Welcome to the Colby College Libraries! 

When we talk about INFORMATION LITERACY, what is it we're discussing? 

And how can this discussion impact LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION? 

These articles offer a good jumping-off point for our own consideration of information literacy at Colby. 

Feel free to ADD ARTICLES that you find enlightening or inspiring. 
Please include citations.

• Information Literacy as a Liberal Art? by Anonymous
  Shapiro, J. J., & Hughes, S. K. (1996). Information Literacy as a Liberal Art? Educom Review. 31 (2), 31.
• Information Overload by Anonymous
  Maestretti, D. (2009). Information Overload: In the Google Age, media literacy is crucial-and in short supply. UTNE READER -NEW SERIES-. (154), 22-23.

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The information literate person...

Values Inquiry What does this mean?

Applies Strategies What does this mean?

Identifies Sources What does this mean?

Uses Tools What does this mean?

Evaluates What does this mean?

Synthesizes What does this mean?

Uses Information Responsibly What does this mean?

Taken from a 2001 handout by Debra Gilchrist, Dean of Libraries and Institutional Effectiveness, Pierce Colleges, Lakewood and Puyallup, WA

"I have remarked a direct correlation between students' information literacy and the quality of their independent research projects.  There is no question in my mind that, though we tend to assume that our students are more adept with modern information technology than we, I have discovered this to be a false assumption.  The "Internet generation," in fact, has limited knowledge of online resources for research and their visual literacy often surpasses their engagement with primary source material.

I, too, learn something new each time I attend a session in the electronic research classroom!"

Adiranna M. Paliyenko, Charles A. Dana Professor of French

The Final Report of the Curricular Planning Working Groups listed information literacy as the first of six pathways to deepen student engagement in learning and research. The Librarians wanted to provide a place for faculty to find ideas and resources on information literacy. In addition to key concepts, we intend to feature examples, tools, and links that will demonstrate how you are already using information literacy in your classes, describe the support that librarian consultants can offer, and inspire new ways of engaging students in this important activity.

We will be constantly developing this site, and hope that you will send us suggestions, links, questions, and comments through the blog, through feedback links throughout the pages, or through contacting your department's librarian consultant. Let us know what you need, and how we can help!

Contact Marilyn for information literacy instruction in the following departments:

Anthropology, education, French, Italian, Native American/indigenous studies, psychology, queer studies, religious studies, sociology, women's gender and sexuality studies

Contact your department's instruction librarian to discuss information literacy instruction for your courses.

Suzi Cole	Biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental studies, geology, GIS, physics & astronomy, science technology & society
Margaret Ericson	Art, music, theater & dance
Karen Gillum	Classics
Peggy Menchen	African studies, African American studies, American studies, East Asian studies/Asian studies, history, Middle Eastern studies, multicultural studies
Sara Prahl	Cinema studies, creative writing, English, German, Jewish studies, philosophy, Russian, Spanish
Darylyne Provost	Administrative science, government, international studies, Latin American studies, law, economics