered services and environments that incorporate the best of emerging technologies and the traditional academic library.

Learning From Personal Experience What's Needed in Information Literacy Outreach: An Engineering Student Returns to Her Alma Mater as an Engineering Librarian

An engineering background may not be required for successful outreach projects; however, when coupled with a review of the relevant literature of sci-tech librarianship, it can certainly facilitate buy-in from the faculty in a way that promotes the American Board of Engineering and Technology mandates to foster lifelong information literacy skills in their students. After having established rapport with the faculty through providing them with specially tailored research and current awareness support, library outreach was then directed toward graduate students. Success with these two influential groups is now being used to expand both in-person and wireless opportunities to grow the fact-finding confidence and competence of the undergraduates they teach and advise.

Beyond Preaching to the Choir: Information Literacy, Faculty Outreach, and Disciplinary Journals

Library literature publishes hundreds of articles on information literacy, many emphasizing the importance of collaboration and faculty outreach. A systematic search of fifty-four non-library journals that publish pedagogical articles reveals that some librarians are reaching out to faculty in disciplinary publications. However, this method of information literacy outreach remains underutilized.

When it's all Greek: The Importance of Collaborative Information Literacy Outreach Programming to Greek Student Organizations

This article examines the rationale and benefits of establishing collaborative outreach partnerships between academic librarians and student services professionals to meet the information literacy needs of Greek students. Through a literature review and case study, the authors discuss the realities involved in facilitating this kind of collaboration and its potential to create meaningful co-curricular outreach programming.