The Library recognises that the development of information literacy skills in students is the result of an ongoing collaboration between teaching staff and library staff. In this collaborative process the Library undertakes to provide appropriate training and assistance to students.
Library staff have the qualifications, skill and resources to play a major role in the attainment of many of Swinburne's Graduate Attributes.
The Council of Australian University Librarians (CAUL) has recently endorsed seven information literacy standards.
The following matrix illustrates how the Library's Information Literacy programs support these standards and consequently, the development of Attributes in our graduates.
| Standard |
The library's role |
Standard One:
The information literate person recognises the need for information and determines the nature and extent of the information needed. |
The Library will teach students:
- How to identify key concepts and terms relating to the research topic or information need
- How to define the scope and scale of the information required
- About the variety and types of information sources relevant to their subject discipline, including:
- Books, journals, encyclopedias, dictionaries, directories, statistics, data books, newspapers, video and sound recordings, media broadcasts, web sites, unpublished sources, people, etc.
- Print, electronic and audiovisual formats
- About differences in content and function of types of information sources relevant to their subject discipline:
primary versus secondary
popular versus scholarly
current versus historical
factual versus interpretive
|
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
- Are capable in their chosen professional areas
Have pertinent skills and abilities ·
- Operate effectively and ethically in work and community situation
Have the ability to effectively communicate using a range of media nadin various contexts
|
Standard Two:
The information literate person accesses needed information effectively and efficiently |
The Library will teach students:
- About the range of information access tools in their subject area, in print and electronic format, including library catalogues, indexes and bibliographies, citation and full-text databases
- How to select the most appropriate access tools and use them effectively About the role of library staff as sources of expertise in the information gathering process
- How to devise and carry out effective search strategies, including the use of Boolean operators, truncation, thesauri and field searching in electronic databases and search engines· Internet searching techniques including the use of search engines, directories and specialised subject gateways
- Internet searching techniques including the use of search engines, directories and specialised subject gateways·
- About the variety of information resources in organisations and libraries external to Swinburne
The Library will advise students on the procedures for acquiring information through other libraries, agencies or locations, as well as within Swinburne Library. |
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
- Are adaptable and manage change
Have multifaceted research and problem solving skills
Have a general capacity for flexibility and curiosity·
- Are capable in their chosen professional areas
Are informed and knowledgeable in the area
Have pertinent skills and abilities
|
Standard Three:
The information literate person evaluates information and its sources critically and incorporates selected information into their knowledge base and value system |
The Library will teach students:·
- How to critically evaluate search results
- How to revise their information search strategy
- How to evaluate sources for authority, validity, bias and accuracy
|
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
- Are aware of environments
Are able to evaluate the economic, social and environmental impact of their decisions
Are able to make a balanced decision taking into account all of these factors·
- Are capable in their chosen professional areas
Have an appreciation of areas of uncertainty within a body of knowledge
Understand the relationship between theory and practice·
- Are entrepreneurial
Have the ability to critically understand innovations and developments
Have a broad understanding of the role of technology in our society
|
Standard Four:
The information literate person classifies, stores, manipulates and redrafts information collected or generated |
The Library will teach students:·
- How to identify and record the basic elements of a bibliographic citation
- How to cite correctly the information sources they have used
- How to use a nominated bibliographic software package e.g. ProCite, EndNote
|
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:·
- Are capable in their chosen professional areas
Have pertinent skills and abilities
|
Standard Five:
The information literate person expands, reframes or creates new knowledge by integrating prior knowledge and new understandings individually or as a member of a group |
The Library will assist students with tools they may use to support this process by:
- Providing basic troubleshooting assistance with IT applications available at Library workstations
- Providing training and basic troubleshooting assistance with a nominated bibliographic software package
- Providing resources (style guides, etc.) on techniques of presenting and communicating information
The Library will assist students to refine the content of their project output by:
- Advising on the selection of additional information sources, including referrals to other libraries, resources and agencies
- Verifying sources of data
|
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
- Operate effectively and ethically in work and community situations
Have the ability to effectively communicate using a range of media and in varied contexts·
- Are adaptable and manage change
Are self motivated·
- Are capable in their chosen professional areas
Are informed and knowledgeable in the chosen area
|
Standard Six:
The information literate person understands cultural, economic, legal and social issues surrounding the use of information and access and uses information ethically, legally and respectfully |
The Library will teach students about:·
- Acknowledging sources and avoiding plagiarism
- The need to comply with copyright, intellectual property and privacy laws
- The need to comply with Swinburne's computer use policy
- Identifying resources which emphasise cultural differences
|
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
- Are capable in their chosen professional areas
Have a sense of social responsibility for knowledge and its application·
- Are aware of environments
Are culturally sensitive and have respect for multiple points of view·
- Operate effectively and ethically in work and community situations
Have the ability to operate locally, nationally and internationally
|
Standard Seven:
The information literate person recognises that lifelong learning and participative citizenship requires information literacy |
The Library will promote:
- the significance and value of information literacy in the social, political and cultural life of the individual and the community through its training programs for students.
- The Library will promote lifelong learning through the provision and promotion of library services to alumni of the University.
|
Swinburne Graduate Attributes:
- Are aware of environments
Have a broad understanding of the role of technology in our society·
- Are adaptable and manage change
|
