Reed Library encourages faculty to collaborate with librarians on tailor-made information literacy instruction to improve your students’ ability to find, evaluate, and use information. Our librarians engage with the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education, which aligns with the Colorado Commission on Higher Education GT Pathways Competency for Information Literacy in order to design instruction, teach students both online and in the classroom, and assess student learning across core concepts in information literacy.
To schedule an instruction session for your class:
Contact your library liaison
What is Information Literacy?
According to the ACRL Framework, information literacy is defined as follows:
“Information literacy is the set of integrated abilities encompassing the reflective discovery of information, the understanding of how information is produced and valued, and the use of information in creating new knowledge and participating ethically in communities of learning.” (ACRL, 2016)
Integrated Library Instruction
At Reed Library, library instruction is integrated into all FLC Composition courses at the 100, 200, and 300 level as well as a 200 level English and Sociology course in fulfillment of the Communication requirement of the Liberal Arts Core.
100 Level Courses
Students in 100 level courses:
- Are introduced to library services, collections, and spaces
- Learn about the research process
- Get an overview of the Library Engine and how to access course-specific research guides
- Complete a hands-on activity on reading to evaluate sources.
COMP 100 students receive similar instruction to reinforce the aforementioned learning goals, with an additional component on knowledge production in traditional/community vs. exclusive/academic spheres.
200 Level Courses
Students in 200 level courses:
- Learn strategies for how to determine if a source is scholarly/authoritative
- Get an overview of the Library Engine and how to access our subject-specific databases and course-specific research guides
- Complete a concept mapping exercise to narrow their topics
- Determine which search terms and subject databases are most relevant to their topics
- Have some time to find articles/other sources.
COMP 250, 252, and 253 students complete one-on-one research appointments with Reed Librarians.
300 Level Courses
Students in 300 level courses are working on semester-long research projects and receive instruction based on the
BEAM framework that focuses on identifying the usefulness of:
- Background
- Exhibit
- Argument
- Method or theory sources
Contact Leah, Information Literacy Librarian for more information.
Specialized Library Instruction
In addition to integrated library instruction, Reed Library offers specialized instruction through our liaison program. Instructors can request tailored, discipline-specific library instruction in support of any kind of research assignment. Number of sessions, length, and content is at the discretion of the instructor and librarian.
To request a library instruction session:
Contact your library liaison