James Madison University
Libraries & Educational Technologies

http://www.lib.jmu.edu

Information Literacy Program

We collaborate with faculty to develop information literate students.

What is "Information Literacy"?

Information literacy is the ability to recognize when information is needed and to locate, evaluate, and use it effectively. This set of skills is essential in today's world. Student development of information literacy is a process that spans the four-year college experience.

Information Literacy Program brochure (.pdf)

Explore:

The library collaborates with instructional faculty to help students develop information literacy at the basic and field specific levels:

Basic Skills
Information literacy is integrated into the curriculum of General Education Cluster One (Foundational Skills). The components of the instruction program are:
- Learning objectives
  These objectives state specifically which skills students are expected to learn.
- Go for the Gold
  This Web-based program is a required program for introductory GenEd courses. It provides instruction on how to find and evaluate information and includes exercises that can be completed online and scored electronically.
- Information-Seeking Skills Test (ISST)
  GenEd students must demonstrate competency in information literacy by passing this online test by the end of their first year. Students take the test in a secure testing lab in Ashby Hall. More on the ISST.
- Assignments
Librarians are available to collaborate with faculty to design resource-based assignments that provide students with an opportunity to practice and refine their information literacy skills.

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Skills in the Major Field of Study
The library liaison program provides a librarian for each academic department to support integrating information literacy into the curriculum of the major. Liaison librarians collaborate with faculty to design assignments, deliver instruction (in person and online), and assess learning.

Course-related instruction
Liaison librarians will provide course-related library instruction on request. This instruction focuses on helping students learn information-seeking and evaluation skills important to their field of study. Carrier Library has a state-of-the-art 80-seat classroom with 16 computers for hand-on experience. When a library classroom is not available, a librarian can provide instruction in a classroom or campus lab. Contact your liaison librarian to request instruction.
Subject Guides
The liaison librarians have prepared online guides to key resources in the major and helpful instructional aides.
Instruction by appointment
Faculty and students may request an appointment with a liaison librarian for assistance in learning new sources and skills.

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Faculty Development Opportunities

The library supports faculty integration of information literacy into courses by offering an annual workshop on designing information literacy assignments. Read about the workshops, and see the assignments that were developed.

Information Literacy for Teaching and Learning: A Workshop for Faculty and Librarians May 9-11, 2006

Information Literacy for Teaching and Learning: A Workshop for General Education Faculty May 8-10, 2007

Informaton Literacy in the Major: A Workshop for Faculty and Librarians May 7-9, 2008

Information Literacy for Teaching & Learning: IL Assignment Design for General Education and IdLS Faculty April 3, April 24, May 13-15, 2009

In addition the Association of College and Research Libraries Information Literacy gateway provides many helpful resources.

For more information about the information literacy program, contact:

Lynn Cameron
Coordinator of Library Instruction
camerosl@jmu.edu

James Madison University Libraries & Educational Technologies