AARL

The Role of Academic Libraries in the Development of the Information Literate Student: The Interface Between Librarian, Academic and Other Stakeholders

Maureen Nimon
maureen.nimon@unisa.edu.au

Abstract: Information literacy has been a major concern of the library profession in Australia over the past decade. In our economic rationalist world, where value must be seen to be returned for the investment of money and time, academic libraries must show that their resources and services are effective in aiding student learning and supporting the research activities of staff and students. A partnership between library and academic staff to foster students' information literacy has long been seen to be the most effective way to achieve this goal. However, as progress is made in establishing such partnerships and the policies and strategies by which they are implemented, experience shows that work remains to be done at the point of 'customising' information literacy initiatives to fit the teaching programs of individual academics. This paper explores some of the issues which have arisen recently in one institution well advanced in its information literacy program. It argues for effective measurement of program outcomes through shared assessment of student learning.

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