The huge volume of available information combined with continuously changing technology results in a complex information environment. The Library aims to assist students and staff in acquiring knowledge and skills vital to thrive in this environment.

What is Information Literacy?

The ACRL has famously defined Information Literacy in these terms: "To be information literate an individual must recognise when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate and use effectively the information needed … Ultimately information literate people are those who have learned how to learn".

The Library supports the Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework: Principles, Standards and Practice, Editor: Alan Bundy, 2nd edn, Australian and New Zealand Institute for Information Literacy, Adelaide, 2004, as a guide to the outcomes expected in an information literate person.

The information literate person

• recognises the need for information and the nature and extent of information needed.
• finds information effectively and efficiently.
• critically evaluates information and the information seeking process.
• manages the information collected or generated.
• applies prior and new information to construct new concepts or understandings.
• uses information with understanding and acknowledges relevant cultural, ethical, economic, legal and social issues in its use.

Library Goals

• Provide opportunities and resources for all UNE staff and students to develop information literacy knowledge and skills.
• Assist in the integration of information literacy into the teaching and learning of the University.

Current Library strategies

• Ongoing development of eSKILLS UNE and eSKILLS Plus web resources.
• Working with academics in course development to integrate information literacy into the curriculum.
• Provision of examples of approaches to integrating information literacy into the curriculum including assessment approaches.
• Subject specific classes at a time appropriate to the curriculum content during term and residential school periods.
• Generic face to face classes on basic library skills targeting on-campus first years.
• Provision of classes in advanced information searching targeting postgraduates and staff.
• Provision of guides on use of databases.

Why integrate information literacy into the curriculum?

Research has shown repeatedly that Information Literacy (IL) instruction must be embedded into the course or unit curriculm to be effective. For the embedding process to achieve its goal, the focus must be on distinctive discipline-specific IL approaches and the testing of student achievement through assessible activities.

Further information

For further information, contact the Information Services Librarian, Celia Munro.