ADVANCING INFORMATION LITERACY

BY

Robert Wedgeworth

www.proliteracy.org

November 2, 2006

BACKGROUND

• As a librarian: technical services, systems, management.

• As an observer and chronicler

• As an advocate for literacy

• As an early initiate to information literacy

EVOLUTION OF LITERACY

• 20th century literacy: reading and writing

• 21st century literacy: reading and writing plus new formats and technologies

• Information literacy: added critical thinking plus a willingness to view the process of learning in new and different ways.

INFORMATION LITERACY

• Definition: “To be information literate, a person must be able to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the information needed”.

• *ALA Presidential Commission on Information Literacy, 1989.

ESSENTIALS OF INFORMATION LITERACY

• Mastery of skills

• Experience in application

• Literacy spectrum

• Understanding the challenges and the barriers

WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT LITERACY (READING)

• Reading is difficult for some

• Reading is an unnatural act

• Reading induces a psychological spiral up or down

• Comprehension is the key

• Improvement comes only with practice

MYTHS ABOUT READING

• Early problems disappear with maturity

• Slow readers lack intelligence

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT AT CORNELL?

• More students entering college with less than adequate literacy skills

• More time spent by faculty teaching basics that should have been learned earlier.

• Information Literacy limitations do not respect age, race, class, or socioeconomic status

LIBRARIES AND INFORMATION

• PLUSES:• Learning materials• Professionally-trained

staff• Facilities as labs for

learning

• MINUSES:• Need developmental

information literacy programs for--

• Diagnostics• Application practice• Measurement and

Evaluation

DIAGNOSTICS

• Self-assessment of literacy skills

• Professional assessment of literacy skills

• Recommending developmental programs

APPLICATION PRACTICE

• Creating scheduled opportunities to apply developmental recommendations

• Monitoring developmental programs

• Adjusting developmental recommendations as indicated

MEASURING OUTCOMES

• Develop assessment practices based on information literacy needs.

• Measure progress toward information literacy goals

• Maintain records and follow-up assessments to demonstrate outcomes of information literacy training

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTIONS

• Special contributions of private institutions

• Early adopters

• Innovators

• Desire to be the best

• Willingness to share successes

LEADERSHIP INSTITUTIONS

• More difficult for public institutions to lead

• Governance systems inhibit innovation

• Funding systems require greater accountability

• Staffing patterns lack flexibility

LEADERS NEED TO LEAD

• Do not wait to be crowned

• Exert leadership in fulfilling mission

• Beg, borrow or steal innovations that can assist your institutions

• Wag your own tail

AGE OF THE USER

• Internet is the full employment for librarians

• Library systems and infrastructures exist to support and assist users

• Information Literacy is fundamental to success in the Digital Age

• Libraries are a natural home for Information Literacy