Information Literacy:Introductory Elements for First Year Students

 

First Year Students will be able to:

1.  General Orientation

  • Use email username and password to access the library's online resources
  • Use his/her College ID (R #) to access Course Reserve items
  • Use the library catalog, databases, course reserve and websites to identify resources and retrieve information
  • Identify location of items in the Potter Library
  • Print, email or save information to a disk/flash drive
  • Know when to seek help from a reference librarian
  • Access Q&A NJ (24/7 online reference help)

2. Objectives

     A. Reference Materials

  • Find and use dictionaries, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc. to gain general familiarity with a topic
  • Identify key concepts and terms that describe the "information need" (the type and amount of information needed)
  • Choose keywords for a topic and begin to develop a search strategy
  • Review the initial information to clarify, revise, or refine the question
  • Differentiate between primary and secondary sources, and how their use and importance varies with each discipline

     B.  Library Catalog

  • Perform a Keyword search
  • Perform a Subject search
  • Use Library of Congress (LC) Subject Headings
  • Locate books and other materials by Library of Congress or other classification system
  • Refine the search strategy, if necessary

     C.  Electronic Resources

  • Locate databases that are listed in the A-Z Title Directory or grouped resources by Subject
  • Select an index, review its scope, content and organization
  • Perform searches using "Academic Search Premier," "Expanded Academic ASAP" or subject-specific database, such as "CountryWatch," etc.
  • Demonstrate an undertanding of the difference between a Basic and Advanced search
  • Develop a focused search query using the Boolean connectors AND, OR, and NOT
  • Navigate the databases for finding journal, magazine, newspaper articles, and more
  • Narrow or broaden search results by changing terms
  • Identify the purpose and audience of popular, scholarly, current and historical sources
  • Locate citations to full-text articles
  • Refine the search strategy, if necessary
  • Identify and discuss the difference between the library catalog, databases and the internet
  • Use "Journal Finder" to identify microform, online and print periodical holdings (journals,magazines and newspapers in the library's collection)

     D.  Web Links

  • Use as supplemental information

     E.    Evaluating Sources

  • Identify the value of and differences of multimedia, database, website, data set, audio visual, digital media and books

    F.   Cititng Sources

  • Choose documentation style (MLA, APA, Chicago etc.) and use consistently to cite online sources, books or other print material

 

 

Derived from Faculty Guide: Curriculum Map (http://library.ramapo.edu/gatewayinfolit.html)

Prepared by Shirley Knight, Library Liaison First Year Seminar, Ramapo College of New Jersey, May 06

 

 

 
 
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