McKillop Library - Information Literacy

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Information Literacy

Recommended information literacy skills by year: Freshmen; Sophomore/Junior; Senior; Graduate Student
FRESHMEN: Become familiar with the library layout and service points.; Library map (PDF); Become familiar with the library webpage.; Use the HELIN library catalog to locate books and other materials.; How do I...?: Find a book; Video: Find a book using the catalog; Handout: How to find books using the catalog (PDF); Use the HELIN catalog request option to obtain books from other HELIN libraries.; How do I...?: Request books from other libraries; Video: Request books from other libraries; Understand Library of Congress call number sequence.; Video: Using Library of Congress call numbers; Handout: How to find books on the shelves (PDF); Use a core, interdisciplinary periodical database to find journal articles.; How do I...?: Find an article; Video: Find articles using Academic Search Complete; Video: Using JSTOR to find scholarly articles; Understand the difference between a popular magazine and a scholarly journal.; Scholarly Journals vs Popular Magazines: What's the difference?; Video: Scholarly vs Popular Periodicals (Video from Peabody Library at Vanderbilt Univ.); How do I...?: Find scholarly articles from academic journals; Video: Using JSTOR to find scholarly articles; Use the Library's course reserves system.; Access course reserves; Video: Using course reserves; Understand the basics of citing sources and strategies for avoiding plagiarism.; Student's guide to avoiding plagiarism; Citing sources; EasyBib; RefWorks
SOPHOMORE / JUNIOR: Understand the concept of subject headings and controlled vocabulary.; Differentiate between a catalog, database, and free website, and understand reasons to use each.; Perform online searching at a basic to intermediate level (Boolean logic, keyword search strategies).; Examine and compare information from various sources including the Internet in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias.; How do I...?: Evaluate websites; Use interlibrary loan to request books and journal articles from another library.; Understand the nature of information resources in their major discipline including subject specific databases, core journals and reference materials.; Realize that information may need to be constructed with raw data from primary sources.; Track information resources used in the course of their research and create accurate notes and bibliographies according to a style manual appropriate to the discipline.; Be able to present a verbal or written strategy for solving an information problem.
SENIOR: Conduct a literature review.; Exhibit proficiency at using the catalog, journals list, interlibrary loan and other resources to obtain books and articles listed in a bibliography.; How do I...?: Find a journal; Video: Find a specific article; Know the major professional associations in one's field.; Understand issues relating to the ethical and legal use of information, including concepts of intellectual property, copyright and fair use.
GRADUATE STUDENT: Become familiar with the library layout and service points.; Library map (PDF); Become familiar with the library webpage.; Use the HELIN library catalog to locate books and other materials.; How do I...?: Find a book; Video: Find a book using the catalog; Handout: How to find books using the catalog (PDF); Use the HELIN catalog request option to obtain books from other HELIN libraries.; How do I...?: Request books from other libraries; Video: Request books from other libraries; Understand Library of Congress call number sequence.; Video: Using Library of Congress call numbers; Handout: How to find books on the shelves (PDF); Understand the difference between a popular magazine and a scholarly journal.; Scholarly Journals vs Popular Magazines: What's the difference?; Video: Scholarly vs Popular Periodicals (Video from Peabody Library at Vanderbilt Univ.); How do I...?: Find scholarly articles from academic journals; Video: Using JSTOR to find scholarly articles; Use the Library's course reserves system.; Access course reserves; Video: Using course reserves; Understand the concept of subject headings and controlled vocabulary.; Differentiate between a catalog, database, and free website, and understand reasons to use each.; Examine and compare information from various sources including the Internet in order to evaluate reliability, validity, accuracy, authority, timeliness, and point of view or bias.; How do I...?: Evaluate websites; Use interlibrary loan to request books and journal articles from another library.; Realize that information may need to be constructed with raw data from primary sources.; Track information resources used in the course of their research and create accurate notes and bibliographies according to a style manual appropriate to the discipline.; Student's guide to avoiding plagiarism; Citing sources; EasyBib; RefWorks; Be able to present a verbal or written strategy for solving an information problem.; Understand the nature of information resources in their field including subject specific databases, core journals and reference materials.; Conduct a literature review.; Exhibit proficiency at using the catalog, journals list, interlibrary loan and other resources to obtain books and articles listed in a bibliography.; Know the major professional associations in one's field.; Understand issues relating to the ethical and legal use of information, including concepts of intellectual property, copyright and fair use.; Become familiar with scholarly communications practices in their field.; Become familiar with current awareness tools in their field.

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Citing sources

Student's guide to avoiding plagiarism