Information Literacy Programs
Overview of the Libraries' Information Literacy Program:What is information literacy?
Who teaches information literacy?
Who provides direction for this Program?
Does the Library have a student learning outcomes assessment plan?
What standards are used?
Library Programs (& Request Forms):
User Education Services designs, coordinates, teaches and assesses these programs:ENGL 101 - Freshman Writing Program
ENGL PWP - Professional Writing Program (3rd Year Ugrad CORE program)
UNIV 100 - The Student in the University (New Student Orientation)
GEMS 100 - Gemstone ProgramTo learn what courses are taught by the Libraries' subject teams & special collections librarians, see Who teaches information literacy?
Other programs coordinated by User Education Services:
International Student Orientations
Pre-College & Summer Programs
High School Visits to McKeldin Library (Policy on)
Electronic Resources Seminars (Offered 1996-2003)
| WHAT IS INFORMATION LITERACY? |
"Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning." Taken from the Association of College and Research Libraries"Information literacy is defined as a set of skills which requires an individual to: recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." Taken from the Presidential Committee on Information Literacy
The Libraries Information Literacy Program aims to provide members of the University with the skills and knowledge needed to effectively identify, find, evaluate and ethically use information to support academic excellence and lifelong learning. This Program emerges from the Libraries' vision & mission and strategic plan [.pdf].
| WHO TEACHES INFORMATION LITERACY? |
Two main groups coordinate and conduct the day to day activities that constitute the Libraries Information Literacy Program. They are:
User Education Services (UES):
- Designs, coordinates, teaches, and assesses information literacy programs for the University's large first-year and gateway programs, and for a CORE (required) writing program.
- Coordinates orientations sessions for the University's summer & pre-college programs, for international students coming to campus, and in-depth & targeted research visits for high school groups.
- Trains special lecturers, graduate students and library staff to participate in its programs.
- Produces and maintains a wide assortment of general user guides (in print, web, interactive). Coordinates the University Libraries participation in various campus events and activities.
Librarian Subject-Specialists, Curators & Special Collections Librarians:
- Librarian subject specialists (many of whom are members of six subject teams) the curators of special collections, and other librarians with subject expertise, design and teach information literacy classes, orientations, seminars, & workshops for the University's subject-specific courses.
- Organizes and conduct customized tours for visiting administrators, scholars, school groups and others.
| WHO PROVIDES DIRECTION FOR THIS PROGRAM? |
The Information Literacy Team serves to provide direction for the Libraries information literacy program. It's mission is to:
- stay abreast of developments & trends in information literacy & teaching technology;
- review problems and issues to develop solutions and recommend policies;
- support staff development that builds skills in instruction to improve the quality of teaching and learning;
- work to integrate the assessment of student learning into instruction activities.
| DOES THE LIBRARY HAVE A STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT PLAN? |
At present, the Libraries' Learning Outcomes Assessment Plan is defined for the information literacy programs coordinated by User Education Services; these include ENGL 101, GEMS 100 and UNIV 100.
| WHAT STANDARDS ARE USED? |
Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
These standards provide a framework for assessing the information literate individual. There are five standards and twenty-two performance indicators. The standards focus upon the needs of students in higher education at all levels. The standards also list a range of outcomes for assessing student progress toward information literacy. These outcomes serve as guidelines for faculty, librarians, and others in developing local methods for measuring student learning in the context of an institution’s unique mission. It is important to note that some disciplines may place greater emphasis on the mastery of competencies at certain points in the process, and therefore certain competencies would receive greater weight than others in any rubric for measurement. Taken from the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
LIBRARY PROGRAMS (& Request Forms) MANAGED BY USER EDUCATION SERVICES:
| ENGL 101: INTRODUCTION TO WRITING |
Size of program:
The Libraries teach approximately 3,500 freshmen in 165 classes per year. This is the Libraries' largest and longest running program.Description of the course:
ENGL 101 is an introductory course in expository writing. This course, coordinated by the University of Maryland's Freshman Writing Program, is a rigorous introduction to college level writing. It teaches undergraduate students how to construct and develop issues, analyze and create arguments, use and represent sources, and revise and improve their prose. Unless a freshman is exempted from taking this course, ENGL 101 is a CORE Fundamental Studies course required for graduation. [3 credit course. Offered every fall, spring & summer semester]Description of the library program:
Library Day is the name given to the information literacy program that User Education Services has developed in partnership with the Freshman Writing Program. The aim of the program is to introduce freshman to: 1) the Libraries' web site, 2) to a customized web page, 3)to the Libraries' catalog, and 4) to selected periodical databases to access scholarly, popular, trade and other information.Online demonstrations and examples are placed with the context of ENGL 101 assignments. Library day is a hands-on active learning class. These classes are either 50 or 75 minutes in length and take place during a regular ENGL 101 class period. All Library Day classes are held in an instruction lab in McKeldin Library. ENGL 101 instructors may prepare students before coming to the library by having students do one or more or parts of these Research & Library Skills Exercises.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of a Library Day class, students will be able to:
- Identify resources that will help in topic and keyword selection.
- Recognize that there are different types of research tools, such as the Libraries' catalog, periodical databases, and the Internet.
- Construct search strategies using keywords and Boolean connectors to search selected databases (i.e. CQ Researcher, Academic Search Premier, LexisNexis Academic)
- Develop an awareness for the importance of citing works to avoid plagiarizing.
Are you an ENGL 101 instructor wanting to request a Library Day class?
Use this Request Form to submit your request. (submission deadlines apply)Need more information about this library program?
Contact User Education Services.
| ENGL 39X: PROFESSIONAL WRITING PROGRAM (PWP) |
Size of program:
The Libraries teach approximately 2,500 juniors & seniors in 120 classes per year.Description of the courses: There are five (5) courses that form the Professional Writing Program. They are:
- ENGL 391: Advanced Composition
- ENGL 392: Pre-Law
- ENGL 393: Technical Writing
- ENGL 394: Business writing
- ENGL 395: Writing for the Medical Professions
- See individual course descriptions
No matter the course, students are required to master the ability to create and present arguments persuasively to expert and lay audiences. The Professional Writing Program focuses on fostering growth in rhetorical and language skills, recognizing that students should become more aware of the ethos they project, and more adept at defining and analyzing audiences that they may be addressing. In addition, each PWP course entails a significant research component to prepare students for success in the "real world" by imparting the skills they need to create as well as present arguments effectively. Unless a junior or senior is exempted from taking one of these courses, the five courses that make up the Professional Writing Program is a CORE Fundamental Studies course required for graduation. [3 credit course. Offered every fall, spring & summer semester]
Description of the library program:
This program aims at partnering librarians with PWP faculty to customize targeted research session(s) for students. The emphasis is placed on student-centered learning. The library instructor will work with the course instructor in advance to learn the purpose and parameters of the assignment and obtain a list of topics students have selected. The librarian will demonstrate relevant research strategies and suggest appropriate resources. Formal lecture and demonstration will be kept to a minimum in order to maximize active 'hands-on' learning. Students will be encouraged to use the majority of class time to research their topics and collaborate with their teammates if assigned to teams. One-on-one expert research guidance will be provided.Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of a session, students will be able to:
- Develop a research question suitable for a Professional Writing project. (ACRL Standard One)
- Generate concepts, keywords and subject perspectives on their research question. (ACRL Standard Two)
- Identify at least two relevant resources using the Libraries catalog, general and subject-specific databases, and information from authoritative and credible non-library resources (ACRL Standards Two and Three)
Are you a PWP instructor wanting to request a library research class?
Use this Request Form to submit your request. (submission deadlines apply)Need more information about this library program?
Contact User Education Services.
| UNIV 100: THE STUDENT IN THE UNIVERSITY (Library Safari) |
Size of program:
The Libraries teach approximately 550 freshman in 30 classes per year.Description of the course:
UNIV 100, a seminar designed by the University's New Student Orientation Program, helps freshmen answer the questions "Why am I here?" and "How can I get the most out of the University of Maryland?" The goal of the seminar is to connect students to the campus resources they need to excel, while making sure their transition to college is as smooth as possible. UNIV 100 class sizes are limited to 20 students or less in order to create a discussion oriented environment, and to promote more opportunity for instructor/student and peer interaction. [1 credit. Offered every fall semester].Description of the library program:
Similar to the goals of the course, the Library Safari Program introduces students to resources and services offered them by the University Libraries. It helps freshmen transition to a large and complex academic library system by helping students conquer - in a fun way - their library anxiety. Library Safari is scheduled during a UNIV 100 class period. The class begins with a brief introduction. Soon after, students are divided into small teams and given a set of 7 exercises to complete. Students leave the library classroom to physically explore McKeldin Library in order to learn how the library is organized and how to locate materials. At a time determined by the library instructor, students return to the classroom to complete an assessment form before being dismissed.Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of a Library Safari session, students will be able to:
- Use the Catalog to identify materials in the library.
- Read & interpret call numbers, and use them to find materials in the library.
- Identify the different ways to get help from library staff.
- Organize & manage their library research.
Are you a UNIV 100 instructor wanting to request a Library Safari class?
Use this form to submit your request.
Note: submission deadlines apply each semester.Need more information about this library program?
Send an e-mail to User Education Services.
Phone the Head of User Education Services 301-405-9070.
| GEMS 100: INTRODUCTION TO GEMSTONE |
Size of program:
The Libraries teach approximately 225 freshman in 19 classes per year.Description of the course:
GEMS 100 seeks to orient new students to the Gemstone Program as well as to the University of Maryland. Students learn about many of the facets of the Gemstone Program, including completing a short team research project which models the Gemstone research project that they will work on over the next three years.Description of the library program:
Students come to McKeldin Library for a ninety-minute session, where they work in teams to refine their research project question and locate relevant resources in order to complete the Research Project Information Sheet.Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of a GEMS 100 library session, students will be able to:
- Develop a research question suitable for a Gemstone research project. (ACRL Standard One)
- Generate concepts, keywords and subject perspectives on their research question. (ACRL Standard Two)
- Identify, locate, and retrieve a book from McKeldin Library's circulating collection. (ACRL Standard Two)
- Identify at least two relevant resources using the Libraries catalog and general and subject-specific databases. (ACRL Standards Two and Three)
Need more information about this library program?
Contact User Education Services.
| INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATIONS: |
Size of program:
The Libraries teach approximately 170 international students in 10 orientation sessions per year.Description of the course: Every January and August, the Office of International Education provides the University's incoming international students with an orientation to campus. The aim is to help foreign students make a smooth transition to the University of Maryland, and to the United States. In an all day orientation, students are introduced to a variety of federal and University policies, services and resources.
Description of the library program: Every January and August, the Libraries offer either a 30-minute or 60-minute orientation to the Libraries' resources, services and collections for new international students. The aim is to provide a brief but informative session, where students are encouraged to ask questions about how to use and find library materials.
Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of an orientation session, students will be able to:
- Recognize that there are different types of research tools, such as the Libraries' catalog, periodical databases, and the Internet.
- Identify the different ways to get help from library staff.
- Develop an awareness for the importance of citing works to avoid palgiarizing.
Need more information about this library program?
Contact User Education Services.
| PRE-COLLEGE & SUMMER PROGRAMS: |
Size of program:
The number of sessions and students taught by the Libraries each summer (June-August) varies from year to year.Description of the courses:
Each summer, the University offers credit-bearing courses through the Office of Extended Studies, as well as non-credit programs supported by the Office of Undergraduate Studies, the Office of School/University Cooperative Programs, and through Conference and Visitor's Services.Need help preparing your students in advance of visiting the Libraries?
Administrators, instructors, TAs and section leaders are strongly advised to review this information with students in advance of coming to the University Libraries: Summer Programs and the University LibrariesNeed more information about how to schedule a library orientation?
Even though the Libraries do not provide walk-through tours of its buildings, services or collections, we do welcome requests to schedule a library orientation session, especially if students have been assigned to do research. Submit your request using this request form for summer programs.Student Learning Outcomes:
These outcomes vary depending on the focus of the orientation.Need more information?
Contact User Education Services.
