Information Literacy: Information Literacy: A Tool for Furthering the A Tool for Furthering the

Cause of Higher Education Cause of Higher Education in Pakistanin Pakistan

Dr. RUBINA BHATTIDr. RUBINA BHATTI

The purpose of this paper is to highlight The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of information literacy the importance of information literacy for facilitating higher education in for facilitating higher education in Pakistan. It is based on the notion that Pakistan. It is based on the notion that information environment is complex and information environment is complex and is changing rapidly. Individuals have to is changing rapidly. Individuals have to learn critical thinking and research skills learn critical thinking and research skills in the evaluation of information in their in the evaluation of information in their fields of interests. University libraries of fields of interests. University libraries of Pakistan have not developed any formal Pakistan have not developed any formal policy on information literacy to enable policy on information literacy to enable all its users to meet their educational all its users to meet their educational and information needs independently. and information needs independently.

Objectives of this paperObjectives of this paper

• Give a brief account of the present Give a brief account of the present scenario of information literacy scenario of information literacy programmes in the university programmes in the university libraries of Pakistan libraries of Pakistan

• Identify the basic issues and factors Identify the basic issues and factors regarding the successful regarding the successful implementation, andimplementation, and

• Suggest the possible measures for IL Suggest the possible measures for IL in Pakistanin Pakistan

The term Information Literacy has The term Information Literacy has been adopted by UNESCO in the been adopted by UNESCO in the Prague DeclarationPrague Declaration and it was and it was recognized as firmly established recognized as firmly established international term to illustrate the international term to illustrate the concept of teaching the art of life concept of teaching the art of life long learning.long learning.

There has been many different names There has been many different names

that are used for Information literacy: that are used for Information literacy: user education; library orientation; user education; library orientation; bibliographic instruction; library bibliographic instruction; library instruction; and information skills instruction; and information skills training.  Information training.  Information literacy contemplates on cognitive literacy contemplates on cognitive and transferable skills that lead to and transferable skills that lead to the development of critical and the development of critical and analytical skill such as problem analytical skill such as problem solving, evaluation and solving, evaluation and communication skills.communication skills.

• Definitional IssuesDefinitional Issues

According to the American Library According to the American Library Association (1989): Association (1989):

"To be information literate, a person "To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the needed information" effectively the needed information"

Information literacy is knowing when Information literacy is knowing when and why you need information, and why you need information, where to find it, and how to evaluate, where to find it, and how to evaluate, use and communicate it in an ethical use and communicate it in an ethical manner, Armstrong, C. et al. (2005).manner, Armstrong, C. et al. (2005).

Doyle (1992) also defined an information literate Doyle (1992) also defined an information literate person as one who: person as one who:

• "recognises the need for information; "recognises the need for information; • recognises that accurate and complete recognises that accurate and complete

information is the basis for intelligent decision information is the basis for intelligent decision making; making;

• identifies potential sources of information; identifies potential sources of information; • develops successful search strategies; develops successful search strategies; • accesses sources of information, including accesses sources of information, including

computer-based and other technologies; computer-based and other technologies; • evaluates information; evaluates information; • organises information for practical application; organises information for practical application; • integrates new information into an existing body integrates new information into an existing body

of knowledge, and; of knowledge, and; • uses information in critical thinking and problem uses information in critical thinking and problem

solving."solving."

Models of Information LiteracyModels of Information Literacy

The Big6 information problem-solving The Big6 information problem-solving approach is quite widely used in the USA approach is quite widely used in the USA to teach information skills (Eisenberg & to teach information skills (Eisenberg & Berkowitz, 2001). It points out the Berkowitz, 2001). It points out the following six steps around learning: following six steps around learning:

• Task Definition Task Definition • Information Seeking Strategies   Information Seeking Strategies   • Location and Access Location and Access • Use of Information   Use of Information   • Synthesis   Synthesis   • Evaluation   Evaluation  

The need for information literacy The need for information literacy programmes in Pakistani university programmes in Pakistani university librarieslibraries

The researcher found complete dearth of The researcher found complete dearth of literature on IL with reference to Pakistan, literature on IL with reference to Pakistan, thus, this study indicates the need for thus, this study indicates the need for Pakistani university libraries to improve Pakistani university libraries to improve their professional standards and to take a their professional standards and to take a more active role in formulating a proper more active role in formulating a proper policy and aims and objectives on making policy and aims and objectives on making their students information literate. their students information literate. Teaching the users about library structure, Teaching the users about library structure, location and layout, resources and location and layout, resources and services is of great value. services is of great value.

Issues to be considered regarding Issues to be considered regarding successful IL in Pakistani University successful IL in Pakistani University LibrariesLibraries

The study identified various factors that inhibit The study identified various factors that inhibit the information literacy provision in Pakistani the information literacy provision in Pakistani universities. Following issues need to be universities. Following issues need to be addressed and ways must be found for the addressed and ways must be found for the successful implementation.successful implementation.

• Lack of formal policyLack of formal policy

• Lack of formally organized IL programmesLack of formally organized IL programmes

• Non-formulation of actual aims and objectivesNon-formulation of actual aims and objectives

• insufficient budgetinsufficient budget

Continued...Continued...

• inadequate IL techniquesinadequate IL techniques• inadequate assessment of library users’ inadequate assessment of library users’

composite needs and seeking behaviourcomposite needs and seeking behaviour• lack of interest by the stafflack of interest by the staff• inadequate training provisioninadequate training provision• lack of interest on the part of library lack of interest on the part of library

schoolsschools• insufficient support from PLA, HEC and insufficient support from PLA, HEC and

other bodiesother bodies• lack of collaboration and communication lack of collaboration and communication

among students, teachers and library staffamong students, teachers and library staff• outdated curricula and faulty examination outdated curricula and faulty examination

systemsystem

A proposal for National Committee on A proposal for National Committee on Information Literacy: working with allies for Information Literacy: working with allies for furthering the cause of higher educationfurthering the cause of higher education

This study proposes that the Higher Education This study proposes that the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan should, as a matter of Commission of Pakistan should, as a matter of priority, start up a National Committee on priority, start up a National Committee on Information Literacy or a research organisation Information Literacy or a research organisation including the following members:including the following members:– The Ministry of EducationThe Ministry of Education– Higher Education CommissionHigher Education Commission– Pakistan Library Association Pakistan Library Association – Provincial BranchesProvincial Branches– The Departments of Library ScienceThe Departments of Library Science– National Library of PakistanNational Library of Pakistan– ResearchersResearchers– Teachers from various levels of educationTeachers from various levels of education– Librarians from various levels of educationLibrarians from various levels of education

Focus Points for the IL CommitteeFocus Points for the IL Committee This committee should focus on:This committee should focus on:• Developing information literacy frameworkDeveloping information literacy framework• Formulating the proper aims and objectives for Formulating the proper aims and objectives for

information literacy programmes information literacy programmes • Determining competencies or skills set for users Determining competencies or skills set for users

which direct is related to the world of work which direct is related to the world of work • Establishing plan for the training of library staff Establishing plan for the training of library staff

membersmembers• Facilitating library professional to reach and Facilitating library professional to reach and

maintain the highest professional standards and maintain the highest professional standards and enriching them in the delivery and promotion of enriching them in the delivery and promotion of high information literacy skill responsive to the high information literacy skill responsive to the needs of the usersneeds of the users

• Determining what audiovisual aids are significant Determining what audiovisual aids are significant for such provision in university librariesfor such provision in university libraries

Continued...Continued...• Organising the workshops, seminars and Organising the workshops, seminars and

conferences in order to highlight the need conferences in order to highlight the need for advocacy for information literacy in for advocacy for information literacy in order that government and NGOs can order that government and NGOs can better understand the issue relating to itbetter understand the issue relating to it

• Planning to signify the information literacy Planning to signify the information literacy in the employability and workplace in the employability and workplace agendasagendas

• Advocacy on behalf of information literacy Advocacy on behalf of information literacy for education and wider community for education and wider community

• Working with information literacy Working with information literacy organizations both at national and organizations both at national and international level  international level 

• Examining and supporting information Examining and supporting information literacy in the workplace literacy in the workplace

Continued...Continued...

• Identifying and working with partners, Identifying and working with partners, both in education and the wider both in education and the wider community community

• Exploring the role of information literacy in Exploring the role of information literacy in continuing professional development continuing professional development

• Recognising barriers and constraints on Recognising barriers and constraints on the development of information literacy the development of information literacy policies in Pakistan policies in Pakistan

• Forming links among university libraries at Forming links among university libraries at national and international levelnational and international level

• Contributing towards the development of Contributing towards the development of IT training strategy into an integrated IT training strategy into an integrated strategy which combines IT and strategy which combines IT and information literacy training  information literacy training 

In such a committee or research In such a committee or research organisation, library and academic organisation, library and academic staff could highlight particular staff could highlight particular problems, needs and issues in their problems, needs and issues in their subjects and later, perhaps, the subjects and later, perhaps, the higher authorities might be persuaded higher authorities might be persuaded to take the initiative to solve any to take the initiative to solve any problem arising. The committee problem arising. The committee could encourage organisations to could encourage organisations to collaborate on providing information collaborate on providing information support to lifelong learners.support to lifelong learners.

Recommendations for improvementRecommendations for improvement

AA ObjectivesObjectives

• No university library can be No university library can be accomplished in its desired results from accomplished in its desired results from its information litercay programme until its information litercay programme until it has a clear statement of its goals and it has a clear statement of its goals and objectives.objectives.

• Those objectives should be in harmony Those objectives should be in harmony with the parent body’s aims and be with the parent body’s aims and be relevant to the actual needs of users. relevant to the actual needs of users. Objectives should be realistic, definite Objectives should be realistic, definite and precise and precise

RecommendationsRecommendations

BB Surveying User NeedsSurveying User Needs

• It is highly recommended that the socio-It is highly recommended that the socio-economic, cultural and previous reading economic, cultural and previous reading background of student users be surveyed. background of student users be surveyed. Good reading habits are not deep rooted Good reading habits are not deep rooted in our generation from primary and in our generation from primary and secondary school levels onwards. So, secondary school levels onwards. So, information literacy should be started as information literacy should be started as early as possible in the beginning of each early as possible in the beginning of each new session. It is recommended that new session. It is recommended that authorities should recognise the need of authorities should recognise the need of information literacy as one of the tools information literacy as one of the tools furthering the cause of education and furthering the cause of education and progress in the country.progress in the country.

RecommendationsRecommendationsCC Use of New Technology and Use of New Technology and

New New SystemsSystems• The advent of computer technology The advent of computer technology

provides a rapid and cost effective provides a rapid and cost effective means of updating provision. Two means of updating provision. Two aspects are important from the aspects are important from the information litercay viewpoint: the use information litercay viewpoint: the use of computerised bibliographic of computerised bibliographic searching, and the use of the Internet searching, and the use of the Internet in the acquisition of scholarly in the acquisition of scholarly materials. Both these will need materials. Both these will need appropriate information literacy appropriate information literacy training.training.

RecommendationsRecommendations

DD Curriculum Integration and Curriculum Integration and LiaisonLiaison

• University authorities should accept the University authorities should accept the central concept of IL, as a means of central concept of IL, as a means of facilitating the cause of education in facilitating the cause of education in Pakistan. Information literacy programmes Pakistan. Information literacy programmes must be integrated with the curriculum as must be integrated with the curriculum as a matter of university (or faculty) policy.a matter of university (or faculty) policy.

E E Training issuesTraining issues • Library staff with training and a positive Library staff with training and a positive

attitude towards both the library and its attitude towards both the library and its students is the key to success. students is the key to success.

RecommendationsRecommendations

F F Role of the PLARole of the PLA

• The PLA should also recommend to The PLA should also recommend to the Ministry of Education the the Ministry of Education the establishment of libraries, establishment of libraries, improvement of library resources, improvement of library resources, provision of trained library staff and provision of trained library staff and education in the usage of libraries education in the usage of libraries from school level upwards for serving from school level upwards for serving the goal of information literacy.the goal of information literacy.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Today, no nation can survive in the Today, no nation can survive in the world without up-to-date information. world without up-to-date information. The ever-increasing growth of The ever-increasing growth of information emphasises the need to information emphasises the need to learn and develop logical, creative and learn and develop logical, creative and critical approaches in handling the critical approaches in handling the information for survival in this modern information for survival in this modern global society. In order to achieve this global society. In order to achieve this objective, users need to be taught to objective, users need to be taught to be independent, to acquire a critical be independent, to acquire a critical approach in using reading resources. approach in using reading resources.

The reasons for not establishing The reasons for not establishing information literacy as an imperative information literacy as an imperative element of higher education cannot element of higher education cannot solely be described in terms of solely be described in terms of resource problems. It emerges from resource problems. It emerges from the study that most librarians are not the study that most librarians are not equipped with required knowledge and equipped with required knowledge and training to teach users effectively. It training to teach users effectively. It was also revealed that a majority do was also revealed that a majority do not have adequate subject expertise not have adequate subject expertise and that library science curricula do and that library science curricula do not insist on the information and not insist on the information and educational objectives of libraries and educational objectives of libraries and do not consider making their users do not consider making their users information literate as an important information literate as an important element of library practice. element of library practice.