LibWorm: Information Literacy

Part time reference librarin, springfield technical community college (stcc)

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:25:02 +0100

Assist students and faculty in locating, using and evaluating information. Instruct students in the use of the online catalog (C/W MARS), databases and the internet. Teach classes in the use of library resources. Promote information literacy. Design library handouts and displays. Contribute to web pages and the library blog. Assist in reference department projects. (Source: MBLC Job Listings)

10th annual augustana information literacy workshop (canada)

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 10:35:35 +0100

10th annual Augustana information literacy workshop (Canada) - December 2, 2010 - Camrose, Alberta, Canada (Source: Peter Scott's Library Blog)

Does information literacy matter in public libraries? (louise ...

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 07:00:23 +0100

Louise Pieper from Gold Coast Public Libraries talks about why abook club blog can build community and reduce social isolation. Public library users (Source: pligg - all)

Does information literacy matter in public libraries? (louise pieper)

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 01:29:50 +0100

Louise Pieper from Gold Coast Public Libraries talks about why abook club blog can build community and reduce social isolation. Public library users often resistant to more formal instruction in information literacy. Customers don’t want to lose face or to be seen as ignorant or illiterate. They don’t want to be at school. Louse suggests that libraries: Be covert. be viral. Let information literacy seep through. Don’t call it information literacy, as it can be off putting. Look at ways of using web 2.0 to build information literacy skills covertly. Their blog: Book coasters is a way of fostering lifelong learning skills virally. The online book club can: promote reading and informal learning allow people to develop new transliteracy skills builds community (Source: librariesinteract.info)

Information literacy and web 2.0 a paradox

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 00:25:54 +0100

Day 1: ALIA Access Conference (Brisbane) Information literacy with Christine Bruce: Shift of focus from libraries to a much more global scale How do we make it relevant? How can we bring transformative power of information use to peoples lives? (Pat Breivik) Empowering! Experts on information literacy: Dr Lana W Jackman www.infolit.org – paradox don’t assume that all learners have access. What about the digital divide? Patricia Senn Breivik – peoples need for abilities that empower them Diljiit Singh – no paradox we need information literacy and web 2.0 to be effective in this world Lin Ching Chen (Jean Chen) – how can we harness Web 2.0. We have a responsibility. Shelia Webber (Uni of Sheffield) – Web 2.0 information literacy skills important. Andrew Whitworth - knowledge never static; text is dynamic in Web 2.0 Sharon Weiner (Purdue Uni) – not a paradox. Need Web 2.0 to teach and learn about information literacy. David Loertscher (SLIS) - power of Web 2.0 to build collective knowledge. Tools and power. Mandy Lupton – Web 2.0 making it possible to learn through the process of content creation. Work collaboratively through using/creating info Mary M Somerville - Web 2.0 makes it possible to work with and transform understanding of different cultures Dr Hilary Hughes – novel info sources & learning opportunities; provocation to explore, experiment, evaluate and evolve with developing technologies Ross Todd – focus on user and content creation Clarence Maybee – a future with a different understanding of knowledge and making Susie Andretta – transliteracy across different platforms; transliteracy – transport abilities across different media; what a librarians doing; how do we create the spaces/places that allow people to develop transliteracy skills Annemaree Lloyd – Web2. ...

#jobs : systems librarian, university of la verne (california) -- wilson library

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 17:44:00 +0100

#3041 – Systems Librarian, University of La Verne -- Wilson Library The University of La Verne invites applicants for a Systems Librarian (Assistant Professor), a non-tenure track 12-month faculty appointment. Reporting directly to the University Librarian, the Systems Librarian will use a high level of technical, instructional, and interpersonal skills. The responsibilities of this position include administering and providing technical support for all aspects of library technology including the Innovative Interfaces Millennium integrated library system, hardware and software installations and maintenance, library wireless, opac, proxy server, online resources and services such as LINK+, ILLIAD, ERM, OCLC, link resolver, research databases, e-journals, e-books, etc.; assisting the University Librarian with technology planning and project implementation; serving as primary liaison with the university’s Office of Information Technology to coordinate all library systems’ installation, upgrade and maintenance; supervise one full-time staff member (Electronic Services Technician); serving as liaison to database and online service providers; providing technology training to library staff; providing research consultation services to library users in a multi-disciplinary environment using multiple formats (in-person, e-mail, phone, and chat); developing, promoting, and delivering effective library research skills/information literacy instructional sessions, seminars and workshops for both on-campus and off-campus programs; developing the library collection by selecting materials for acquisition in all formats; serving as liaison with selected academic departments; maintaining a program of professional development. ...

Information literacy as a sociotechnical practice

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 15:24:11 +0100

Tuominen, Kimmo, Reijo Savolainen, and Sanna Talja. 2005. Information Literacy as a Sociotechnical Practice. The Library Quarterly 75, no. 3 (July 1): 329-345. doi:10.1086/497311. I found this article on the main page of Library Quarterly‘s website as one of the most cited when I went looking for Archie Dick’s 1988 article on epistemologies in LIS [to be discussed soon]. I quite enjoyed this article as for me the upshot, in essence, is that they align information literacy with a domain-centric viewpoint. The authors, whom I have read several papers by, whether together or with other authors, are social constructionists. I am not quite sure how this theory and its close “rivals” fit in with my work. They all have distinct advantages to their way of looking at the world, but none of them focus on all that is relevant. As of now, I am a pluralist as far as these theories go. I feel that slavish adherence to one and only one would cause one to miss other relevant and important ways of viewing the world, or the slice of the world one is trying to analyze. [See my upcoming comments on A. Dick's holistic perspectivism.] As it stands, social constructionism seems only slightly orthogonal to Hjørland’s domain analytic view. Let me state up front that information literacy (hereafter IL or info lit) is not my arena. Also, this paper is 5 years old so some of the critiques that it makes of our professional organizations’ formal statements on IL may have been addressed. Then again, as fast as our professional organizations move I would not count on that either. ...

Recent information literacy articles

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Kraemer, E., Lombardo, S.V. and Lepowski, F. (2010) "The Librarian, the Machine, or a Little of Both: A Comparative Study of Three Information Literacy Pedagogies at Oakland University. " College and Research Libraries, 68 (4), 330-42. (They divided up a class, so that different sets of students got live teaching, online tutorials, or a blend; and administered pre and post tests.) http://crl.acrl.org/content/68/4/330.abstractAlso thanks to Yazdan Mansourian who, a while ago, drew my attention to the articles in the latest Journal of Academic Librarianship, 36 (4) (contents page at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00991333)- Lim, A. "The Readability of Information Literacy Content on Academic Library Web Sites." Pages 296-303 (there is a call for more attention to readability to meet needs of diverse learners)- Green, R. "Information Illiteracy: Examining our Assumptions." Pages 313-319 ("Findings from a qualitative study of the doctoral literature review process portray learners as competent, rather than information illiterate, even though they may not have received information literacy interventions.")- Su, S-F. and Kuo, J. "Design and Development of Web-based Information Literacy Tutorials." Pages 320-328Photo by Sheila Webber: People silhouetted against the sky on the top of the Great Orme, Llandudno, Wales, August 2010. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Pharmacists' online information literacy: an assessment of their use of internet-based medicines information.

Wed, 01 Sep 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Pharmacists' online information literacy: an assessment of their use of Internet-based medicines information.

Health Info Libr J. 2010 Sep 1;27(3):208-16

Authors: Peterson-Clark G, Aslani P, Williams KA

Introduction: Pharmacists need effective skills in accessing and using Internet-based medicines information (IBMI) for themselves and their consumers. However, there is limited information regarding how pharmacists use the Internet. Objectives: To develop and use a research instrument to measure pharmacists' Internet knowledge, search skills, evaluation of and opinions about using IBMI. Methods: A structured questionnaire examining general Internet knowledge, ability to search for and select pertinent IBMI, evaluation of IBMI, opinions about using IBMI and current Internet use was developed. Exploratory factor analysis was performed to analyse IBMI evaluation. Results: 208 pharmacists responded (response rate 20.6%). There was a large variation in pharmacists' scores. Mean scores were low for General Internet Knowledge (mean 7.91 +/- 3.62; scale 0-16), Search and Selection of IBMI (4.98 +/- 2.91; 0-10) and Opinions on IBMI (44.51 +/- 9.61; 0-80). Four factors [Professionalism of website (4 items; factor loading 0.62-0.87; Cronbach's alpha 0.84), Disclosure (5; 0.37-0.79; 0.73), Appropriateness of content (5; 0.32-0.50; 0.65), Standard of information (6; 0.31-0.48; 0.58)] were extracted from the evaluation scale, explaining 36.89% of the total variance. ...

Information literacy and outreach librarian (regent university, virginia beach, virginia)

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:20:01 +0100

Information Literacy and Outreach Librarian (Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia) Job Description: Library faculty member to plan, implement, and assess library instruction, information literacy training, and educational programming. Duties: Develop and implement information literacy training and educational programming on campus and online. Oversee Information Research and Resources course. Reference and research assistance, along with other professional librarian duties, as assigned. For a complete job description see www.regent.edu/admin/hr/jobfaculty.cfm. Required: ALA-accredited degree. Experience and/or training in information literacy instruction in an academic setting. Proficiency with instructional technologies, social media, and library assessment tools related to instruction. ...

Librarians working with a writing centre

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Foutch, L. (2010) "Joining forces to enlighten the research process: a librarian and writing studio integrate." College & Research Libraries News, 71 (7), 370-373. http://crln.acrl.org/content/71/7/370.fullThis discusses a collaboration between the library and the Writing Studio to support students on the Human and Organizational Development (HOD) undergraduate programme at Vanderbilt University, USA.Photo by Sheila Webber: Conwy, Wales, August 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

#jobs posting> systems & emerging technologies librarian

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:45:00 +0100

SYSTEMS AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES LIBRARIAN Murphy Library at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is seeking a dynamic, student-centered librarian to work in a team- oriented library environment. Responsibilities include: provide leadership, vision, and expertise related to library systems and technologies that increase and enhance access to academic resources at UW - La Crosse; identify, evaluate, implement, and teach the use of new technologies that facilitate information access and that contribute to the development of library-related learning materials; participate in reference, information literacy instruction, collection development, collegial governance, and library committees as well as campus and professional activities. The library recognizes and values diversity in its faculty, staff, and students. We seek a colleague who shares the library's commitment to diversity and who will be a dedicated librarian and mentor for students with diverse backgrounds, preparation, and career goals. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ALA accredited MLS; experience with integrated library systems and web development applications; ability to manage EZProxy and server technology and to develop and manage tools for extracting evaluative statistics; demonstrated knowledge of desktop, laptop, and handheld computing devices and their related technologies; demonstrated ability to work collegially and communicate effectively. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Professional academic library experience. ENVIRONMENT UW-La Crosse is known for its highly ranked academic programs. La Crosse is famous for its exceptional natural beauty. The city (metropolitan population 100,000) is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River below towering bluffs. Abundant water and woodlands provide year-round recreation sites for skiing, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities. ...

Awards and education: we have funding – do you have an idea of something you’d like to learn?

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 15:51:16 +0100

With today’s shrinking travel budgets, and realizing that professional development is an essential part a librarian’s continuing education, the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, MidContinental Region will be awarding approximately 25 Professional Development subsidies (up to $1,500 each) to support health science or hospital librarians who wish to attend a conference, or take a training or workshop of their choice by the end of April 2011. Priority will be given to professional development in the areas of emergency preparedness, personal and electronic health records, health information literacy, or library advocacy, and would include online training opportunities. Applicants are encouraged to think about arenas outside our region so that learned information can be shared with MCR members. For more information and application information see: http://nnlm.gov/mcr/funding/ (mm) (Source: Midcontinental Region News)

Information management/information literacy instructor, bryant and stratton college, milwaukee, wi

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 09:50:02 +0100

Position: (Source: Wislisjobs Academic Library Jobs)

Contribute your ideas for future events on infolit ischool, in second life

Mon, 30 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

On Tuesday August 31 there will be a discussion in the virtual world, Second Life: Contribute your ideas for future events on Infolit iSchool (our SL island devoted to literacies and learning)When: Tuesday August 31st, 12 noon SLT (which is 8pm UK time, see http://tinyurl.com/323l83u for start time in other countries)Where: Infolit iSchool http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/127/236/22/We already have lined up for Oct/Nov 2010: talks from Alexandria Knight (Esther Grassian outside Second Life) & Adra Letov (Diane Nahl outside SL) and Sheila Yoshikawa (i.e. me) plus a reading group! But we want more! Come with more ideas of visits, discussions, events to do with information literacy, digital literacies and learning. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Health literacy indicators

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

DSS Research specialises in market research for the healthcare industry in the USA; therefore it aims (I assume) to show how it can help them maximise profits, which can be done by keeping those who take out health insurance healthier, so people don't make so many claims (or am I being cynical here?) Anyway, this "Health Care Engagement Index" did seem interesting and relevant to those aiming to improve health information literacy. Also, for those interested in information literacy indicators, the inclusion of "behaviours" and "attitudes" is interesting (i.e. it isn't just a matter of testing skill and knowledge)."To help our clients identify the level of involvement of their customers and how best to encourage those consumers to adopt healthy behaviors, DSS Research applied its years of experience in the health care industry to create a definitive measure of consumer engagement. The DSS Health Care Engagement Index™ (HCEI™) uses health literacy, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors to measure each consumer’s involvement in their personal health care and the health care system overall."The 4 constructs they look at are: health care literacy, health care knowledge, health care attitudes and health care behaviourshttp://www.dssresearch.com/insurance/products_services/engagement/use_hcei_for_free.aspThere are some results (identifying four degrees of engagement: disengaged, reactive, involved, and engaged) athttp://www.dssresearch.com/insurance/products_services/engagement/engagement_results.aspPhoto by Sheila Webber: Memorial benches, Happy Valley, Llandudno, Wales, August 2010. I have never seen so many memorial benches in any other town: a lot of people loved holidaying in Llandudno. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Digital services librarian at manhattanville college

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:02:30 +0100

The Manhattanville College Library is recruiting a Digital Services Librarian. Here's an excerpt from the ad: The Library seeks a dynamic, student oriented, Digital Services Librarian to provide leadership, vision, and expertise related to systems and technologies that increase and enhance access to digital resources. This position will focus on ensuring consistent and integrated access to electronic resources in a technologically intensive learning environment. S/he will have responsibility for the Library's website including helping to develop a new mobile website. S/he will participate in the planning, development, implementation and maintenance of the Library's core digital initiatives, and will identify, evaluate, implement, and teach the use of new technologies that facilitate information access and that contribute to the development of library-related learning materials; participate in reference, information literacy instruction, collection development, and library committees as well as campus and professional activities. (Source: DigitalKoans)

Digital services librarian at manhattanville college

Fri, 27 Aug 2010 03:02:19 +0100

Research and instruction librarian, worcester polytechnic institute

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:20:02 +0100

Worcester Polytechnic Institute invites applications for the position of Research and Instruction Librarian, who will report to the Associate Director for Research and Instruction Services. Founded in Worcester, Mass., in 1865, WPI was one of the nation's earliest technological universities. From our founding days, we've taken a unique approach to science and technology education which makes working at the Gordon Library a rewarding experience. Librarians support our research-intensive project-based curriculum with a growing highly regarded instruction program. The George C. Gordon Library offers a vibrant atmosphere with newly renovated spaces where students, faculty, alumni and staff come together on campus. BASIC FUNCTIONS: Collaborates with WPI faculty staff and the Research and Instruction team to advance technology-enhanced instruction by design, development, and delivery of electronic learning and online tutorials to meet information literacy and related outcomes. Provides research and instruction services to the WPI community, incorporates appropriate technologies, skills, innovations, and collaborations as needed into instructional program; supports academic library departments as a library liaison, provides research education services and current information on library resources and services both in-person and online. PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: - Designs, develops, and delivers e-learning and online tutorials for the library's research education program. - Supports judicious and appropriate use of the library's subscribed information resources and assists in providing access to course-specific instructional materials in online environments. - Designs, develops and provides research consultations and orientations; including virtual research orientations and consultations for distance learners. ...

Information literacy librarian (asnuntuck community college, enfield, connecticut)

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:15:01 +0100

Information Literacy Librarian (Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield, Connecticut) Academic Year 2010-2011 Appointment (Temporary, Full-Time – 35 hours per week) ANTICIPATED STARTING DATE: October 2010 MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: ALA-accredited Masters Degree in Library Science (or MLIS), with one to four years of related experience including up to two years of experience in leading or supervising others, or a combination of education, training, and experience which would lead to the competencies required. Demonstrated strong competencies in information literacy instruction and reference service. ...

On the zukunftwerkstatt kultur und wissensvermittlung – future workshop in germany

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 17:12:12 +0100

From Michael: Christoph Deeg of the Zukunftwerkstatt in Germany agreed to do a guest post for me outlining the origins and philosophies of this group. I spent an incredible day with the group in Berlin – and learned so much from them. I was honored to be asked to participate as a founding member last March and am pleased Christoph agreed to write for TTW – in English! The Zukunftwerkstatt Kultur- und Wissensvermittlung e.V. is a non-profit-organisation that brings people together who are active in public institutions or private enterprises dealing with future possibilities of mediating of cultural and scientific topics. It is the aim of our organisation to develop and realize concepts that will make knowledge society come true. We are open to people and their ideas and consider ourselves mediators between institutions, enterprises, people and products, while not pursuing any financial interests. We are guided by the desire to find and support people of vision who believe – as we do – that cooperation at all levels will unfold new and exciting possibilities for all participants and hence for all customers or users. Dividing lines between learning and playing, between education and entertainment are breaking down. New virtual worlds and leisure time options are evolving. Interaction, multi-optional, individual and global communication systems are gaining ground. Negotiation and utilization of knowledge in the fields of science and culture will become essential. If we acknowledge the overall scheme of things, a new means in communication will emerge with new networks and unique possibilities of cooperation: Users will gain global access to cultural and scientific subject matter. Enterprises and institutions, if cooperating closely, will gain access to millions of interested, creative and openminded users and customers. ...

Lollipop for learning resources: information literacy staff training within further education

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 10:59:52 +0100

This paper looks at how the provision of information literacy training is supported in the further education sector. Using a case study, the results demonstrate how an online information literacy programme can be used as a staff development tool, in order that Learning Resources staff are better equipped to support students in their information literacy needs. The online programme was also used so that staff could become familiar with the institutional virtual learning environment (VLE), again in order that they are able to better support students. (Source: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science current issue)

Who stole my summer??

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 16:05:58 +0100

There’s always that one day — the day when you spend most of your day putting appointments into your calendar, the day when email volume doubles, the day when deadline work takes over and project work gets squeezed into a corner. That day was Monday. Fall is coming. Before Fall Term starts, I need to: Read a sample of the sophomore writing portfolio to assess evidence of information literacy. Finish writing up a report evaluating our joint technical and research help service point in the library. Update a few research guides that are now out of date. Create several brand new guides for brand new courses. Plan various orientations and beginning-of-school events (must must must remember to schedule a meeting of that committee I’m chairing…) Distill 2 days of discussion into a couple of action plans for our department Remember to eat, preferably three times a day, though that hasn’t happened yet this week. Considering I have just a couple of weeks to do those things in, and considering that a couple of those things could each take a couple of weeks, and further considering that more and more of my time each day is spent answering email now that everyone’s getting ready for Fall… … But this is normal. This is August. (Also, see what I just did here? This is the blogging equivalent of cleaning my house when I know I should be writing a paper.) Like Unlike (Source: Pegasus Librarian)

Cr2 blog » blog archive » liswire: chadron state college looking ...

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:00:25 +0100

The information literacy course is designed to highlight resources like EBSCO Discovery Service but also to teach students to be critical about the i (Source: pligg - all)

Partnerships for he in fe: the library perspective

Wed, 25 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Conference on 26 November 2010 at UWE Conference Centre, Bristol, UK: Partnerships for HE in FE: the library perspective. "The conference will cover many aspects of supporting Higher Education in Further Education students, and in developing the HE/FE partnerships to best advantage. Book at https://www.formstack.com/forms/uwe-heinfepartnerships Full info at http://www.uwe.ac.uk/library/info/academic/docs/he-fe-programme.pdf Blog at http://heinfelibrary.wordpress.com/Photo by Sheila Webber: autumn anemones, Sheffield, August 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Best websites for learning

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:04:43 +0100

The American Association of School Librarians (AASL) announced the 2010 Top 25 Websites for Teaching and Learning. The Top 25 Web sites for Teaching and Learning were named so because they foster the qualities of innovation, creativity, active participation and collaboration. The Web sites honored include: Animoto; Classroom 2.0; Curriki; diigo; edublogs; facebook; goodreads; Google reader; mindmeister; Ning; OurStory; Partnership for 21st Century Skills; Poll Everywhere; PrimaryAccess; RezED; Second Life; Simply Box; Skype; S.O.S. for Information Literacy; Teacher Tube; twitter; VoiceThread; Wikispaces; Wordle; and Zoho. All sites are free, web-based sites that are user-friendly and encourage a community of learners to explore and discover. You can find Madison Public Library on both facebook and twitter. (Source: What's New)

8/24/2010-information literacy librarian , asnuntuck community college, asnuntuck community college, 170 elm street, enfield, connecticut 06082

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 06:01:00 +0100

Information Literacy Librarian (Source: Combined Library Job Postings - Lisjobs.com and Library Job Postings on the Internet)

Report from ifla: the information literacy section meeting

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

In this post I will describe some key items that came out of the IFLA Information Literacy Section committee meetings that took place during the IFLA conference held in Gothenburg, Sweden, 11-15 August (the poor pictures were takenat the section committee dinner). IFLA (International Federation for Library Associations and Institutions) has a very small headquarters in the Hague, Netherlands, and most of its work is done by its members. IFLA has many sections and divisions, representing different regions of the world and different subject areas. One of the sections is Information Literacy and I am a member of its Standing Committee. As with all IFLA comittees, it is truly international, with members from Africa, Australia, Asia, North America, South America and Europe (though there is a bit of a bias towards Europe).The IFLA Information Literacy Section website is at http://www.ifla.org/en/information-literacyAt the Section Committee, apart from talking about events we were organising, the following topics were discussed:1. International Information Literacy logo. The website where you can download this is at http://www.infolitglobal.info/logo/en/ We decided that we are going to make an effort to make this available in more languages (currently it is there in French, Spanish, Russian, English), so people have been asked to say what the right phrase is in their language and we will arrange the graphic design2. The Marketing manual for the logo was published earlier in the year at http://www.infolitglobal.info/logo/en/manual and is a useful online guide for marketing more generally3. “State of the art” of IL in different countries. Reports on some countries were drawn up a few years ago and are available at http://www.infolitglobal.info/en/ There are also some updates at http://www.ifla.org/en/publications/81 (scroll down to see them) There was a proposal to turn these into an open wiki so that they were easier to keep up to date. ...

Plagiarism; transliteracy & web 2.0

Mon, 23 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Half day seminars: 1) Plagiarism: Stopping it before it Begins (morning, led by Anne-Marie Tarter; Marianne Bradnock and Nazlin Bhimani) and 2) Transliteracy and Web 2.0 (afternoon, led by Phil Bradley) both on 22 October 2010 at CILIP, London, UK. Cost is £75 ILIG member, £85 CILIP member, £50 concession, £110 otherwise. Discounts if you book for both events, or for multiple bookings. Enquiries about the programme and bookings to Norman Briggs, email: nwbriggs@iliacuk.co.ukPhoto by Sheila Webber: Sunflower, Sheffield, August 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Extinct citations, missing links and other bibliographical wonders

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 14:45:00 +0100

Chapter one of Vanishing Act: The Erosion of Online Footnotes and Implications for Scholarship in the Digital Age, by Michael Bugeja and Daniela V. Dimitrova, is now online: Extinct Citations, Missing Links and Other Bibliographical Wonders A decade ago, most research was done in the library rather than through its Web site, and scholars, editors, graduate directors and librarians were meticulous about the integrity of footnotes. They knew that citation was the backbone of research, from agronomy to zoology in the sciences and from art history to Zen studies in the humanities. The footnote upheld standards because it allowed others to test hypotheses or replicate experiments. Testing and replication are at the heart of the peer review and scientific processes upon which academe is based, from papers by first-year and transfer students to grants by postdoc and professor. Because so much depended on the foundation of all scholarship, the footnote, academicians admonished students for sloppy or erroneous citation. This was the norm even a decade ago when most research was done in the library rather than through its Web site. Our discipline of communication scholarship was as exacting as any other in the academy, especially when it came to footnotes. Students submitting dissertations and faculty, journal articles, were fastidious about the accuracy of footnotes, knowing that their reputations relied on the fine print at the bottom of the page or at the end of the manuscript. Unacceptable were citations that simply named the source without specifying the document, as in “U.S. Mint, 801 9th Street NW, Washington, DC 20220-0001.” The worst types of mistakes would contain particulars, including an article’s title and date of publication, but might locate it in the wrong volume and issue of a journal. ...

Ifla report: health information

Sun, 22 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

At the IFLA 2010 conference, there was a session on health information. I'll pick out two presentations:Small steps to a healthier nation: providing and delivering health information across WalesSUE THOMAS (Health Promotion Library, Department for Public Health and Health Professions, Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom) http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/100-thomas-en.pdf and she was talking about the Health Promotion Library: http://www.wales.gov.uk/healthpromotionlibraryPublic access to health information: how partnerships can strengthen the role of librarians in developing healthSHANE GODBOLT (Partnerships in Health Information, Pinner, United Kingdom), EMMA STANLEY (Partnerships in Health Information, Wimborne, United Kingdom) and PAUL STURGES Loughborough University, United Kingdom) http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/100-godbolt-en.pdfPhoto by Sheila Webber: autumn anemones, Sheffield, August 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Exhibit in second life about the information literacy conference

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

There is an exhibit in Second Life about the conference (for which I was committee chair) Information Literacy: Context, community, culture. You can go there if you have a Second Life avatar, and if you have the Second Life browser installed on your computer. the location is: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/143/187/21/I did a very quick screencast of the exhibit: here it is:On Thursday 19th August there was a session in Second Life, in which I talked about the conference and showed people the exhibition. There were people from several different countries (e.g. Colombia, USA, UK), including one person who had worked on the German version of IFLA Express! (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Ifla world report

Thu, 19 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

IFLA announced the launch of its new World Report. "For the first time, the World Report is being made available online in a fully searchable database, complete with graphical map interface. By clicking on a country's marker, you can either select "View individual report" if you would like to view a single country's report or "Add to report list" in order to view multiple countries in one report. The report includes questions on: Internet access in libraries; Copyright; Library initiatives for providing information to different categories of citizens (such as senior citizens, women, the disabled and visually impaired); The role of libraries in universal primary education and environmental sustainability; And much more!" http://ifla-world-report.org/ (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Articles: blended librarian and parental health literacy

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Howard, J. (2010) "A blended librarian talks about information literacy." Chronicle of Higher Education, August 2. http://chronicle.com/blogPost/A-Blended-Librarian-Talks/25938/ (short article reporting on a "Library 300" class at Buffalo State College of the State University of New York).Kumar, D. et al (2010) "Parental Understanding of Infant Health Information: Health Literacy, Numeracy, and the Parental Health Literacy Activities Test (PHLAT)" Academic Pediatrics, In Press. The abstract is linked from http://www.chimat.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=94170 Thanks to Yazdan Mansourian for alerting me to this one.Photo by Sheila Webber: bridal party crossing the road from the conference centre to the amusement park, Gothenburg. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Podcasts from the ifla conference

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Niels Damgaard has posted a number of podcasts, and in many cases accompanying slides, from the IFLA conference that took place last week in Gothenburg, on his Ning for Nordic school librarians, SBNING: http://skolebibliotek.ning.com/. The page that links to each session that is podcast is at http://skolebibliotek.ning.com/profiles/blogs/listen-to-iflasessionsI will pick out a couple of talks: unsurprisingly one of them is mine! This was on Sustaining learning for LIS through use of a virtual world and the podcast is at http://skolebibliotek.ning.com/group/ifla2010session123/forum/topics/sustaining-learning-for-lis though I would be grateful if you would pretend not to look at the accompanying photo!He has done the same for the pre-conference seminar on school libraries: The future of school libraries in a national and international perspective. The links are all at http://skolebibliotek.ning.com/group/thefutureofschoollibrariesinanationalandinternatio and they include a keynote from Ross Todd.I already linked to all the podcasts from the IL and Reference session, so I won't highlight those again, but otherwise these caught my eye:Gunilla Hagman and colleagues: Information literacy - step by step: Result of a partnership between the public library and school libraries in Gävle, Swedenhttp://skolebibliotek.ning.com/group/ifla2010session108/forum/topics/information-literacy-step-by and as something different Learning 2 teach - U.S. public libraries from Martin Gomez at http://skolebibliotek.ning.com/group/ifla2010session68/forum/topics/martin-gomez-learning-2-teachPhoto by Sheila Webber: at the IFLA exhibition (photoshopped) (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Australian award for excellence

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Information Online Group are presenting an award to acknowledge excellence/innovation in performance by an information professional, primarily based on a project undertaken individually or in collaboration. The award supports travel and attendance at a conference, up to the value of $10,000 Aus. This is not just about information literacy, but I think a number of Australian information literacy specialists might be eligible! Deadline 31st August and more info at http://www.alia.org.au/awards/merit/IOG.excellence/index.htmlPhoto by Sheila Webber: Dahlia in Southover Gardens, July 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Eahil@istanbul: 1st call for papers

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:42:44 +0100

Nach der Konferenz ist vor der Konferenz… Hier die Ankündigung von Frau Gunes. (Ich hoffe ja, dass man dort keinen Lagerkoller bekommt, das sieht so abgeschottet und ländlich aus )… The European Association for Health Information and Libraries - EAHIL The EAHIL Istanbul Workshop, Turkey, 5th – 8th July 2011 The EAHIL Workshop will be held in Istanbul on the junction point of Europe and Asia. While the scientific program is expected to create an interactive platform for professional development and sharing, the social program promises an unforgettable journey to the heart of Istanbul. FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS AND POSTERS The International Programme Committee invites proposal to submit for papers and posters, as well as for workshops, empowerment sessions and continuing education courses for the EAHIL Istanbul Workshop. The Workshop theme is “ACTIVE LEARNING AND RESEARCH PARTNERS IN HEALTH”. The Committee aims at a scientific program comprising presentations of contributed papers and invited speakers, a wide program of workshops, debate or panel sessions and outdoor activities such as walk & talk session. The Committee encourages innovative proposals for activities in interactive formats on the following topics: - Active learning: its role in health sciences libraries - Faculty-librarian instructional partnership - Embedded librarians in course management systems - Digital libraries: trends and opportunities for e-learning - Active learning in library instruction - Assessment and evaluation of a learning/teaching device - Technology enabled active learning - Learning space design - Evidence-based library and information practice - Health informatics - New roles of health librarians - Information literacy for health professionals ABSTRACT SUBMISSION will be online only at: http://eahil2011.ku.edu. ...

Lawyer's information behaviour

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

A break from IFLA reports: think I missed this PhD when it came out: an interesting study of the legal context.Makri, S. (2008) A study of lawyers’ information behaviour leading to the development of two methods for evaluating electronic resources. PhD dissertation. London: University College London."In this thesis we examine the information behaviour displayed by a broad cross-section of academic and practicing lawyers and feed our findings into the development of the Information Behaviour (IB) methods - two novel methods for evaluating the functionality and usability of electronic resources.We captured lawyers’ information behaviour by conducting naturalistic observations, where we asked participants to think aloud whilst using existing resources to ‘find information required for their work.’ Lawyers’ information behaviours closely matched those observed in other disciplines by Ellis and others, serving to validate Ellis’s existing model in the legal domain. Our findings also extend Ellis’s model to include behaviours pertinent to legal information-seeking, broaden the scope of the model to cover information use (in addition to information-seeking) behaviours and enhance the potential analytical detail of the model through the identification of a range of behavioural ‘subtypes’ and levels at which behaviours can operate.The identified behaviours were used as the basis for developing two methods for evaluating electronic resources – the IB functionality method (which mainly involves examining whether and how information behaviours are currently, or might in future be, supported by an electronic resource) and the IB usability method (which involves setting users behaviour-focused tasks, asking them to think aloud whilst performing the tasks, and identifying usability issues from the thinkaloud data). ...

"report from ifla" event in second life on 19 august

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

There will be a one-hour session in Second Life, the virtual world next Thursday August 19th, starting at 12 noon Second Life time (this is the same as Pacific time in the USA, see http://tinyurl.com/2wge69r for start time in other countries. Sheila Webber (Sheila Yoshikawa in Second Life) will report backgive a brief report from the World Library and Information (IFLA) main Conference, 11-15 August, and in particular report with material from the pre-conference satellite meeting 8-9th August on Information Literacy: Context Community Culture (see the conference blog: http://infolitsatellite.blogspot.com/The venue for the discussion is Infolit iSchool, as part of the Centre for Information Literacy Research discussion series: location http://slurl.com/secondlife/Infolit%20iSchool/127/237/21/ - in order to participate you need a SL avatar (you can get one free on the SL website http://secondlife.com/) and need the SL browser installed on your computer (you download it free from that website).There will be an exhibit of material from this satellite conference (part of which is shown in the picture) to stimulate discussion. Please come along in particular if you participated in the satellite event or the main conference, to contribute your views! (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Body in the library – a murder mystery of our own!

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 11:49:07 +0100

Last term the Library Team at Joeys excelled themselves in launching an amazing “Body in the Library” investigative program in collaboration with the Science and English faculties. I promised to share this after talking about it at EduBloggerCon 2010 in Denver. So here are some more of the details! Boy’s body found in the Resource Centre! Year 8 suspected! The focus of the project was to facilitate deeper learning in our students by creating an ‘authentic learning’ experience to strengthen writing and literacy skills across the curriculum. In English, students learned about the literary conventions of forensic fiction in their crime novel, Framed, and how to use them to solve a crime. In Science, students learned about how use a variety of scientific methods including analysing dental records, fragments and fibres, fingerprinting, shoeprinting and DNA samples in order to solve a crime. These skills were then put to the test when boys were asked to solve a ‘body in the library’ type crime which the library team spent weeks preparing! To solve the crime, students viewed the crime scene, looked at photographic evidence, read various ‘official’ forensic and crime reports, watched video-taped evidence of the crime in action; watched interviews of the suspects; read testimonies of different suspects; and analysed many forms of written and physical evidence! Students employed deductive thinking skills, analysed all available evidence and established motives for the suspects in an attempt to determine who committed the crime. Lastly, each student submitted their own police report on the crime and its investigation. This collaborative activity raised an astounding level of interest from all 150 boys – as well as raising a lot of interest from boys from many other years. Here’s a brief overview of the scenario:: A body is found in the library at the end of Period 4 on Tuesday. ...

Ifla information literacy section newsletter

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The IFLA IL section published its newsletter just before the IFLA conference. It includes short reports on information literacy in various countries e.g. Spain, Italy. You can find the newsletter at http://www.ifla.org/files/information-literacy/newsletters/Newsletter-v8n2.pdfPhoto by Sheila Webber: there was a mobile library mini-meet today a tthe conference (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Ifla report: researching the information commons

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Kerry Smith was just talking at the IFLA conference about about Researching the Information Commons (RIC). There is a section on defining the IC on the website, including"A commons, simply understood, is a resource, or a facility, "that is shared by a community of producers or consumers" (Oakerson, 1992 as quoted in Kranich 2004). The resources within a commons may be either "public goods" or "common pool resources." Some examples of public goods are streets, parks, beaches, common transit routes, stores of knowledge, and national defense." and"An imaginary "place" where works in the public domain and works affirmatively made under conditions less restrictive than full copyright "reside" (Campbell, 2005)" (see http://infocommons.curtin.edu.au/). Kerry showed pictures of her local beach and bush, as examples of physical commons she was free to roam.This is therefore something a bit different from the use of the phrase to apply to library/services (as in the "Information Commons" at my university, which you can't get into unless you have a university card). This is an important topic to think about and debate (and take action on) and its worth having a look at the website to see the issues being researched, and you can join in if you are a researcher passionate about this area.Photo by Sheila Webber: another cute mobile library parked outside the conference centre. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Ifla report: wholebrain learning of information literacy

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Ann-Louise de Boer presented a paper which she has coauthored with Pieter du Toit and Theo Bothma (all from University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa), Multidisciplinary collaboration: A necessity for curriculum innovation. The full paper is athttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/95-toit-en.pdf She discribed a project which aims to develop material and teaching and learning approaches as a basis for teaching information literacy (for a module taught to all first year students, 8000 a year!). The guiding principle is "whole brain learning", based on the idea that there are four quadrants to the brain and that people tend to favour one type of approach e.g. a logical approach, or a more emotional approach. They propose that since there are all types of learner, the teaching needs to engage with all four types of approach.The project is part educational development, part research (e.g. action research by the teachers, investigation into the multidisciplinary approach) and part curriculum development. There is a lot of discussion and reflection within the team, and the team members come from different disciplines. The presentation includes the "whole brain" diagram and profiles of two different lectures/teaching styles.This is interesting from the sheer scale of the teaching challenge (I was involved in a teaching as part of a cross-discilinary team to a class of 500 students, and that was challenging enough, though a wonderful development experience), and I think it is significant that they are spending this time on developing the pedagogic approach, and that they are doing it in such a participative way. When team teaching, it can be too easy to slip into just talking about dividing up the content (you do this , I do that) rather than spending time discussing what the overall approach is to learning and teaching in a class (the "how and why", which can transform the "what" you teach). ...

Ifla report: posters on media literacy

Fri, 13 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This highlights a poster presented at the WLIC/IFLA conference being held this week in Gothenburg (http://www.ifla.org/en/ifla76). Heike vom Orde emphasises how young people can learn media literacy by learning about media (learning to analyse it, produce it, and understand more about the social context) and learn with media (learning to access it and communicate with it). Click on the picture to see it larger.There is a short paper from Heike on this topic from the INFORUM 2010 conference: “We have evidence; they are learning!” How to enable students to become media literate users of information resourceshttp://www.inforum.cz/pdf/2010/vom-orde-heike-1.pdfIf you can speak German there is also a relevant powerpoint which Heike recently presented at the 99. Deutscher Bibliothekartag, Medien- und Informationskompetenzförderung durch Bibliotheken: Anmerkungen aus Sicht der Kinder- und Jugendmedienforschung [Libraries developing Media and Information Literacy: observations from the perspective of media research concerning children and young people] http://www.opus-bayern.de/bib-info/volltexte/2010/903/ (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Ifla report: how do we hook them once we've got them to look?

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This report on a talk by Cathy Palmer continues blog posts from the 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, held 10-15 August 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference site is at http://www.ifla.org/en/ifla76. There is a podcast of this talk here, courtesy of Niels Damgaard. The full text paper is:Ferry, C, Johnson, C and Palmer, C.(University of California, Irvine, California, USA) Proof of concept: the fatal first click. How do we hook them once we've got them to look?http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-ferry-en.pdfOnly Cathy Palmer was present. She firstly talked about what a "proof of concept" is, i.e. a “use of evidence which demonstrates that a model or innovative approach to solving a problem is viable, can be done with the resurces available, and solves the problem that it aims to solve.Cathy explained that a proof of concept approaches encourages the use of data. therefore she gave us some of the statistics they have gathered. In a typical day have two instruction sessions (55 people), 8000 physica; visits, 360 reference questions, but 25000 visits to websites. Most visitors are therefore virtual: so tehlibrarians want to want to transform casual users into dedicated users.She emphasised data aspect, because IT colleagues sometimes need convincing about what the problems with the website are.Digital reference also enabled them to gather and analyse transcripts of reference interviews, so they can see what people are asking about. They identified the top 10 reference transcript questioins; the top three were: find an article, books, login to licensened resources. They also use Google analytics so they could look at page views, visits, jump off points etc. However you can’t know WHAT people are doing (e.g. ...

Ifla report: delivering information literacy programmes in the context of network society and cross-cultural perspectives

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This report on a talk by Huy Nghiem continues blog posts from the 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, held 10-15 August 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference site is at http://www.ifla.org/en/ifla76. There is a podcast of this talk here, courtesy of Niels Damgaard. The full paper is:Huy Nghiem (College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam) Delivering information literacy programmes in the context of network society and cross-cultural perspectiveshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-nghiem-en.pdfHuy started by briefly indicating recent trends. He noted that there are many theories and frameworks on IL (e.g. SCONUL, Big 6). There is a new information lanscape, with social networking tools, and the way we use these digital tools has changed our information landscape and also opportunities for cross-cultural communication.Nuy presented a diagram (shown in the full text paper) that illustrated that individuals on the one hand are receiving information from many channels, often passively (with channels that cannot be controlled or customised), but also with opportunities for sharing and communicating. Also individuals are retrieving material (e.g. from wikis, paper based surces) to learn or make meaning, education, social inclusion or employability. Information literacy is important in helping to achieve this.In terms of the network society, so much is powered by networks and technology nowadays. What is important is the principle of inclusion. The network society can have an impact that is related to culture, country etc.Huy quoted Spiranec and Zorica (2009) “IL [IL] has its root in the activities of particular groups and communities; it evolves in disciplinary and other contexts and is practiced by communities using their corresponding technologies”, emphasising that is social as well as technical issue. ...

Ifla report: queensland university of technology library's approach to learning support

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This report on a talk given by Vicki McDonald yesterday continues blog posts from the 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, held 10-15 August 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference site is at http://www.ifla.org/en/ifla76. There is a podcast of this talk here, courtesy of Niels Damgaard. The full paper is available as follows:Vicki McDonald (Library Services, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Queensland, Australia) Get the edge, get ahead: Queensland University of Technology Library's approach to learning supporthttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-mcdonald-en.pdfQUT has had a strong Information Literacy programme for some years and has IL as graduate attrribute, and an IL framework was endorsed by the university in 2001. However in 2008 a new initiative created "Integrated literacies” combining academic literacies and information literacies.There is an Integrated Literacies action plan, affecting a range of staff involved in supporting learners. However, although they had intergrated action plans and strategy, two sets of staff were still really working separately. Therefore there have been a number of integrative steps.In the past academic year they introduced Studywell, a website which has learning resources for Integrated Literacies.The website is at http://www.studywell.library.qut.edu.au/. There are three main ways into the resource: "Know about" (topic listing), "I want to" (e.g. "I want to read more critically") and "This week think about ...". Academic staff have been enthusiastic about the resource. They have a flash based and an accessible version of the site. This material is being used in all library workshops and tutorials, so students can go away and orientate themselves in the website in their own time. The site has powerpoints with clear text and lots of images. They have some templates and course material (e.g. ...

Ifla report: embedding in the 21st century academy

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This report on a talk by Kaijsa Calkins and Cassandra Kvenild yesterday continues blog posts from the 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, held 10-15 August 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference site is at http://www.ifla.org/en/ifla76. There is a podcast of this talk here, courtesy of Niels Damgaard. The full text of the paper is:Kaijsa Calkins and Cassandra Kvenild (University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA) Embedding in the 21st Century Academy: crossing curriculum and geographyhttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-calkins-en.pdfThe speakers started by quoting Shumaker and Tyler (2007) who said that "Whether it is physical or virtual, meeting the needs of the user at the point of need wherever that may be is critical to the embedded librarian service model." They also wanted to emphasise the access entitlement principle: especially important as 25% of their students are distance learners. Their concern was taking the “point of reference” away from the library website, and instead bring it to users by having it in online coures, facebook etc. They had also decided to make document delivery free and accessible, whether the recipient was in the in library building or remote.They had experimented with onsite reference in academic Departments, but found that students actually didn’t mind coming to the library. Instead, the librarians have partnered with the writing centre, so they can support students who need help in writing essays.They also do embedded teaching; they do collaborate in IL teaching, but there is a limit to what they can do, so they concentrate on identifying sticking points for students and redeveloping IL teaching.As regards online tutorials, the speakers found that embedding themselves in discussion boards of online subject courses has been effective in meeting students’ questions and needs. However you DO need to limit time you soend on it e.g. ...

Ifla report: questions after the information literacy session

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This is the final post about the panel session organised by the Informtion Literacy Section and Reference Section at the 76th IFLA General Conference . If you are wondering why I have been quite so conscientious about blogging it all, I was asked to take notes, so obviously I am doing that via this blog! This last post covers the questions after the papers from Sheila Corrall, Vicki McDonald, Cathy Palmer, Huy Nghiem,Kaijsa Calkins and Cassandra Kvenild. Once again they are included in the podcast of this talk at this location, courtesy of Niels Damgaard.Question: Librarians feel that there is a difference in reception from students when librarians rather than academics are teaching (i.e. they pay less attention when librarians teach). Any views?Sheila made the point that projects for collaboration bteween academics and staff enable librarians to get credibility with students and staff – based on the notion of PATRNERSHIPS.Caisja said it varies in the USA, also there are status issues in the USA: some librarians are faculty and therefore have greater status. Cathy said that it is important that you are not positioned as an “add on”, but rather that the IL and librarian are seen as an integral part of the class. Being involved in planning is important. She thought that attitudes of academics can transmit to studentsVicki agreed with these points and said that it about relationships with the faculty, and that it works better in some disciplines than others.Question to Vicki: does having research group (i.e. Christine Bruce’s research group) have any impact on what happens in the library?Vicki answered that this had helped profiling IL within Queensland University of Technology, and work that Christine Bruce and others have done provides a foundation, but also support from other faculty in the university had been important. Sheila added something about Sheffield University (i.e. ...

Ifla conference: developing inclusive models of reference and instruction to create information literate communities

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

I will be doing a number of blog posts from the World Library and Information Congress: 76th IFLA General Conference and Assembly, held 10-15 August 2010, in Gothenburg, Sweden. The conference site is at http://www.ifla.org/en/ifla76. A few thousand librarians from (literally) all over the world have gathered together for these few days.I hope to be doing some liveblogging, but the wifi connection today was poor quality so instead I rattled in some notes and am posting them tonight. The conference session I attended today was organised by the Information Literacy Section and the Reference and Information Services section. With most of the sessions I blog, I already linked to the full papers in previous pre-view posts, but I will link again for your convenience.The session was introduced by Amanda Duffy and she emphasised the value and relevance of information literacy. She also identified a number of challenges e.g. identifying: the required information skills for users, the role of the library website and the way in which we can educate the reference librarians of the future. Amanda stressed that librarians were no longer “tucked in the corner” but now needed to come forward and take the initiative.The first paper was from Sheila Corrall (Head of my Department at the University of Sheffield): Developing inclusive models of reference and instruction to create information literate communities. The full paper is at http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-corrall-en.pdfAdditionally there is a very clear podcast of Sheila's talk here, recorded by Niels Damgaard (pictured) for his school libraries Ning, who I met as I was sitting next to him for this session!Since it was a joint session Sheila thought it was a good opportunity to explore the connection between these two areas of practice: i.e. reference and information literacy (IL). ...

Information literacy: context, community, culture

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

There are already the abstracts of this conference and the posters from the first workshop session on the conference blog for Information Literacy: Context, Community, Culture, held 8-9 August in Gothenburg, Sweden, organised by the IFLA Information Literacy Section (I was conference chair).- There is a pdf with informative abstracts and biographies of speakers, plus the programme and guidelines for the unconference: http://dis.shef.ac.uk/sheila/satellite-brochure.pdf- There is the briefing for the Sunday workshop sessions: http://dis.shef.ac.uk/sheila/briefing-sunday.pdf- There are the posters that were produced on the Sunday: Group A, Group B, Group C, Group D, Group E, Group FPhoto by Sheila Webber (photoshopped): at the conference (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Education: travel funds available from nn/lm mcr -check out the professional development award

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 14:56:54 +0100

8/9/2010-information services librarian (information literacy and reference librarian), petroleum institute, abu dhabi, uae

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 06:01:00 +0100

Information Services Librarian (Information literacy and reference librarian) (Source: Combined Library Job Postings - Lisjobs.com and Library Job Postings on the Internet)

Information literacy conference, and teaching lis in second life

Sat, 07 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This coming week is the World Library and Information Conference. Firstly, I am conference chair for a pre-conference event on 8-9 August in Gothenburg, Sweden, Information Literacy: Culture, community, context. This is organised by the IFLA Information Literacy Section, of which I am a member. We have an exciting programme, which you can see on the conference blog: http://infolitsatellite.blogspot.com/. The blog will have the extended abstracts and other material from the conference. I will probably do the main blogging about that conference there rather than here, but in that case I will do some linking posts here too. I will blog information literacy matters from the main conference on this blog.Secondly, at the main conference, I am presenting a paper coauthored with Professor Diane Nahl, of the University of Hawai'i, Sustaining learning for LIS [Library and Information Science] through use of a virtual world. The full paper is at http://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/123-webber-en.pdf and the powerpoint is on Slidehare: I have embedded it below.Sustaining learning for LIS through use of a virtual worldView more presentations from sheilawebber. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Some thoughts on the concept of a social media librarian

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:06:00 +0100

The following set of semi-random musings are inspired or prompted by Professor Bell's recent piece in ACRLog entitled "Is There a Social Media Librarian In Your Library's Future?" Go read the piece first if you have not read it, then stay if interested for the meanderings.* * * *I never really saw myself as a social media librarian, but over time I would have to say that title describes a lot of what I do in a fairly accurate way. Here in my library, we are currently working to leverage social networks to better serve our academic community. I am a believer of being where the users are, but I am also a user of online social media for personal needs. I think that this gives me a bit more credibility when I use social media for professional or work-related issues. But it is not all about just being a user of social media. My work here involves public relations and marketing for the library, so I find myself reading, investigating and assessing how to use those social media tools for our library's needs. From articles about better content creation to items about analytics, I read as much as I can to keep up and learn more. In terms of assessment, for instance, I am in the process of developing a faculty survey on library services, and one or two questions will go to social media usage. In the end, it is not so much about the tools as what you do with those tools; the goal for me is to learn how to make the social media work for us as a proactive engagement tool, then make it happen.To answer one of the questions Professor Bell poses: Yes, at this time, we have one librarian responsible for oversight of social media accounts and activities. It falls under the umbrella of Outreach, which is my job title and description. Some of the duties are shared. For instance, other librarians have posting privileges to the library's blog. I will grant that at this time they do not take much advantage of it, but they do have the access and the opportunity. ...

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Where has summer gone? I'm reminded of the cry from the Old Testament " The harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved." In barely two weeks we start with a new Fall Semester and I'm wondering if we have accomplished anything important but merely attended to the urgent. a more mundane way of saying what Jeremiah is lamenting.I noticed the Belief Blog from CNN the other day and if you haven't seen it, it's worth visiting from time to time or better yet, start using a feed. One of the current articles is.OK. I've spent some time reading such as reviewing the latest research from Project Information Literacy and more time praying and planning for personal issues - - consider urgent and important--more than work goals. What goals did you accomplish or still hope to finish this summer? (Source: The In Season Christian Librarian)

Researcher development statement

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Vitae, the body in the UK concerned with developing researchers, has published its Researcher Development Statement. This outlines attributes, skills & knowledge which are needed by researchers. This will set the agenda for training for research students and other researchers in UK universities. It identifies four domains: Domain A: Knowledge and intellectual abilities; Domain B: Personal effectiveness; Domain C: Research governance and organisation; Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact. "Information literacy and management" and (separately, curiously) "Information seeking" are included in Domain A, in the subdomain "Knowledge base". There are some other aspects of what I would call IL elsewhere, but at least IL is in it (there was some good lobbying from the CILIP IL Group). You can find the statement, and associated material, athttp://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/234301/Researcher-Development-Framework.htmlPhoto by Sheila Webber: Farmer's market, Blackheath, August 2010. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Links for 2010-08-05

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:04:03 +0100

Judge overturns Calif. gay marriage ban – Yahoo! News Despite the favorable ruling for same-sex couples, gay marriage will not be allowed to resume immediately. Judge Walker said he wants to decide whether his order should be suspended while the proponents of the ban pursue their appeal in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. (tags: legal gay lgbt prop8) Proposition 8: U.S. judge strikes down Prop. 8, allowing gay marriage in California – latimes.com Walker cited extensive trial evidence to support his finding that there was not even a rational basis for excluding gays and lesbians from marriage. Higher courts defer to trial judges on issues of fact, but still could determine that Walker was wrong on the law. (tags: lgbt legal prop8) Fed'l Judge in Calif. Strikes Prop 8 Same-Sex Marriage Ban; Appeal Expected – News – ABA Journal In a much-awaited ruling today, a federal judge in San Francisco held that the state's same-sex marriage ban violates the United States Constitution. (tags: prop8 lgbt noh8) Pushing the Boundaries for Women’s Health: Why Over-the-Counter Access for the Pill Makes Sense… Now | RHRealityCheck.org The bottom line is this: we believe an OTC switch for a birth control pill would increase access to contraception by providing a highly effective, woman-controlled option that can be obtained without a trip to the doctor’s office, and the difficulties that often entails. We think this will be good for women. And it may even have the potential to transform the way we think about birth control by decreasing stigma and normalizing contraceptive use. (tags: contraception medicine) A Blended Librarian Talks Information Literacy – Wired Campus – The Chronicle of Higher Education "Blended librarian" sounds like some kind of power smoothie. ...

Business reference & teaching librarian

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:40:01 +0100

State: Kentucky The University of Louisville (UofL) Libraries invites applications from creative, energetic, and knowledgeable candidates for the tenure track position of Business Reference & Teaching Librarian. The position reports to the head of the William F. Ekstrom Library Reference Department and would be part of a collegial, service-oriented, and progressive department of 8 librarians, 3 professional staff, and 8 student assistants. The University of Louisville (http://louisville.edu) is a Carnegie Research/High university and recipient of the Carnegie Community Engagement classification for Curricular Engagement & Outreach and Partnerships. The University has a national reputation for its high-quality undergraduate program; over twenty nationally recognized research, graduate, and professional programs; 22,000 graduate and undergraduate students; and a strong commitment to the community in which it resides. Recently, the University began a ten-year improvement process called Ideas to Action (i2a) that is designed to highlight critical thinking in the undergraduate curriculum and connect student learning as much as possible to real-world experience and community engagement. The University Libraries are a member of the Association of Research Libraries and is an academic unit composed of a central library, a health sciences library, a music library, an art library, and a university archives. William F. Ekstrom Library, the central library, features three flexible instructional labs, an automated storage area, and a dynamic Learning Commons. These innovative facilities reflect the Libraries' strong commitment to student development and reinforce the University's concepts in teaching and learning. The city of Louisville (http://www.loukymetro. ...

Public services assistant - trexler library - higheredjobs.com

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:00:34 +0100

Public Services Assistant (Job #1021) - Under the direction of the Head of Public Outreach and Information Literacy, the Public Services Assistant i (Source: pligg - all)

Ifla papers:

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

This is another batch of papers online for the World Library and Information Conference (or IFLA conference) which takes place 10-15 August.- Maija Berendtson (Helsinki City Library, Helsinki, Finland) Libraries promoting multimodal literacy in an intercultural societyhttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/133-berndtson-en.pdf- There is a session on parliamentary libraries and their role with the public, for example:Abdolreza Noroozi Chakoli (Shahed University, Tehran, Iran) et al. The role of parliamentary libraries in increasing citizens' access to knowledge and its barriers in the developing countrieshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/141-chakoli-en.pdfThere are obviously lots more papers on a huge variety of library and information subjects, so it is well work browsing through the conference programme: as I said before, most of the papers are already online (and they are papers, not powerpoints). Four academics from my Department (including me) are speaking at the main conference (see this post for more information) and I will be talking more about the events I am involved in, in my next post. I will also be blogging the conference as will these people. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Study on us millennials and social networking

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The Pew Research Center has published results of a survey of "895 internet experts and other internet users" to ask their opinion about (essentially) whether the millennial generation will do less social networking as they get older. There were respondents who thought that they would use sites like Facebook less, but the majority position was that millennials "will retain their willingness to share personal information online even as they get older and take on more responsibilities. Experts surveyed say that the advantages Millennials see in personal disclosure will outweigh their concerns about their privacy." The report is athttp://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Future-of-Millennials.aspxPhoto by Sheila Webber: Hydrangea in Weston Park, August 2010 (with drybrush effect) (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

New health information literacy partnership awardee

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:14:10 +0100

Congratulations to our latest outreach funding opportunity awardee, Project Manager Laura Zeigen and Oregon Health & Science University. Their project, Health Information Literacy Partnership: Oregon Physician Assistants and the OHSU Library, has as its goal to enable Oregon’s physician assistants to improve awareness and use of reliable health information resources, improving health information literacy for Oregon’s clinicians and patients. In collaboration with PA faculty, OHSU will create curriculum for in-person trainings, online tutorials, and a website, and will promote the InfoRX Program. (Source: Dragonfly)

Copyright and e-learning

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

A new book is: Secker, J. (2010) Copyright and E-learning: A guide for practitioners. London: Facet. ISBN: 978-1-85604-665-7There is a contents list, extract from the book and a video from Jane secker on the Facet website: http://www.facetpublishing.co.uk/title.php?id=665-7Photo by Sheila Webber: Corn (on cob) field, Hellingly, July 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

More online papers from ifla: health, agriculture

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

A second batch of papers online from the World Library and Information Conference (or IFLA conference) which takes place 10-15 August..- Shamin Renwick (University of the West Indies, Agriculture and Life Sciences Division, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago) Current trends in agricultural information services for farmers in Trinidad and Tobago/Caribbeanhttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/85-renwick-en.pdf- Liangzhi Yu (Nankai University, Department of Information Resource Management Tianjin, China) Information worlds of Chinese farmers and their implications for agricultural information services: a fresh look at ways to deliver effective serviceshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/85-yu-en.pdf- Lynn Woolfrey (DataFirst Resource Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa) Skills development to assist data usage for policymaking in Africahttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/86-woolfrey-en.pdfThere is a session on health information, including:- Sue Thomas (Health Promotion Library, Department for Public Health and Health Professions, Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom) Small steps to a healthier nation: providing and delivering health information across Waleshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/100-thomas-en.pdf- Jagtar Singh (Department of Library and Information Science, Punjabi University, Patiala, India) and Dilara Begum (East West University, Dhaka, Bangladesh) Student awareness of health information initiatives of the Governments of India and Bangladesh: a study of Punjabi University, Patiala and East West University, Dhakahttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/100-singh-en.pdf Photo by Sheila Webber: Dahlia, Southover Gardens, July 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Systems and emerging technologies librarian (university of wisconsin la crosse )

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 01:10:02 +0100

Systems and Emerging Technologies Librarian (University of Wisconsin La Crosse ) Murphy Library at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is seeking a dynamic, student-centered librarian to work in a team-oriented library environment. Responsibilities include: provide leadership, vision, and expertise related to library systems and technologies that increase and enhance access to academic resources at UW – La Crosse; identify, evaluate, implement, and teach the use of new technologies that facilitate information access and that contribute to the development of library-related learning materials; participate in reference, information literacy instruction, collection development, collegial governance, and library committees as well as campus and professional activities. ...

Student information literacy: reality and and possibilities

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Are today’s college students prepared to be “digital citizens”? Do they have the tools they need to find, evaluate, and use information in today’s wired world? A Northwestern University suggests not, and a white paper offers some minimum standards for information literacy. (Source: novalawcity)

Lmi seeking workshop presenters for fall conference

Mon, 02 Aug 2010 04:00:00 +0100

LMI SEEKING WORKSHOP PRESENTERS FOR FALL CONFERENCEThe Library Management Institute is seeking workshop presenters for a half-day mini-conference scheduled for Friday October 8th in Philadelphia. The mini-conference, called "Next Step: Help Wanted" will focus on the design and management of programming and services for the post-college adult population (22-32 years old). The half-day conference will feature a prominent keynote speaker, several morning workshops, and conclude with a luncheon. We welcome proposals for workshops relevant to any type of library (public, academic, or special) on better serving this underserved population including:• innovative ideas for outreach to this user population • social programming and networking opportunities for single individuals• programs and services to help with small business startup • personal enrichment programming• career search support services• programming on the first years of marriage and becoming a first-time parent• programming and support services for job relocation and finding apartments and homes• programming and support services in identifying graduate education opportunities• services for the returning older student• information literacy programs for graduate students • special library programs and services for the new law student, medical student, or MBA student• services and programs for men and women returning from military service• general programming to help this user population discuss their concerns though the use of library materials, discussion groups, and special lecturesWorkshop proposals must be received no later than August 12th. To submit a proposal or for further information, contact Bob Kieserman at kiesermb@yahoo.com. More information on attending the mini-conference will be available in September.Robert H. Kieserman, MBA, MLIS, DirectorLibrary Management Institute kiesermb@yahoo.com (Source: A Library Writer's Blog)

Ifla papers online relevant to information literacy

Sat, 31 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

The World Library and Information Conference (or IFLA conference) takes place 10-15 August, and most of the papers are already online. These are full text papers, some of them available in more than one language. I will spread the links over a few posts. I have picked out ones particularly relevant to information literacy and information behaviour.- Huy Nghiem (College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam) Delivering information literacy programmes in the context of network society and cross-cultural perspectiveshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-nghiem-en.pdf- Christopher Coward (University of Washington Information School) and Karen Fisher Measuring Indirect Access: Indicators of the Impacts of Lay Information Mediary Behaviorhttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/72-coward-en.pdf- Sheila Corrall (University of Sheffield) Developing inclusive models of reference and instruction to create information literate communitieshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-corrall-en.pdf- Vicki McDonald (Library Services, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia) Get the edge, get ahead: Queensland University of Technology Library's approach to learning supporthttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-mcdonald-en.pdf- Kaijsa Calkins and Cassandra Kvenild (University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA) Embedding in the 21st Century Academy: crossing curriculum and geographyhttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/74-calkins-en.pdf- Raul Aguilera et al (Universidad Carlos III de Madrid, Madrid, Spain) Training undergraduate students to search and use statistical information: a cooperation between professors and librarianshttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/86-aguilera-en.pdf- Harrison Dekker (UC Berkeley Libraries, Berkeley, California, USA) Using web-based software to promote data literacy in a large enrollment undergraduate coursehttp://www.ifla.org/files/hq/papers/ifla76/86-dekker-en. ...

Reference librarian (two part-time positions), bristol community college

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 19:15:02 +0100

Responsible for providing reference and circulation services for students, faculty, staff and community users. Monitor the use of computer workstations and assist patrons with the use of on-line and print resources. Work closely with the staff of the New Bedford/Attleboro Campus and makes recommendations for new materials and services. Provide information literacy instruction sessions when needed. -Provide reference and research support for patrons (students, faculty, staff and community members) in a learning commons environment. -Instruct and assist patrons with print/electronic resources including subject databases, e-books, online journals, reference books etc. -Perform circulation desk duties including checking materials in/out, collecting fines, updating patron records, answering the phone, and managing library reserves and generating inter-library loan requests. May be required to open and close the library. -Assist and monitor use of the PC workstations. -Monitor and maintain library use statistics, and prepares reports. -Help patrons use the greenPRINT system and provide basic troubleshooting for the photocopier. -Plan or schedule exhibits or displays and maintains bulletin boards. -Issue accessBCC OneCard. -Schedule tutoring and writing lab appointments as needed. -Promote new and existing library services/resources and assists in developing library policies and procedures. -Provide bibliographic instruction sessions for courses offered at the New Bedford/Attleboro campus. Conducts orientation sessions, tours, and classroom introduction to library services/resources. -Provide library support for students enrolled in online courses. -Participate in development of library collections to support curricula, course requirements, and assignments. -Help with other academic support services as needed and performs related duties as assigned. (Source: MBLC Job Listings)

Position announcement: diversity resident librarian (western washington university)

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Diversity Resident Librarian The Western Washington University Library seeks a creative and innovative person to serve as Diversity Resident Librarian. The objective of the residency is two-fold: 1) to attract and set the foundation for a recent graduate in a challenging and rewarding career as an academic librarian and 2) to improve Western Washington Libraries efforts to reach out to and engage students, faculty, and community members from diverse backgrounds. The person in this position will report to the Assistant Dean for Public Services and provide support to reference, instruction, and outreach efforts, working in these areas to engage library users. The successful applicant will have the following: strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated understanding of multi-cultural competency; demonstrated ability to effectively interact with diverse student, faculty, and staff populations; demonstrated ability to relate to and address the needs and challenges of minority students on a predominately white campus, as well as the needs of students from other diverse groups, including LGBT students and students with disabilities; ability to foster a collaborative work environment in the Library that emphasizes inclusion.Based on the interest of the successful candidate and the needs of the library, other areas of librarianship may also be explored. The Resident will be expected to participate in diversity outreach initiatives and will receive support to do so. An important component of this position will be collaboration with other librarians and inclusion on library committees. The successful candidate will bring vision and energy to serving students, faculty and staff at an outstanding comprehensive public institution. This is a full time, one year (limited term) position. Salary is $43,000. Deadline for applications is August 27th, 2010. The position will be available October 1, 2010. ...

Online tutorials in law and health

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

Information Literacy WeblogThanks to Jo Anne Witt of Charles Darwin University, Australia, who alerted me to their subject based tutorials. "These tutorials use a split screen to provide instruction to students whilst live searching a databases and catalogue." "These tutorials were designed in a joint effort between the liaison librarians, the relevant discipline academics and our educational designers and both are used to support first year students." There is one they developed for Law http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/units/lawonline/ and one for Health Sciences http://learnline.cdu.edu.au/units/healthonline/index.html (nursing and midwifery) andhttp://learnline.cdu.edu.au/units/healthonline/activity/journalcatalogue.htmlPhoto by Sheila Webber: Shoes on a telegraph wire, Sheffield, July 2010.regards (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Head of instructional services

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:10:05 +0100

State: Oregon Portland State University Library Head of Instructional Services (Unclassified, Tenure-Track) Position Announcement July 2010 General Description: The Head of Instructional Services leads the design, implementation, and assessment of the Portland State Library’s instructional services; coordinates the teaching activities of the Library; and integrates information literacy into the curriculum. The Head of Instructional Services develops creative strategies to deliver library instruction; identifies best practices and standards of excellence for teaching; develops a positive and shared vision of library instruction; and provides training and continuing education to library instructors. The Head is responsible for the collection and reporting of data for the instructional program and student learning outcomes assessment. She or he also manages and develops library teaching facilities, including the Library instruction classrooms, participates in providing reference services, and serves as a liaison to one or more departments within the Graduate School of Education. The Head of Instructional Services supervises the Distance Learning Librarian and the University Studies and Education Librarian ( responsible for the coordination of general education). The Head of Instructional Services is professionally active and contributes to developments in the field. Portland State faculty contribute to faculty governance activities within the Library and the University, engage in community and professional service, and pursue an active publication and research agenda. This full-time, 12-month, tenure-track faculty position with the rank of Assistant Professor, reports to the Assistant University Librarian for Public Services. All faculty members must adhere to University and Library policies and procedures, including Portland State University’s Professional Standards of Conduct. ...

Head of instructional services (portland state university)

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 03:10:02 +0100

Head of Instructional Services (Portland State University, Oregon) General Description: The Head of Instructional Services leads the design, implementation, and assessment of the Portland State Library’s instructional services; coordinates the teaching activities of the Library; and integrates information literacy into the curriculum. The Head of Instructional Services develops creative strategies to deliver library instruction; identifies best practices and standards of excellence for teaching; develops a positive and shared vision of library instruction; and provides training and continuing education to library instructors. The Head is responsible for the collection and reporting of data for the instructional program and student learning outcomes assessment. ...

New research (full text): not as web savvy as you may think; young people, web search, and credibility

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:38:49 +0100

Great to see this very interesting research from such a respected researcher on web communication and web use as Eszter Hargittai. The Headline Comes from a Northwestern University Announcement: Google it. That’s what many college students do when asked to read an excerpt of a play for class, write a resume or find the e-mail address of a politician. They trust Google so much that a Northwestern University study has found many students only click on websites that turn up at the top of Google searches to complete assigned tasks. If they don’t use Google, researchers found that students trust other brand-name search engines and brand-name websites to lead them to information. The study was published by the International Journal of Communication. (Abstract and Full Text) [Our Emphasis] “Many students think, ‘Google placed it number one, so, of course it’s credible,’” said Eszter Hargittai, associate professor of communication studies at Northwestern. “This is potentially tricky because Google doesn’t rank a site by its credibility.” What we also find interesting is that the students who participated in the study have grown up in, for lack of a better expression, Google world. Yet they have no idea about how it and other web search tools work. A great example for the importance of information literacy. Five or six years ago people said to us that a significant portion of the “lack of understanding” about web search would go away as users, especially younger ones, would get more familiar and comfortable with the technology. Well, it appears that it hasn’t. Btw, the phrase “how they work” doesn’t mean an in-depth, several semester class about info retrieval, info seeking behavior, and other concepts. ...

Embedding research/inquiry graduate capabilities in the curriculum

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 04:00:00 +0100

There is interesting material on the La Trobe University (Australia) website. They have their information literacy strategy& related documents, and a report with details of how information literacy was embedded in a first year health sciences prgramme: Building blocks: Embedding research/inquiry (information literacy) graduate capabilities in the curriculum. They have developed two "key tools": "Library Skills Online - a set of five modules designed to introduce information literacy skills to first year students" (which there are links to) and "LibAnswers - a web based Q & A system and FAQ knowledge base that enables students to search the knowledge base and ask questions from anywhere at anytime."http://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/building-blocks/Photo by Sheila Webber: Glasgow Botanic Gardens, July 2010 (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

Librarian (brown mackie college – birmingham (al))