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Information literacy in the workplaceJennifer Kirton, Lyn Barham & Sean Brady
NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia
Contact: [email protected](The full report on this project will be published in the Australian Library Journal Vol 57 (2) 2008)
The results of a pilot study of government librarians’ understanding of the principles of information literacy, the information literacy activities being undertaken and the barriers being encountered.
• The workplace is a completely different context for information literacy than universities and traditional libraries.
• The role of the workplace librarian is under-researched.
• Librarians’ contribution to workplace literacy is of increasing importance in this era where employment can be conditional on proficiency in an information-rich society.
Most librarians believe information literacy is an important service for their library
STANDARD ONE: Recognizes the need for information and determines the nature and extent of the information needed
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Librarians include in theirdefinition of Information
Literacy
FULL responsibility forteaching this standard
PARTIAL responsibility forteaching this standard
NO responsibility forteaching this standard
Most of us provide training. Do our clients know when they need help finding information? Would they approach us for that help?
STANDARD TWO: Finds needed information effectively and efficiently
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100%
Librarians include in theirdefinition of Information
Literacy
FULL responsibility forteaching this standard
PARTIAL responsibility forteaching this standard
NO responsibility forteaching this standard
91% say that we have a responsibility to teach the skill to assess information quality. Are our clients just collecting information to take up space?
STANDARD THREE: Critically evaluates information and the information seeking process
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100%
Librarians include in theirdefinition of Information
Literacy
FULL responsibility forteaching this standard
PARTIAL responsibility forteaching this standard
NO responsibility forteaching this standard
Only 70% said information management is part of IL … Do Records Management or IT have a role here?
STANDARD FOUR: Manages information collected or generated
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100%
Librarians include in theirdefinition of Information
Literacy
FULL responsibility forteaching this standard
PARTIAL responsibility forteaching this standard
NO responsibility for teachingthis standard
The conceptual application of information is at most only partially our responsibility
STANDARD FIVE: Applies prior and new information to construct new concepts or create new understandings
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100%
Librarians include in theirdefinition of Information
Literacy
FULL responsibility forteaching this standard
PARTIAL responsibility forteaching this standard
NO responsibility forteaching this standard
Is copyright and ethical use of information becoming more important in the digital environment?
STANDARD SIX: Uses information with understanding and acknowledges cultural, ethical, economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Librarians include in theirdefinition of Information
Literacy
FULL responsibility forteaching this standard
PARTIAL responsibility forteaching this standard
NO responsibility forteaching this standard
