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Notes & Quotes

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    Information Literacy

    by Mary Beth Parkinson, Information Literacy Librarian


    The exponential growth of information in various formats – print, electronic and all types of media – have made the mastery of information literacy skills vital not only for one's success in school, but for success on the job, and in making many of the decisions in life that increasingly require the careful evaluation and use of information. In recognition of the essential skills related to locating, evaluating, and effectively and ethically using information, colleges across the country are embracing the standards established by the Association of College and Research Libraries and adopted by accrediting agencies, including Middle States, as a framework for establishing initiatives and programs to integrate information literacy into the curricula.

    Here, at MCCC's Central campus, we have worked diligently with the coordinators of the English Department to develop an information literacy model for the research paper component of the English 102 curriculum. This project, which involves the English 102 sections of all non-senior Central campus adjunct faculty as well as one full-time Central campus faculty member, has developed considerably over the last couple of years. This semester, in addition to providing library instruction sessions, the Library has introduced a Blackboard course (English 102 Research Paper Project). This course link provides access to a Library assignment that takes the students through the process of locating resources, a tutorial that teaches the essential components of the research process, and a quiz that measures the information literacy skills learned. This model also effectively serves the students enrolled in the distance English 102 classes of participating faculty.

    The goal of our information literacy effort is to develop a comprehensive and integrated information literacy program that reaches across the curricula to embrace all academic divisions and campuses. Several initiatives in place and forthcoming will serve to support this goal. Information literacy is one of four instructional criteria required by the Curriculum Committee to be integrated with the curriculum of all proposed new and revised courses. Additionally, the general core curriculum is currently being revised under the leadership of the Core Steering Committee. Information literacy has been identified as one of four essential skills areas along with communication skills, computer fluency skills, and analytical skills.

    The Library has also been working to promote information literacy through a variety of efforts. We have been offering a regular program, “Laptops and Literacy”, through the CTL on the Central and West campuses. This program is a hands-on session that serves as an introduction to the wealth of resources accessible through the Library Web Page. The goal is that faculty will encourage students to utilize these resources and move beyond Google to conduct research in a more informed and scholarly manner. The program also offers faculty suggestions for integrating information literacy into assignments and course curricula. We plan to continue to offer this program two to three times each semester. This coming Spring semester, I will be offering an information literacy seminar, through the CTL, for interested West campus faculty. The goal of this seminar, which will be comprised of four sessions at the West campus, will be the development of an information literacy component for a course taught by the participating faculty. Other ways in which information literacy is being promoted include an introductory session for new faculty on information literacy through the Mentoring Program, which was held earlier this semester. Also, all full-time and adjunct faculty on both the Central and West campuses receive a letter at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters regarding library instruction for students on research strategy and information literacy.

    Information literacy has a vital and exciting future at the College, and we look forward to working with our faculty to develop and expand the information literacy skills of our students in support of their academic and life-long success.The librarians at the Brendlinger Library and West Campus Library are pleased to offer assignment-related classes focusing on library research strategies and information literacy. Class sessions cover pertinent reference services, electronic search techniques, and a demonstration of online databases. To schedule daytime classes at the Brendlinger Library and discuss instruction, please email or call Mary Beth Parkinson at 215-619-7480. For evening instruction, please call Robert Erb at 215-641-6622. To schedule daytime instruction at West campus, please call Marie Devine at 619-718-1867 or Kevin Strunk at 610-718-1912. For evening instruction at West, please call Terri Sharif at 610-718-1820. For more information regarding information literacy instruction, click ‘Faculty Page ' from the Library Web Page. Then click ‘Information Literacy' and ‘Schedule Library Instruction.'