| Information Literacy
- The CSUF Information Literacy Initiative is making progress. Information
Literacy, as outlined by the California State University system, is the
ability to state a research problem, then find, evaluate, organize,
synthesize, and use information to solve the problem.
As detailed in the Fall 2001 Library Update, twenty
departments participated during the Spring and Fall 2001 semesters.
Participating departments include: Accounting, Afro Ethnic Studies,
Biology, Child and Adolescent Studies, Chemistry, Computer Science,
Economics, Foreign Languages, Geological Sciences, Gerontology, Human
Services, ISDS, Marketing/Business Writing, Math, Nursing, Psychology,
Science Education, Sociology, Speech Communications, and Women’s
Studies. Twelve departments have submitted the grant deliverables---a list
of the department’s student learning outcomes that includes the skills
of information literacy, two syllabi for required courses (one entry level
and one capstone course) that specifically identify assignments that
promote information literacy, and representative assignments indicating
that students are being asked to demonstrate the various skills of
information literacy. In accordance with the grant requirements, these
deliverables have been posted and can be viewed at http://www.library.fullerton.edu/information_comp/department.htm.
During the Spring 2002 semester, remaining CSUF departments will be
invited to participate in the second year of the initiative. A day-long
retreat will be held in mid March to introduce faculty to the concept of
Information Literacy and the Association of College and Research Libraries
(ACRL) Information
Literacy Competency Standards. During the day, departmental teams
will work on developing strategies for implementing information literacy
standards into department program curriculum. More information on this
initiative, including ACRL standards, CSUF Resources, participating
departments, web links, and a bibliography, is available on the Information
Literacy Guide web page.
CSU Fullerton is
gaining recognition for the work done in the area of Information Literacy.
A proposal submitted by Ellen Junn, Sorel Reisman, and Suellen Cox to
present at the 30th National LOEX Conference “Integrating Information
Literacy into the College Experience” was accepted. They will be sharing
the Fullerton experience with integrating information literacy into the
curriculum, including lessons and caveats learned. Another CSU Fullerton
team consisting of Pat Szeszuski, Suellen Cox, and Elizabeth Housewright
has been selected to participate in the ACRL Best Practices
in Information Literacy Invitational Conference in June.
Library
Instruction Opportunities:
Faculty-Requested Library Instruction- Faculty-requested sessions can
be scheduled for classes at all levels and in all disciplines. If you are
interested, you can request a library instruction session for your class
or classes by calling the Library Instruction Office at 3041, or by
filling out and submitting an Instruction Request Form. Because this
program is so widely used, requests for specific library instruction
sessions must be made at least two weeks in advance.
Library
Survival Skills Workshops- During the Spring 2002 semester, the Library will be offering
both Introductory and Business workshops. These workshops cover the basics
of how to do library research. Introductory workshop topics include:
accessing electronic databases from home via the Proxy Server or Titan
Access and effective use and searching of Library databases, including
OPAC and CSULink. Access and searching of Expanded Academic Index will
also be covered, as well as printing, downloading, and e-mail options. The
Business workshops will cover accessing and using some of the most
relevant business databases like Business and Company ASAP and Dow Jones
Interactive. A schedule of Spring 2002 Library Survival Skills workshops
is available at http://www.library.fullerton.edu/erworkshop.htm.
One-on-One
Research Consultations- Faculty librarians also are available for one-on-one in-depth
research consultations. Research consultation appointment forms are
available at the Reference Desk or you may complete the form online by
visiting the Research Consultations Appointment Form page.
It is our hope that
these instructional opportunities offered by the Pollak Library will not
only prepare students for their immediate curricular activities but also
enable them to be effective lifelong users of information.
Suellen Cox
Library Instruction Coordinator & Acting Head, Instruction &
Information Services Unit |
