How do I teach that? Government Publications and Information Literacy in Academic Libraries Krista Godfrey OLA Super Conference 2006

Outline Why dont we teach gov pubs in info lit sessions? Why should we teach gov pubs in info lit sessions? How can we teach gov pubs using info lit session? Discussion/Questions

Why Dont We Teach It? Problems with the Collection Students Professors Librarians

The Challenging World of Gov Docs: Students Difficult collection Students are afraid to use Too many unfamiliar formats Physically separate Lack of cataloguing, non-circulating items Completely different classification system Lack of knowledge about the collection and information available in it

The Challenging World of Gov Docs: Professors Simply dont think of them Problems of Electronic documents

The Challenging World of Gov Docs: Librarians Lack controlled vocabulary Need to know government structure and departments/agencies Specialized indexes Electronic documents = more skills

Information Literacy ACRL definition: – Determine the extent of information needed – Access the needed information effectively and efficiently – Evaluate information and its sources critically –Incorporate selected information into ones knowledge base – Use information effectively to accomplish a specific purpose – Understand the economic, legal, and social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and use information ethically and legally

Information Literacy Know Access Evaluate Use Ethical/Legal

Why Dont We Teach It? Difficult Collection Lack of time –Staff time –Instruction time

Why Should We Teach It? Increase in electronic does not mean we should ignore government publications Information Literacy standards apply to government publications They are an important resource

There is a need Students rarely use government documents without provocation from profs and librarians Higher levels express desire to have known earlier More online documents mean more use and possibly more confusion Info lit sessions help promote the collection

How Can We Teach It? Think of the users, their needs, their learning styles and habits

Who are we teaching? The Millenials, Gen Y, Net Gen –Grew up with computers and technology –Used to multimedia environment –Multitask –Want things on their terms - when they want, how they want –Social groups important - work in groups

How to Reach them Incorporate computers Allow group work Hands-on activities

Solutions One shot sessions –Dont do it all –Introduce portals, catalogue –Tailor to assignments –Bring in paper copies of important documents Target sessions –Look at online syllabi and course calendars

Solutions Network/Liaison –Inform and teach professors Collaborate –With professors and librarians Longer or Multiple Sessions Pathfinders, guides, finding aids

Recap A difficult collection but gov pubs should not be excluded from info lit sessions Info lit tenets apply to gov pubs It can and should be done!

Discussion/Questions