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Information Literacy Misinterpreted Again

This article from The Washington Post came in through a library list serv. The author, an independent school librarian, laments over his students' lack of interest in reading. His attempts at piquing their interest with eye-catching posters and displays seems only to get the students halfway: watching the film version of the classic tale as opposed to reading the novel.

I agree with the author's assertion that students aren't interested in reading, and I have some very good reasons to agree. Other than personal observations from the reference desk and the Reading at Risk study, the National Freshman Attitudes report suggests that this trend continues from secondary school to college. I also communicate with some local school librarians who are very passionate about what they do and how they help their students become independent, lifelong learners. It's by talking with these librarians and my efforts to create a dialog between school and academic librarians that I've found a fundamental misunderstanding stagnating information literacy progress.

"Information Literacy " is currently a buzzword in the field of library science. But some librarians equate it, as this author does, to "mastering computer skills, not promoting a love of reading and books." While not completely inaccurate, this is a a gross paraphrase which leaves out the most important piece of information literacy.

Information literate people have mastered computer skills because those skills are crucial to retrieving even books (via the online card catalog). From observations and research we know that students can use computers effectively. These students have been exposed to computers from childhood and are masters of the mouse, keyboard and Internet. They may struggle with database searching at the start, but most "get it" with some practical experience. The fundamental skill information literacy instructors are trying to teach is, “Why/when should one use a database or a book or the Internet or consult with an information professional (librarian or otherwise).” We are not discouraging the use of ANY resource, rather we're trying to teach the students to consider their research options and evaluate ALL resources before using them to satisfy an information need. The root of information literacy is a new form of critical thinking that gets students to consider the research process. It is less hands on, and more theoretical than some librarians' definitions. We're not just re-naming bibliographic instruction or "library" instruction here...information literacy as a whole is a core competency that is getting more and more attention by organizations that can make a difference in its implementation in education in both primary and secondary schools and colleges.

I hear my librarians and faculty complain that students aren't using good sources (books, journals, magazines, newspapers), and they're saying the same things as school librarians and teachers. AASL and ACRL standards are eerily similar but the differences can create vast misunderstandings. So let's get on the same page with defining information literacy. I started a “Sister Libraries” project to do just that. Any support, criticism, or feedback about this project is welcome.

Library Website Hall of Fame

While there's no methodology for the acceptance into the Library Website Hall of Fame (it is a wiki), there are some very attractive designs here with some very innovative uses of technology. I'll be brining this to the attention of my colleagues who are working on redesigning my library's web presence.

LetsPowWow

I just had a virtual meeting today with a colleague using LetsPowWow. This is a free downloadable app. It has a chat window thats very much like an IM client like AIM, but what makes this free tool really cool is it's ability for one user (of the up to 10 users) to give over control of his or her desktop. This was especially helpful to this meeting because my colleague and I were discussing graphic design elements of library signage and posters.

The only thing I wish LetsPowWow had is voip ability. With two people it wasn't necessary, but in a larger group the IM text could get overwhelming rapidly.

Winging It

With the increasing pressure from accrediting bodies and now the federal government to focus on measuring student learning it is becoming more important for instruction librarians to perhaps reconsider their teaching models.

Is a librarian's ability to "wing" an instruction session a detriment to student learning? I'm a strong believer in establishing learning objectives before teaching anything, but I admit to winging instruction sessions that I'm familiar with. A librarian may choose to go unprepared for numerous reasons. He may feel he's too busy to prepare. He may feel he's doing himself and the students a favor by maintaining the ability stay on his toes.

This instructional flexibility is especially important when an attentive/interested faculty member attends the session. Many times a faculty member with good questions/intentions completely side tracks an instruction session.

Meebo proves me a fool

Wow, I amaze myself sometimes. So I see a meeboguest on my blog and decide to send him/her a message asking for thoughts/input on The Long-Haired Librarian. I sent an IM but got no response for a while. I can see this person's been on my blog for 8 minutes and I'm wondering, "Hmmm, is what I'm blogging this interesting?!"

Now I notice the Firefox tab pointed at my blog. DER! I was IM'ing myself!

Boy Scouts Learn Copyright Law

This is now old news, but a couple of weeks ago an article was published in the L.A. Times and was discussed on NPR. Boy Scouts receive an anti-piracy activity patch after learning the basics of copyright law. They can tour a movie studio so that they appreciate the effort that goes into the creation of a film.

I think making the visit to the studio is a great idea. It makes the interaction between the viewer (and potential pirate) and the film more personal. It would be applicable for the boy scouts to also meet a struggling musical artist, too.

Sirsi...RSS...Someone's Finally Doin' It!

Post to follow soon!

Meebo

Well, I've given up on Trillian. It's not that I didn't love Trillian, it's just that I Meebo is just so danged much better! It's totally web-based and runs in a browser. Meebo also has these cool widgets to embed in html. Check out my widget in the sidebar under my blogger profile. If I'm online, send me a message (or reference question)!

I've been ridiculously busy lately, and my posts have been few and far between. Here's what I've been thinking about lately:

• Using Meebo as a replacement for Trillian. Now I can take my I.M. contacts with me wherever I go. Sweet. This may make selling it to librarians easier since there's no software to install etc.

• Why are we using online assessments of information literacy (ETS and SAILS) when the instruction provided is in the classroom? I'm beginning to believe that, although it's convenient to assess student learning electronically, there are many advantages to assessing in the classroom. I will elaborate soon!
  

• The perfect library Facebook group. Since Facebook has begun shutting down library profiles my institution has begun a group with the librarians as adminsistrators. While this is not as ideal as an "open" group, it seems to be the only way to control who posts what on our wall, discussion board, pictures etc.