Best Practices in Information Literacy

Concordia's information literacy program was developed based on the Characteristics of Programs of Information Literacy that Illustrate Best Practices: A Guideline, a document that "attempts to articulate exemplary information literacy programs for undergraduate students." These characteristics were developed by a committee formed under the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL) and made up of professionals from multiple sectors of higher education, including librarians, faculty, administrators, and professional organizations.

The following is a list of selected characteristics that Concordia's librarians emphasized in the planning of information literacy in the Critical Inquiry Seminar.

Collaboration

  • Collaboration among disciplinary faculty and librarians centers around student learning and development of lifelong learning skills.
  • Collaboration among disciplinary faculty and librarians results in a fusion of information literacy concepts and disciplinary content.
  • Collaboration among disciplinary faculty and librarians identifies opportunities for achieving information literacy outcomes through course content.
  • Collaboration among disciplinary faculty and librarians takes place at the planning stages, delivery, assessment of student learning, and evaluation of the program.

Pedagogy

  • Pedagogy for information literacy instruction includes active and collaborative activities.
  • Pedagogy for information literacy instruction encompasses critical thinking and reflection.
  • Pedagogy for information literacy instruction responds to multiple learning styles.
  • Pedagogy for information literacy instruction links information literacy to ongoing coursework and real-life experiences.

Carl B. Ylvisaker Library

Information For:

current students
faculty and staff		 parents
alumni		 high school students
admitted students