INFORMATION COMPETENCY PROJECT

Presentation by Teresa Ojezua, Head Librarian

Katie Davis, Reference / Instruction LibrarianPhilander Smith College Little Rock, AR

Outline of Presentation Summary of Project

Introduction Project Goal Structure Process

Outcomes Key Breakthroughs

Project Review Challenges

Stakeholders Key Change Issues

Insights from Leadership Institute Goals Not Met

Relationship to College Strategic Plan

Summary & Conclusions Questions

Immunity to Change Immunity Map

SummaryOur project focused on establishing information

literacy competencies to enhance students’ development, curriculum redesign and campus collaboration.

With funds from the office of Title III, we expanded the Library Committee and held a series of discussion meetings to develop a set of IL competencies that all students should have before they graduate from the college.

The result was a motion by the Faculty Senate adopting the proposed IL competencies.

Introduction… Information explosion—radical change in the

way information is stored, organized, and retrieved

To equip students for lifelong learning in an evolving information universe

To help students use relevant information for informed decision making

To discourage reliance on internet for “copy & paste” research activities

We are seeing students…

Failing to evaluate sources or their relevance to assigned projects

Clicking and not reading Engaging in rampant plagiarism Regurgitating ideas of others—no original

thought Hitting the print button and thinking they’ve

accomplished their research

Definition of Information Literacy

Information Literacy is the set of abilities requiring individuals to “recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information.” (Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, ALA 2000)

Project Goals To provide faculty and staff with a better

understanding of information literacy To develop outcomes based guidelines

for information literacy for all PSC students

To disseminate the PSC guidelines on the Worldwide Web (via the library webpage and in other sources)

Structure Expanded the Library Committee to include an

extra faculty member from each Division, administrators, computing staff, and two student representatives

Wrote a Grant for funds from the Director of Title III

Held 4 discussion meetings—Dec. 2009, Jan. 2010, Feb. 2010, Mar. 2010

Invited Consultant & HBCU Mentor to address the group

Consultant at IL Discussion Forum

Another IL forum in session

Process Create a vision for the project Tie aim to personal concerns / observations Build and empower a team (Stakeholders) Demonstrate commitment Use standardized tools to demonstrate

benchmarks (ALA, ACRL) Utilize Faculty Senate to institutionalize

proposed IL standards and competencies Develop strategies for future implementation

Outcomes Promoted a discussion on student information

literacy in academia Worked toward changing the library’s role on

campus and in the larger community. Built partnerships within the library and campus

wide Proposed five I.L. competency standards Proposed framework for implementation and

assessment that was accepted by Faculty Senate

Key Breakthroughs… Acceptance of information literacy

competency standards in faculty members’ class objectives

For librarians and library staff, this project has led to increased communication and improved services.

Making connections and sustainable relationships on campus

Developed a formal professional relationship with our HBCU Mentor

Key Breakthroughs… Affirm librarians as key players in the

institution and important role of the library in enhancing teaching and learning

Changing IL competency as a “library thing” to literacy skills into classroom instruction

Funding can be obtained for professional development of faculty

IL connects all the stakeholders (students, faculty, librarians, computer staff, student services, campus administrators)

Project Review—Challenges Faculty resistance—fear of losing control

over subject matter and lack of time to incorporate IL objectives into classroom.

Convincing faculty of shared responsibility and collaboration in executing the proposed I.L. competencies.

Establishing buy-in among the library staff

Meeting the challenges

Established trust and communicated our vision with persistence.

Positive reinforcement for participation Inclusion of all library staff in library

planning meetings Monthly professional development

exercises for library staff

Stakeholders

Administrators Faculty Computing Staff

Librarians Student Reps HBCU Mentor

Key Change Issues To Raise the bar on student research

competence and confidence To Establish lasting collaborative relationships To Empower Library staff

Helpful Insights from Leadership Institute…

Create a vision that is relevant to the institution’s strategic plan

Stakeholder analysis Develop strategies (communication,

funds, change management, staff etc.) Develop a project plan Execute (take action)

What goals were not met?

One goal is still in progress: to disseminate the IL guidelines on the WWW via the library website

Anticipated completion: Summer 2010

Relationship of Project to College Strategic Plan

I.L. is essential to achieve the College’s strategic goal #2: “to strengthen it’s academic profile, programs, and performance.” Provides skills for life-long learning Prepares students for post-college work

environment. Helps to create student motivation and

engagement

Summary and Conclusions Library vision is translated into executable

actions. Librarians play a vital and evolving role in

collaborating with campus stakeholders to implement the changes necessary for an effective I.L. program.

From workshop presentations, to one-on-one consultations, faculty see the library as more than a collections-related resource, and more of a service and training-centered resource.

Immunity to Change

Time to think outside the box!

Immunity MapVisible Commitment

Doing/ Not Doing Instead

Hidden Competing Commitments

Big Assumptions

Improve Customer Service Quality through:InnovationPrompt Delivery of ServiceExcellence

Customer service doesn’t go far beyond traditional in-person transactions.

Library staff sometimes don’t refer questions when they reach an impasse.

Delayed response to patron needs

Library staff feel that patrons are not self-reliant enough, and the staff do not want to “do students’ work for them.”

Reluctance in going above and beyond original job description.

That improved customer service will not increase patrons’ understanding of information retrieval and library resources.

Changes are unnecessary, and the status quo serves the library effectively.

Insights from Immunity Concept: This concept shows the multi-

dimensional nature of change. Change is prevented by barriers coming

from both individual and group commitments.

Team work as well as individual reflection is necessary to overcome resistance to change.

Questions…?