According to the American Library Association, Information Literacy is the most important set of skills needed to succeed
in the 21st century. Information literacy allows individuals not only to find but also critically evaluate materials
needed to complete an assignment or task. One definition of information is "the ability to locate, evaluate, and
use information to become independent life-long learners" - Commission on Colleges, Southern Association of Colleges
and Schools (SACS).
The Douglas Library information literacy program ranges from brief tours to multi-session cooperative teaching arrangements between faculty and librarians. A credit course on information literacy is preparation. Library instruction sessions are initiated by teaching faculty and librarians cooperatively discussing classroom needs. One and two hour classroom sessions are available. Increasing in popularity are two one hour sessions involving a lecture/presentation in the first hour followed either directly or on the next scheduled class meeting with a hand-on practice session in our 24 station information literacy computer lab. Librarians circulate through the lab and give direct personal assistance to students on how to access the many electronic resources available at the Douglas Library. These sessions can be adapted/altered or differently structured based on the needs of students. We strongly encourage teaching faculty to see librarians as teaching partners in the education of our students.
To schedule a session or discuss your needs, please call the main reference desk at x2235, or e-mail reference@csu.edu or rmeeker@csu.edu.
