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Faculty Orientation
Building Information Literacy into the Curriculum

Presented by Kim B. Cullinan, M.Ed., MLIS
Head of Public Services, Greenlease Library

Introduction

One of the missions of the Rockhurst University librarians is to collaborate with faculty so that information literacy competencies are incorporated into each appropriate college course at the appropriate level so that students learn the skills to become lifelong learners.

Standards and Guidelines

Information Literacy competencies, as described in the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education enable the student to :

  • "Determine the extent of information needed
  • Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
  • Evaluate information and its sources critically
  • Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
  • Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
  • Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally "

Basic information on Information Literacy for academic faculty and administrators can be found at the Association of College and Research Libraries' web site.

Resources Currently Available at the Greenlease Library

  • Librarians qualified to teach information literacy skills
  • Computer lab equipped with instructor's station, projector, screen and 20 workstations
  • Face-to-face workshops on using subscription databases, the Online Catalog and the Internet
  • Course Assignments pages developed specifically for the Information Literacy instruction given to a specific class
  • RockIT: Rockhurst Information Literacy Tutorial
  • Pre-Instruction, post-instruction and other surveys to assess student information skills using survey software
  • Information and links to assist faculty with information literacy on the Faculty Resources section of the library web site
  • Research Guides and Internet Sources lists developed specifically for the needs of Rockhurst University students and faculty
  • Librarians or Evening/Weekend Supervisors available every hour the library is open to give one-on-one assistance
  • Ask-A-Librarian 24/7 online virtual reference assistance through the Association of Jesuit olleges and Universities Virtual Reference Project.
  • Docutek ERes electronic reserves system for faculty to provide students materials to supplement coursework
  • The Greenlease Library is a member of LOEX, the national non-profit clearinghouse for library instruction and information literacy information.

Benefits for all

Students who are information literate:

  • are able to tell the difference between types of materials
  • feel confident about finding material in the library and online
  • retrieve relevant information faster
  • produce quality research papers and use correct citations
  • may plagiarize less

Things Faculty Can Do Now

  • Assess the research skills that your students need for class assignments
  • Meet with a librarian to discuss the best solution for your classes’ needs:
    • Kim Cullinan, Head of Public Services: kim.cullinan@rockhurst.edu or 816-501-4189
  • Register for a library account in person at the Circulation Desk or online .
Updated June 18, 2008
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