Students: Are you able to find good scholarly sources for your research papers? Are you information literate? Check the definition (below) to see how you compare with an information literate person. If you need help in any of the areas listed or need assistance in finding good sources check with a reference staff member in Maag Library. There are several ways we can assist you.

Faculty: Tired of those bad bibliographies? Are your students finding good scholarly sources for their research papers? Are they information literate? (See the definition below). Information literacy programs are a partnership between library professionals and classroom instructors. See Instruction Services for information on how to get your students involved.

Are you information literate?

Here is a definition of what an information literate individual should be able to do.

• Determine the extent of information needed
  
  
• Access the needed information effectively and efficiently
  
  
• Evaluate information and its sources critically
  
  
• Incorporate selected information into one’s knowledge base
  
  
• Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose
  
  
• Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally *
  
  

*   "Information Literacy Defined" In: Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education. 2000. http://www.ala.org/acrl/ilcomstan.htm (5 September 2001).

These are abilities that, once learned, provide the basis for life-long learning.