Taking a Peek under the Taking a Peek under the Academic Kilt to see Whether Academic Kilt to see Whether

Information Literacy is RevealedInformation Literacy is Revealed

Eleonora Dubicki, Monmouth UniversityJacqui Weetman DaCosta

Research ObjectivesResearch ObjectivesThis study looks at the perceptions of

faculty regarding information literacy (IL). Assessment of the importance & value

faculty place on the ACRL Information Literacy Standards,Infusion of standards into the

curriculumAssessment of the competency level

of students in achieving these skillsHow students develop IL skills

MethodologyMethodology 10-minute online survey Four New Jersey institutions

participated◦ 2 two-year colleges◦ 2 four-year private universities

178 respondents

ACRL IL StandardsACRL IL Standards1. Identifies and addresses information

need2. Accesses information effectively and

efficiently3. Evaluates and thinks critically about

information4. Uses information effectively for a

specific purpose5. Uses information ethically and legally

Skills for Conducting Skills for Conducting ResearchResearch

Importance of SkillsImportance of SkillsRespondents gave “very important” rating:1. Evaluates and thinks critically about information

(96.07%)2. Uses information ethically and legally (90.45%)3. Identifies and addresses information need (88.76%)4. Uses information effectively and efficiently (87.08%)5. Accesses information effectively and efficiently

(85.39%)

Inclusion in Learning Inclusion in Learning OutcomesOutcomes

Faculty Ratings of Research Faculty Ratings of Research CompetencyCompetency

Literacy at GraduationLiteracy at Graduation

Additional Skills for ResearchAdditional Skills for Research

Where Students Learn IL Where Students Learn IL SkillsSkills

ConclusionsConclusions Information literacy = research skills Faculty agree students should achieve

skills by graduation, but only 55% do Major deficiency in critical thinking and

evaluation More campus collaboration

RecommendationsRecommendations Explanation of research process Collaboration with faculty/writing

centers Faculty workshops Identify key courses for library

instruction More individual & small group

instruction Develop virtual IL website

Further Reading on This Further Reading on This TopicTopic Bury, S. (2011) Faculty attitudes, perceptions and

experiences of information literacy: a study across multiple disciplines at York University, Canada. Journal of Information Literacy, 5(1), pp. 45-64.

Weetman DaCosta, J. (2010) Is there an information literacy skills gap to be bridged? An examination of faculty perceptions and activities relating to information literacy in the United States and England. College and Research Libraries, 71 (3), pp. 203-222.

Weetman, J. (2005) Osmosis – does it work for the development of information literacy? Journal of Academic Librarianship, vol. 31 (5), pp 456 – 460.