Literacy News

Information literacy in tanzanian universities: challenges and potential opportunities

webmaster — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:19 +0000

A study was undertaken in four Tanzanian universities to investigate the status and practice of information literacy (IL) so as to determine the best ways of introducing or improving IL programmes. This article reports on the findings related to challenges and opportunities that could influence the effective implementation and introduction of IL programmes in Tanzanian universities. Data for the study was collected using a questionnaire-based survey administered to teaching staff, librarians and undergraduate students. Semi-structured interviews collected data from Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) for academic affairs, Faculty Deans, Library Directors and a Library Head. The findings of the study showed that IL was new in the university curricula although some IL rubrics were being practised. Lack of adequate resources, lack of an IL policy, lack of proactive solutions among librarians coupled with the need for adequate library staffing and training, and collaboration between librarians and teaching staff in IL activities were all identified as challenges facing IL effectiveness. Also identified were potential opportunities such as the support by the majority of university stakeholders to mainstream IL and make it a compulsory course. These opportunities would allow the introduction of effective and sustainable IL programmes. The article concludes that librarians should seize the opportunities that are available to spearhead IL while at the same time making sure they tackle the identified challenges. (Source: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science current issue)

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Book review: change and challenges: information literacy for the 21st century edited by susie andretta 2007, adelaide: auslib press, 202pp, a$44.00, isbn 9780980330113

webmaster — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:19 +0000

(Source: Journal of Librarianship and Information Science current issue)

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Medical library technician (consumer health information technician) - red deer regional hospital centre - red deer, ab

webmaster — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:18 +0000

DAVID THOMPSON HEALTH REGIONPlease submit applications to: Regional Recruitment Centre5110-49 Ave. P.O. Box 1000, Ponoka, AB., T4J 1R8Web Site: www.dthr.ab.ca Email: recruit@dthr.ab.ca Fax: (403)704-2580Bulletin Number: 08-HRS-2509 REVISED Date Posted: August 12, 2008Closing Date: September 2, 2008 0800 hoursJob Title: Medical Library Technician (Consumer Health Information Technician)Status and FTE: Regular Full Time (1.00 FTE) Location: Red DeerFacility: Red Deer Regional Hospital CentreDepartment: Human Resources ServicesHours of Work: 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday to FridayAffiliation: HSAA Professional Technical (MER)Salary Range: $23.86 - $29.90Position Start Date: September 26, 2008Qualifications/Responsibilities: As a key member of the Library & Media Services team, you will apply health literacy practices and theories to health information created in the region and used in the Health Information Resources Centres. You will take a lead role in providing quality health information resources for residents of the region and ensure patient education materials produced in the region meet established standards.You will take a lead role in a two-year initiative to improve the health information literacy of the residents of Red Deer, and will design and deliver health information literacy seminars and workshops for both DTHR staff and the public.You will work with health-related agencies in the community and with Alberta Health Services to ensure that the best possible information is available to the public. You will edit regionally-produced materials to ensure readability and, in cooperation with Library & Media Services staff, will create and maintain a database inventory of regionally produced materials as well as materials available in the Health Information Resource Centres. …

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PSC-CUNY Grants Workshop, Thursday, September 18

webmaster — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:00:04 +0000

The LACUNY Professional Development Committee presents the PSC-CUNY Grants Workshop on Thursday, September 18 from 10-noon in the 4th floor conference room of the Newman Library at Baruch College. CUNY librarians who won grants to fund their research will speak about the process of designing a research project and crafting a successful application. Come learn […]

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Reading?

webmaster — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:00:09 +0000

Thanks to Christine Irving who alerted me to the article:Rich, M. (2008) “Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading” New York Times, 27 July. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html?_r=1&oref=slogin It includes a video which features a family where the parents read lots of print and the children lots of online. At time of writing there were 166 comments on it as well. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

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Information literacy assessment: some online tools and guides

webmaster — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:00:08 +0000

Thanks to Eva Horning for identifying this page on the IASL (international school librarians) webpage. Some of the links are more generally about teaching information literacy, but there were certainly a couple I hadn’t come across before. I think I might have blogged this previously, but it is worth noting since it was checked in June 2008, and is based on information in the 2007 book by Farmer and Henri, Information Literacy Assessment in K-12 Settings (K12 being what they call schools in the USA). http://www.iasl-online.org/about/sigs/siglinks_infoliteracy3.htmlPhoto by Sheila Webber: Coffee in the Timeless Way cafe, Hobart, Tasmania, July 2008. (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

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Implications of the information visibility model

webmaster — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:00:04 +0000

I had a presentation at the University of Sheffield in 13 August as part of a seminar organized by the Centre for Information Literacy Research. In my talk entitled “Implications of the Information Visibility Model in Information Literacy Research and Practice”, I briefly described selective findings of two follow-up studies after my PhD research to see how useful the model of information visibility can be for future researchers in the area of information seeking on the Web and how web users can reflect on their search outcomes based on the model. The applicability of this model in enhancing end users’ information literacy skills was one of the focal points of the speech and I suggested a number of possible lines of research for further investigations based on the concept of information visibility and end users’ conceptualizations of their success and failure in Web searching.For more information you can download the PowerPoint file form this address. (Source: The Invisible Web Weblog)

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Connecting the multiple literacies: a librarian call to action

webmaster — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:00:04 +0000

Even though the work of Gee, Prensky, Jenkins, and others have addressed videogames value to literacy. And with the ALA focusing on gaming and literacy, drawing connections, and increasing our patron/students’ ability… students have still struggled on traditional evaluations. Squire (2005) suggest that the failure is not in the students but in the way our traditional education systems are structured. While the discussion of how our education system assesses students is important, it is not the focus of the post. The successful engagement of students in multiple literacies can start with librarians at every level. Continued documented success of these literacies will lead to institutional acceptance and value.To work toward that end goal, understanding the multiple literacies students engage in is necessary. Our patrons and students are seeking text that have meaningful context within their lives. Videogames and other transmedia stories are shaping their expectations of what a story can do. A non-linear, multi-layered experience that rewards their previous knowledge is a way for students to flex their understanding and thought processes. This application is important not only for increasing students and patrons literacies but also their information literacy skills. We have the opportunity to seek out these multiple literacies and help students and patrons evaluate and responsibly apply their knowledge.Engaging these multiple literacies through videogames is just on of the many possibilities and examples we can create. I recorded a podcast segment yesterday for the ALA Gaming podcast on fantasy football. My discussions on fantasy football are focused on more than encouraging libraries to use fantasy football to connect with users of their libraries (which is a good thing). …

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Ivig 2008

webmaster — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:00:04 +0000

The 6th conference of the Czech information literacy working group, IVIG 2008, takes place on 25th September 2008 in Prague, Czech Republic. For more information (in Czech) go to http://knihovny.cvut.cz/ivig/ivig2008.html (Source: Information Literacy Weblog)

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Report from lilac: 5

webmaster — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 10:00:04 +0000

Whilst checking back through draft blog entries I came across a number of unfinished conference reports. Ooops! One of them was from the LILAC conference, the UK’s major annual information literacy confernce which took place in Liverpool 17-19 March.As well as presentations being online there are also podcasts of the keynote speeches and I would highlight those of Patricia Senn Breivik and Tara Brabazon as both being particularly good keynotes. The keynote podcasts can be accessed from http://www.lilacconference.com/dw/2008/keynote_abstracts.htm and other presenters’ powerpoints can be found by clicking on the link to the relevant parallel session from the programme page at http://www.lilacconference.com/dw/2008/Conference_programme.htmlIn my forgotten draft blog post I’d described one of the sessions which was interesting in not being about IL in a formal setting - so here’s what I said. Alan Seatwo talked about How information helps to promote diversities and social justice: an overview of the information literacy project involving voluntary and community groups in Liverpool. His ppt is at http://tinyurl.com/6bukns Alan is “Knowledge Management Specialist at Edge Hill University. He is involved in a knowledge transfer project which meant running courses for community workers which improved their information literacy skills, and he also works with community-focused groups, applying his information literacy and information management skills. With the latter activity, he gave the example of his involvement in implementing a child protection policy; locating information, participating in meetings and supporting decisions etc. …

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