Information Literacy at the Cabrillo College Library

" Information literacy is currently understood as embracing the ability to define a problem, find information to solve the problem, evaluate the information, and use it effectively."
Ward, Dane. "The future of information literacy." College & Research Libraries news 62.9 (2001) : 922

Since 1998 Cabrillo Library has supported a variety of activities related to Information Literacy at the College. This important library program has one fulltime instruction librarian, Topsy Smalley, as well as many other library instructors involved with faculty to include information literacy activities across the curriculum. In support of the overall goals of Instruction at Cabrillo, the following activities are in place and growing:

1. Course related instruction sessions. Many librarians work with faculty to introduce the use of subject specific online information resources to students. These introductions serve to familiarize students with the concepts and tools necessary to begin exploring information resources which are relevant to the course being taken. These introductions are usually one session in the library's electronic classroom and usually require students to fill out a worksheet which demonstrates that they have achieved an ability to navigate these resources.
   • Librarians create worksheets and Web sites which are tailored to individual courses and programs.
   • These worksheets are published on the Internet Links Web page (maintained by Georg Romero)at the library homepage. The Internet Links Web page provides students with a guide to Web resources and course related worksheets for areas of study at Cabrillo College.
2. Partnering with faculty to integrate information research into courses. This program is a bit more ambitious and represents a serious effort to add the use of electronic information resources to the syllabus and course content.
3. Library 10: Information Research, a one unit course offered as a co-requisite with English 1A (the transfer level English course). Library 10 is a self-paced, workbook-based course designed to teach and strengthen the lifelong research and information literacy skills of college students. Students turn in the workbook twice for grading and take a final exam which requires them to demonstrate their comfort with and abilities in the online environment.
4. Computer Aided Instruction: This option involves a librarian working with interested faculty and the Teaching and Learning Center director to create and deliver course content and credit bearing modules which are appropriate to programs of study at Cabrillo.

Information Literacy is a dynamic field of current exploration and ongoing development. Examine these links to materials available on the Web prepared by Topsy Smalley, Instruction Librarian:

Information Competency: (Background Information, Programs in California, and Guidelines for Information Competency Issues)

Information Literacy in the Information Age: Topsy Smalley's Sabbatical Project Report

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Revised May 13, 2003 -- Johanna Bowen