Comments on: Service Response Discussion: Information Literacy http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html The official blog of the Public Library Association Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:34:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Michael Bell http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-618 Michael Bell Fri, 27 Oct 2006 20:03:21 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-618 But librarians and library staff are _already_ "information literate." The only difference is that they are literate in analog information, and they need to add digital information into the mix. The evaluation, recommendation, and other skills they have used for years transfer directly from analog to digital information, and library staff have always respected intellectual property rights (e.g., the Xerox machine). I find that treating digital information as "just an additional format" helps break down the traditional barriers and encourages learning -- especially from those who would rather not engage the changes that our professions and institutions are presently experiencing -- and will continue to for some time to come. But librarians and library staff are _already_ “information literate.” The only difference is that they are literate in analog information, and they need to add digital information into the mix. The evaluation, recommendation, and other skills they have used for years transfer directly from analog to digital information, and library staff have always respected intellectual property rights (e.g., the Xerox machine).

I find that treating digital information as “just an additional format” helps break down the traditional barriers and encourages learning — especially from those who would rather not engage the changes that our professions and institutions are presently experiencing — and will continue to for some time to come.

]]> By: PLA Blog » Blog Archive » PLA Service Responses discussion summary, plus deadline extended http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-590 PLA Blog » Blog Archive » PLA Service Responses discussion summary, plus deadline extended Fri, 20 Oct 2006 19:28:29 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-590 [...] Information Literacy (3 comments) [...] [...] Information Literacy (3 comments) [...]

]]> By: Sara Dallas http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-545 Sara Dallas Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:28:53 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-545 In my experience, this service response is considered one of the most important by community members. Many committees feel its the library's responsibility to assist the public in finding, evaluating and helping people use the information. In my experience, this service response is considered one of the most important by community members. Many committees feel its the library’s responsibility to assist the public in finding, evaluating and helping people use the information.

]]> By: Nanci Milone Hill http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-479 Nanci Milone Hill Wed, 27 Sep 2006 18:05:09 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-479 Information Literacy continues to be, and I believe, will continue to be, an important function for public libraries. We will always have new users of varying ages and backgrounds, who need to be taught how to gather information, whether by traditional means, or online. How many years ago did libraries begin to allow patron access to their catalogs online, yet we still have patrons who need to be shown how to use this very basic service. In this day and age when patrons want their information immediately, more and more students (and others), are turning to the Internet for answers. I believe it is not only our role, but our responsibility, to continue to teach people who to evaluate these and other sources. Information Literacy continues to be, and I believe, will continue to be, an important function for public libraries. We will always have new users of varying ages and backgrounds, who need to be taught how to gather information, whether by traditional means, or online. How many years ago did libraries begin to allow patron access to their catalogs online, yet we still have patrons who need to be shown how to use this very basic service.

In this day and age when patrons want their information immediately, more and more students (and others), are turning to the Internet for answers. I believe it is not only our role, but our responsibility, to continue to teach people who to evaluate these and other sources.

]]> By: Mala Muralidharan http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-429 Mala Muralidharan Wed, 06 Sep 2006 18:30:52 +0000 http://plablog.org/2006/08/service-response-discussion-information-literacy.html#comment-429 I'd like to know how "Information Literacy" and the new service response "Technology" relate. I do agree that Information Literacy is not an intuitive terminology but Technology is so vague... Another observation is that Libraries are offering a number of on-line resources (databases, blogs, on-line book-reading groups, kids and teens on-line story-time) and classes for folks to use these - the first set are resources and the classes are directed towards helping people use those resources. So far we have been using Information Literacy to cover both. Sometimes it can get confusing. I’d like to know how “Information Literacy” and the new service response “Technology” relate. I do agree that Information Literacy is not an intuitive terminology but Technology is so vague…

Another observation is that Libraries are offering a number of on-line resources (databases, blogs, on-line book-reading groups, kids and teens on-line story-time) and classes for folks to use these - the first set are resources and the classes are directed towards helping people use those resources. So far we have been using Information Literacy to cover both. Sometimes it can get confusing.

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