What is information literacy?
The University of Maryland Libraries' information literacy program is designed 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. Ever improving and developing, our current information literacy efforts are informed by several of the objectives outlined in the University's Strategic Plan, the Libraries' Strategic Plan, as well as by the goals itemized in the University's new Plan for General Education.
Who teaches information literacy?
These groups provide the leadership in conducting the day-to-day activities that constitute the Libraries' information literacy program:
User Education Services:- Designs general library skills guides and other learning tools (in a variety of formats);
- Coordinates the Libraries participation at campus information fairs, orientations, and other key events;
- Teaches library instruction to pre-college (summer) courses, large first-year courses (e.g., ENGL 101, UNIV 101, GEMS 104), transfer and returning students, and the Professional Writing Program for juniors and seniors.
Librarian Liasions to Academic Colleges, Schools and Departments:
- Designs subject-specific library guides and other learning tools (in a variety of formats);
- Teaches subject-specific library orientation sessions and classes for undergraduate and graduate courses;
- Conducts customized tours for faculty, visiting researchers and scholars, and other individuals and groups.
- Designs subject-specific guides and other learning tools specific to archives and special collections (in a variety of formats);
- Teaches subject-specific library orientation sessions and classes for undergraduate and graduate courses;
- Conducts tours for visiting researchers, dignitaries, professional colleagues, school groups, and other individuals and groups.
How large is our program?
The Libraries information literacy program is large and robust. On average we teach about 1,000 classes, tours, orientations, and technical workshops (e.g., EndNote Web, Geographic Information Systems, Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELNs), Refworks, etc.) to about 21,500 participants per academic year. Participants include undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, TAs, Section Leaders, visiting scholars, researchers, and high school students. About 75 library staff (e.g. library faculty, staff, graduate students, contractual employees) annually participate in our information literacy program.
These library instruction statistics reflect those reported in FY 2012;
- 362 general education classes for 7,156 participants were coordinated and taught by User Education Services;
- 415 subject-specific classes for 10,006 participants were taught by librarian liaisons. curators, and archivists;
- 107 orientation sessions for 2,635 participants were taught by librarian liaisons, curators, and archivists;
- 40 customized tours for 253 participants were conducted by librarian liaisons, curators, and archivists;
- 31 technical workshops for 472 participants were taught by librarian liaisons.
- Total: 955 classes, tours, workshops for 20,522 participants.
Do the Libraries have a student learning outcomes assessment plan?
Yes. The University Libraries are actively involved in building a culture of assessment through its information literacy program. The assessment of student learning is conducted year-round in all pre-college and first-year library instruction programs coordinated by User Educations Services, and by a growing number of librarian liaisons in their subject-specific classes, especially in those courses taught on a routine basis and that have multiple sections.
What standards are used?
The Association of College & Research Libraries' (ACRL) information literacy competency standards for higher education provides a framework for assessing the information literate individual. The five standards and twenty-two performance indicators focus upon the needs of university students at all levels. These standards are pivotal in helping us develop methods for measuring student learning in the classes we teach. At the close of each academic year, the Libraries submits a report, along with those submitted by the University's colleges and schools, to the Provost's Commission on Learning Outcomes Assessment detailing our learning outcome activities.
