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Excellence in University Library Research

A large university library, compared to a high school or small public library, offers millions of books and thousands of journal or periodicals, in electronic or paper format. Information overload has never been greater, and while the Web appears to have made access to information simpler, the reality is that the information environment has become increasingly complex. According to the Pew study, faculty members expect students to have the "ability to find information — information literacy — from a variety of sources, including the library and Internet. Part of this skill is the ability to assess the quality and reliability of information, especially if the source is found online." (Pew Report, pg 57)

Information literacy may be a term that is new to you. As defined by the American Library Association, information literacy is a set of abilities requiring individuals to "recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." (American Library Association. Presidential Committee on Information Literacy. Final Report. Chicago: American Library Association, 1989.) Information literacy also is increasingly important in the contemporary environment of rapid technological change and proliferating information resources. Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning.

The majority of first-year students are computer literate but many are not information literate. While they know how to use computers to retrieve information using search engines such as Google, they have not learned how to formulate effective search strategies. Given the vast amount of information the Library provides, it is important that students learn how to search for resources effectively in order to make efficient use of their time.

The Library provides a variety of opportunities for students who want to learn to be self-sufficient researchers. A good place to start is with a tour of our building, either online or when you arrive on campus. During the first six weeks of the fall semester, classes are offered to students who want to learn how to use the catalogue and journal indexes. We provide a series of Web tutorials on these topics for those who can't attend a class in person, or who want to get a head start over the summer. We also offer fall workshops on academic research skills. Information to help you learn how to use the Library effectively is available on the Library Web site. The schedule of fall Library classes and tours will be posted as soon as dates have been set.

We encourage you to invest in excellence in university library research and become information literate by:

  • doing Web tutorials to learn how to find information which will help you with your assignments
  • taking a virtual tour
  • taking a library research class — during the fall semester, workshops are offered to students who want to learn how to use the Library catalogue and journal databases
  • browsing the Library and looking for information to help you learn how the library works and how to use it effectively.