The document discusses approaches to information literacy at three McGill University libraries. It notes the changing environment of schools and libraries with overwhelming amounts of information available online. The vision of McGill's Information Literacy Committee is to encourage independent learning and problem solving skills. The libraries aim to help students develop research skills to evaluate information and become lifelong learners. Effective information literacy involves critical thinking, strategy development, and evaluation of sources. The basics of information literacy include navigating the library resources and learning search techniques. Promoting library instruction involves integrating it into curriculums and encouraging faculty involvement.

1. Approaches to InformationApproaches to Information
Literacy: Sharing ideas whileLiteracy: Sharing ideas while
being unique, a study of threebeing unique, a study of three
McGill University libraries.McGill University libraries.
©Rolla Anne Haddad, Anna Stoute and Natalie
Waters (McGill University)
2004

2. Changing EnvironmentChanging Environment
of Schools and Librariesof Schools and Libraries
 Overwhelming amount of
information.
 Technology has changed the
way information is processed.
 Most of the information
students search is on the net,
and not always reliable.
 Students tend to want the
information quickly, without
being overly concerned about
quality of research.
 Students need to understand,
interpret and manipulate
business information
 To be competitive in the current
environment students must
graduate with set skills and be
prepared to function practically
in the corporate world.

3. Vision of McGill University’sVision of McGill University’s
Information Literacy CommitteeInformation Literacy Committee
 Encourage learners to be accountable for their
own learning
 Promote the implementation of various
pedagogical techniques to enhance learning
 Increase the value attributed to creativity, risk-
taking, internal motivation and problem solving
skills
 Provide learners with the resources necessary for
life-long learning

4. Library’s Role in InformationLibrary’s Role in Information
LiteracyLiteracy
 Encourage learners to be accountable for their
own learning .
 Convert the learner’s natural curiosity into solid,
life-long research skills.
 Aid them in creating, performing, and adapting
effective search strategies.
 Teach them how to independently evaluate the
appropriateness of their findings.

5. Effective Information LiteracyEffective Information Literacy
 Helps develop critical thinking skills.
 Creates independent thinkers
 Facilitates the construction of strategies for
locating appropriate information.
 Deciphers and evaluates information effectively.

6. Explaining the BasicExplaining the Basic
Fundamentals of BibliographicFundamentals of Bibliographic
Instruction/InformationInstruction/Information
LiteracyLiteracy
 Navigate the library web page and its many
resources.
 Explain the Library Catalogue and how to retrieve a
book or journal.
 Promote Periodical Indexes vs. the Internet, for
article retrieval.
 Lastly, teach the use of Boolean, keyword, and
subject searching.

7. Promoting of LibraryPromoting of Library
InstructionInstruction
 Encourage the university to integrate
Bibliographic Instruction as part of the
curriculum.
 Do in-class visits at the beginning of the semester.
 Work with professors on class assignments which
encourage students to use library sources.
 Present information during registration.
 Persuade the faculty to become actively
involved.

8. Thank You!Thank You!
Natalie.Waters@mcgill.ca
Anna.Stoute@mcgill.ca
Rolla.Haddad@mcgill.ca