Information Literacy The Learning Resources Center staff is committed to teaching research skills essential in today's world as part of the LRC Information Literacy Action Plan. ESCC’s program focuses on VCCS core competencies developed primarily from the ALA Information Competency Standards for Higher Education and emphasizes that the information literate student will be able to: Determine the nature and extent of the information needed Access needed information effectively and efficiently Evaluate information and its sources critically and incorporate selected information into his or her knowledge base and value system Understand many of the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and use information ethically and legally.
Mastering Information Literacy at ESCCSteps to Successful SearchingAsk a Librarian – personal or virtual assistance; online chat, phone or email help Instruction – tours and demonstrations; classroom and individualized instruction LRC Research Guides - designed for specific assignments; requested by faculty LRC Web Page – a Web page designed for student and faculty success in searching Search Strategy – the practical way to begin locating and evaluating information
CONNECT For SuccessThe LRC plans its information literacy program around on-campus and distance learning student and faculty needs. It is organized to correspond with modules and exercises in CONNECT for Success. Completion of the modules is a requirement for certain courses, and all students are encouraged to take advantage of this learning opportunity. To supplement this program, a PowerPoint presentation on mastering information literacy is also available. The program consists of 50 questions every student should be able to answer about the ESCC library, with answers and an answer sheet. Module 1— Orientation to the Library The student will identify and locate the following services and collections in your library: Interlibrary Loan Reference Periodicals Government Documents Media Resources Circulation
Module 2— Introduction to the Information World The student will: Describe how information is organized in libraries Given a need for a particular type of information (i.e. overview, research report, news), identify an appropriate type of source (i.e. encyclopedia, scholarly journal, newspaper) Interpret a bibliographic citation Characterize the quality of information found on the Internet vs. in libraries
Module 3— Searching an Electronic Database The student will: Define the terms database, record, and field Define three types of information databases: bibliographic, full-text, numeric Determine the subject scope and years of coverage of a given database Identify the main concepts of a research topic and generate a list of search terms Build a search strategy using Boolean operators Compare and contrast a free text search with a controlled terminology search Define truncation, nesting, field-specific searching, and phrase searching
Module 4— Finding Information Resources The student will: Use Linc, the on-line public catalog, to locate materials held by the library (including books, non-print media, and government documents) Find relevant background information on a topic Locate and effectively use the following types of information:
Periodical articles, News sources, Biographical information, Primary sources, Critical reviews, Government and statistical information
Module 5— Using Internet Sources The student will: Locate a specific Web site given a URL Conduct an Internet search on a given topic Compare and contrast a database search with an Internet search
Module 6— Evaluating Sources of Information The student will evaluate information using the following criteria: Module 7— Information Ethics: Citing Sources and Fair Use The student will: Module 8— A Search Strategy for Research Papers and Speeches The student will define and apply an efficient search strategy for a research paper or speech to include: Choosing a topic and identifying its main concepts Narrowing the focus of the topic Identifying reference books, indexes, and Internet sites appropriate for researching the topic Using a variety of sources Evaluating the sources found for appropriateness and quality
Help Us Improve Information Literacy ServicesPlease share your ideas for improving current information literacy services for on-campus and distance education students and faculty. Make suggestions for new brochures, handouts and exercises, and advise us of any Web site or remote searching problems.
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