Library Instruction: Mission and Goals

In this information age, the quality and quantity of information needed to function effectively in society and the workplace continues to increase. Individuals must face the escalating challenge of managing more information in increasingly diverse formats and from ever expanding sources. They must be able to master rapidly changing information technology and possess the information literacy skills to act independently in this information rich environment. Since libraries today serve as guides and teaching facilities to help users navigate and evaluate these vast collections of information, the LSSC libraries are committed to offering instruction in information literacy skills, in support of the College's Information Fluency general education requirement. LSSC bases information literacy competencies on the Association of College and Research Libraries' Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.

Mission Statement

The mission of the LSSC library instruction program is to support the College's academic mission and curriculum, specifically its Information Fluency: Research general education requirement. It's primary aim is to provide students with library research skills necessary to attain their academic goals and prepare them for lifelong learning in a society where information is organized in increasingly complex ways. LSSC librarians seek partnerships with teaching faculty to create a productive learning environment in which all students have the opportunity to develop library research skills. The LSSC libraries have identified five information literacy competencies, which are taught through point-of-use reference interactions, course-related library instruction, web-based tutorials, and credit course instruction.

Goals

The broad, ongoing goals of the library instruction program are:

1. To develop and maintain a set of learning objectives related to information skills,
2. To collaborate and coordinate activities with faculty and professional development staff related to teaching information skills,
3. To provide specific resources to support the acquisition of information and research skills,
4. To promote best practices in instruction and the use of instructional technology,
5. To provide course-integrated library instruction sessions,
6. To offer the credit course LIS 2004: Introduction to Internet Research,
7. To create and maintain an interactive, online information literacy tutorial, and
8. To incorporate information literacy instruction into point-of-use reference transactions.