Instructional Services
Information Literacy at the University Libraries
According to the American Library Association, “To be prepared for a future characterized by change, students must learn to think rationally and creatively, solve problems, manage and retrieve information and communicate effectively. By mastering information problem-solving skills, students will be ready for an information-based society and technological workplace.”
An information literate person can:
- Understand the organization of information
- Recognize and articulate a research problem
- Develop appropriate search strategies
- Select and use information retrieval tools
- Locate and retrieve sources
- Analyze and critically evaluate information
- Organize and synthesize information
- Use and apply information
For more information on information literacy, please see the Association for College and Research Libraries’ Information Literacy web site.
Library Sessions
Core Library Instruction Program (CLIP)
Through the Core Library Instruction Program (CLIP), librarians introduce the skills needed to begin to utilize the Library’s collections and services. This program is coordinated with the curricula of English 122 and English 123.
CLIP 2: In CLIP 2 students are introduced to the library website and the basics of searching for scholarly information. In this hands-on session, students work in groups to identify keywords, develop search strings and locate material on a particular topic. At the end of the session, students will be able to search for information in library databases and locate sources in the library stacks and online.
CLIP 3: In CLIP 3 students build on skills gained during CLIP 2. Students participate in a hands-on class that takes them through the entire research process from developing keywords to evaluating sources. At the end of the session, students will be able to search for information in library databases and determine if a source is relevant to a research topic.
Subject Specific Sessions
Library sessions are tailored to the needs of a particular class. A librarian will determine, in consultation with the course instructor, the appropriate research skills that students must obtain for success in a specific course. The librarian will then create an instruction session, which can include demonstrations of any electronic tool (i.e., Summon, the library catalog, and individual databases) provided by the Libraries or the Internet, to develop the students’ research skills. The Michener Library hands-on classroom enables students to conduct their own searches during the session.
Examples of what course-related instruction sessions may include are:
- How to use the local library catalog and consortial catalog
- How to choose and use general and subject-specific materials, including materials found through electronic databases
- How to choose and use electronic and print periodical indexes
- How to select and use advanced Internet resources
- How to evaluate resources
Library User Guides
Library Research Guides are short online guides to University Libraries’ services and resources. Assignment Guides may be customized for the needs of particular courses. If a guide would be helpful for your course or assignment, please contact us.
Credit Courses
The UNC Libraries offer an extensive array of credit courses each year. Search URSA for the Libraries' current course offerings.
LIB 150: Introduction to Undergraduate Research 1 Credit
Students will gain active learning experience in seeking information in a dynamic research environment. Includes skills in identifying, retrieving, organizing, and evaluating information.
LIB 151: Research Skills for Beginning Researchers 1 Credit
This course is similar to LIB 150, but is designed for students in the Honors Program.
LIB 160: Criminal Justice Library Research 1 Credit
This course is similar to LIB 150, but is designed for students majoring in Criminal Justice.
LIB 201: Power & Control in an Information Society 3 Credits
Examines the importance of personal and institutional power in the creation, organization, and accessibility of information in contemporary western societies. (LAC, gtP)
LIB 251: Research as Inquiry: Exploration for Beginning Researchers 1 Credit
This course examines research methods from multiple disciplines. Emphasis is on evaluating and conducting original research. (Students in the Honors Program)
LIB 550: Library Research in Criminal Justice 1 Credit
Working in conjunction with CRJ 580, this course is for graduate students in the CJMA program. The course focuses on advanced searching techniques using specialized databases, evaluating sources, and evaluating research studies. Students will demonstrate their use of research tools through written discussion, peer review, and video creation. Students will examine the literature review process and produce a literature review on a chosen topic. (Students in the MACJ program)
Contact Information
If you have any questions about the Libraries’ Instruction Services, please contact Head of Instructional Services Andrea Falcone. Ms. Falcone can be reached by e-mail at andrea.falcone@unco.edu or by telephone at (970) 351-3043.
