Presentation given at "Change, Challenge and Collaborate" event held at De Montfort University Kimberlin Library on 22nd May 2012, an event organised by the East Midlands ARL Group of CILIP.

1. The SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information
Literacy
Ruth Stubbings, Loughborough University

2. Today
By the end of today you:
• will have gained an understanding of the SCONUL
Seven Pillars of Information Literacy
• be able to differentiate between the core model and
research lens
• be able to apply the model and / or lens to your or your
colleagues teaching

3. Acknowledgements
Moira Bent from Newcastle University
Colleagues on SCONUL WGIL Group
Stephane Goldstein from RIN

4. The 7Ps and you….
Two things re the 7Ps and you!
• One thing you like / will use or encourage colleagues to
use
• One improvement / suggestion / comment
Questions – feel free to ask as we go along

5. What does it mean to be
information literate?
 Becoming a Lifelong  Developing ideas
learner
 Using IT
 Using the Library
effectively  Knowing where to look
 Understanding what you  Interpreting, summarising
read
 Understanding how
 Using info wisely information works
 Organising resources

6. All of
these are
aspects of
IL

7. Jerome Parker Information Literacy Wiki http://jeromeparkercampuslibrary.wikispaces.com/

8. SCONUL
Society of College, National & University Libraries
SCONUL promotes excellence in library
services in higher education and national
libraries across the UK and Ireland by
Promoting the sharing and development of good
practice
Influencing policy makers and encouraging debate
Raising the profile of higher education and national
libraries

9. The 7Ps and you….
Have you heard of the model?
Were any of you or your colleagues
using the old model?
Handsome hands by Photo extremist http://www.flickr.com/photos/thevlue/5263791953/ Reproduced under CCL

10. The Seven Pillars of Information Skills
• In 1999, the SCONUL Information Skills Task Force published
Information skills in higher education: a SCONUL position
paper introducing the Seven Pillars of Information Skills model.

11. The model allowed us to
Formulate ideas around the concept of information skills
Develop frameworks to plan against when developing skills
programmes
Use terminology to initiate discussions with academic staff
Measure progress against a national norm
Articulate outcomes to students
Compare our work against common goals
Link into other professional arenas (i-skills)

12. Seven Pillars around the world
World Map 1689 — No. 1 by Chuck “Caveman” Coker http://www.flickr.com/photos/caveman_92223/3185534518/
Reproduced under CCL

13. In the UK
SCONUL WGIL survey 2009 – 7Ps used in 40 HE Libraries
• Underpins IL programme design 10
• Used in strategy & / or policy documents 6
• Library or HEI frameworks are based on it 5
• Used for learning outcomes or competencies 4
• Provides framework for online / VLE IL module 4
• Used for discussion and debate 3
• Linked to IL quiz 1

14. Collapsing pillars….
Hee, hee! I
think your
Criticism of old Seven Pillars model: pillars have
collapsed
Emphasis on skills
Perceived as linear
Focused on print
Geoff
Inflexible, difficult to adapt
By librarians for librarians
12 years old so didn't cover new concepts and
developments in the information world

15. The new model: key principles
Must be flexible and adaptable
Must be cyclical, not step driven
Able to apply to different user populations
Initial focus had to be UK HE
Core model has to use standard (“librarian”
“academic”) terminology
Must extend from skills to attitudes and
behaviours
Must be easy to apply in practical situations

16. SCONUL Information Literacy Definition
Information literate people will demonstrate
an awareness of how they gather, use,
manage, synthesise and create
information and data in an ethical
manner and will have the information
skills to do so effectively.
Not only: Skills and competencies
But also: Attitudes and behaviours

17. Information landscape

18. The SCONUL Seven Pillars of Information Literacy model
recognises that:
information seeking is not linear
it is an iterative process
individuals can start their search any where in the
process
individuals can be expert on different pillars at different
times

19. Seven Pillars: New model

20.
Seven Pillars: Doughnut
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/topics_issues/info_literacy/

21. Research lens
The Research lens varies from core model as it is set:
in task at hand – that of research
in an individuals IL landscape
in the subject area
links closely to another professional bodies standards
(Vitae)
uses language of a researcher

22. Core model Research lens

23. Core Model Research lens

24. The 7Ps and you….
Drawing on your experience, discuss in groups:
Looking at the core model, which pillars do you or
your colleagues teach and why?
How could you use the core model to negotiate and
plan information literacy teaching in your
institution?

25. Since the launch…
Welsh IL Framework
Cambridge New
Curriculum
OER (open educational
Resources)
Digital literacy lens
Law lens….

26. What next?
Develop more lenses
Monitor take-up and use
Listen to feedback
Regularly update
Engage with stakeholders
Temple de la Sagrada Familia, Barcelona by Ruth Stubbings

27. One thing...
Keep in touch
Ruth Stubbings
r.e.stubbings@lboro.ac.uk
Moira Bent
moira.bent@ncl.ac.uk
www.moirabent.blogspot.com

28. Some useful links
SCONUL Seven Pillars
http://www.sconul.ac.uk/groups/information_literacy/seven_pillars.html
An Information Literacy Framework for Wales
http://library.wales
.org/uploads/media/Information_Literacy_Framework_Wales.pdf
Cambridge New Curriculum for IL
http://arcadiaproject.lib.cam.ac.uk/docs/ANCIL_final.pdf