Information Literacy Initiative

Empowering the college community with the skills needed to access and collect relevant, high quality information.

Information literacy enhances traditional library instruction by fostering critical thinking skills.

The concept of information literacy is steeped in the pedagogy of academic librarianship. Library orientation and instruction in research methodology or bibliographic instruction has been an ongoing service to the students and faculty of Atlantic Cape for many years. Information literacy enhances traditional library instruction by fostering critical thinking skills. It also provides faculty and librarians with the means to assess the effectiveness with which students process and manage information.

The challenges faced by today's students when conducting research are in many ways unprecedented. The information literate student is equipped with the knowledge and skills to meet these challenges head-on in preparation for a successful academic career and a more productive professional and personal life.

Standards and Guidelines:

• Developing Research & Communication Skills: Guidelines for Information Literacy in the Curriculum. Middle States Commission on Higher Education, (MSCHE).
• Information Literacy. ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology.
• Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education Association of College and Research Libraries
• Information Literacy Instruction in Higher Education. ERIC Clearinghouse on Information and Technology.

Designing Library Assignments:

If you would like to work with a librarian to develop a specialized information literacy assignment, please contact the library at 609-343-4951 or library@atlantic.edu.

• Effective Assignments Using Library and Internet Resources. University of California, Berkeley.
• Information Literacy and Writing Assessment Project: Tutorial for Developing and Evaluating Assignments. University of Maryland, University College.
• Information Literacy Toolbox for Faculty. Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
• Keys to Defining Effective Assignments. North Harris College Library.

Assessment:

• Assessment of Information and Technology Literacy: Links and References. University of Washington.
• General Education Skills Assessment: Information Literacy and Research Skills Competency. University of Maryland University College.
• University of Arizona Information Literacy Team. University of Arizona, Tucson.

Tutorials:

• Information Literacy Tutorial. William Spangler Library, Atlantic Cape Community College.

Bibliography

The following books are available at the Spangler Library:

• Birks, J. and Hunt, F. (2003). Hands-on Information Literacy Activities. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.  (ZA3075.B575 2003)
• Burkhardt, J. M., MacDonald, M.C. and Rathemacher, A. J. (2003). Teaching Information Literacy. Chicago: American Library Association. (ZA3075.B87 2003)
• Grassian, E. S. and Kaplowitz. (2001). Information Literacy Instruction: Theory and Practice. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc. (ZA3075.G73 2001)
• Middle States Commission on Higher Education. (2003). Developing Research & Communication Skills: Guidelines for the Information Literacy in the Curriculum. Philadelphia: Author. (LB2361.M62.D48 2003)
• Young, R. M. and Harmony, S. (1999). Working with Faculty to Design Undergraduate Information Literacy Programs. New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.  (Z711.2.Y68 1999)

Journal articlespertaining to information literacy can be accessed through the EBSCOhost or Science Direct databases.