Information Services Services Management Committee

Background for the May 11, 2001 Meeting about Information Literacy

(sent to librarians prior to the meeting)

The meeting is intended as a forum for discussion about the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education and the Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction: a Model Statement for Academic Librarians developed by ACRL. The meeting will serve to heighten our understanding of the Standards and Objectives and will provide an opportunity to explore ideas about what we might do with them.

In preparation for the meeting, please read the Standards and Objectives documents. Copies of these documents (the Standards in booklet format*, the Objectives from the April 2001 issue of College and Research Libraries News) are now in the mail for each of you.

We'll begin the meeting with a summary of ISMC's discussions about the Standards/Objectives and then invite you to share your observations and questions.As you read the Standards/Objectives, you might find it useful to keep the questions noted below in mind. Because the discussion on the 11^th will be open-ended and exploratory, we won’t aim to work our way systematically through these questions, but they will help to frame the discussion.

• What is, or might be, the relationship between the Standards/Objectives and our current instructional programme? What, for example, is the relationship between teaching information literacy skills and providing bibliographic instruction?
• To what extent are the Standards/Objectives a definition of something we already do through our instructional programme? To what extent do they reflect something new?
• How might the Library provide leadership associated with bringing about a campus-wide commitment to ensuring that students develop information literacy skills? Should we attempt to provide such leadership?
• What relationship might there be between the Standards/Objectives and Recommendation 18 of BUILDING ON ACCOMPLISHMENT: A Plan for the University of Waterloo's Fifth Decade (report of the 1997 Commission on Institutional Planning). The recommendation is:

Review programs and course requirements to ensure that undergraduates in co-operative education and regular programs systematically acquire the knowledge and skills to develop their potential, compete successfully in the changing job market, and contribute productively to society, including:

• a thorough and comprehensive understanding of their chosen discipline,
• an appreciation of the interdisciplinary context of their studies,
• an awareness of, and appreciation for, a diversity of viewpoints,
• critical thinking skills,
• the ability to access, evaluate, and use electronic information,
• strong interpersonal and communication skills, and
• well-honed problem-solving skills

• What forums might we establish for continuing discussion about the Standards/Objectives?

  As a member of ISMC, Linda Teather has volunteered to take notes during the meeting. Following the meeting, ISMC will review the discussion and consider what can and should be done next.  

* Also available on the Web at http://www.ala.org/acrl/ilintro.html