Information Competency: Next Steps Presented at California Library Association Conference, Ontario CA November 15, 2003 Erlinda Anne Estrada Mission College Library Santa Clara CA

OK, so we’ve got budget problems

And no mandates have come from the state: Proposed changes to Title V that would have made information competency a graduation requirement for California community colleges were challenged by the Department of Finance. The Board of Governors have a lot of other things on their minds (see previous slide).

But information competency skills are still important for our students.

So how do we make information competency a priority on our campuses: With no new mandates from the state. With no new monies from the state. With hardly any money at all for anything????

We “work smarter” by: Using existing resources so we don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Using the new accreditation standards and research to our advantage. Staying informed.

Steps in implementation: Research information competency. Inform and involve the campus. Decide on which standards to address. Decide on implementation model(s) for your particular institution. Obtain approval through the shared governance groups and the Board of Trustees. Publish the requirement in the catalog/schedule of classes. Implement.

Research

Research super site:

Inform and involve the campus Have librarians participate in shared governance groups, like Academic Senate, on your campus. Have the Academic Senate form a subcommittee to explore implementing information competency on your campus. Attend department meetings and “evangelize” about information competency. Conduct informational forums on your campus. Emphasize that information competency is not just a librarian’s concern, but everyone’s, because it contributes to student success.

Accreditation Standards for community colleges adopted 2002 support your efforts: Standard II, A 3a: “General education has comprehensive learning outcomes…including the following: A capability to be a productive individual and life long learner: skills include…information competency….” Standard II C 1b: “The institution provides ongoing instruction for users of library and other earning support services so that students are able to develop skills in information competency.” Glossary: “Information Competency: Capability to access, evaluate, and use information in fulfillment of coursework and independent study”

Standards: ACRL Standards

Models: Separate courses and/or tutorials Added units to existing courses Co-requisites Information Competency “across the curriculum” –classes incorporate information competency skills, possibly supplemented by workshops, library orientations, assignments

Examples of models:

BACC Information Competency Assessment Project

Requesting copies of the exam

At Mission College we followed the pattern: Researched standards, models. Informed the campus via presentations to Academic Senate and other shared governance groups, and during flex day activities and all-campus meetings. Formed an Information Competency Task Force, a sub-committee of the Academic Senate.

The task force explored models for implementation. made a recommendation for implementation to the Academic Senate, drafted in the form of a resolution. The Academic Senate approved the resolution, which made information competency a proficiency requirement for graduation at Mission College.

The resolution is very open-ended: “that the Mission College Academic Senate recommend that Information Competency be included as a proficiency requirement for graduation. Students would be able to demonstrate information competency skills in one of the following ways: 1) by the successful completion of the course Library 10, Information Competency; or 2) by successful completion of selected courses (to be determined) that infuse elements of information competency, possibly supplemented by library information competency workshops; or 3) by passing a standardized information competency exam, and that the Academic Senate form a subcommittee to consider the most appropriate way to implement the requirement.”

Next steps to implementation: The task force is adding more faculty to the committee to work on: curriculum changes in English 1A and Communications Studies courses Adapting the proficiency exam for Mission College Library’s resources. systems to track students’ progress, with the assistance of the Assessment Coordinator.

Further timelines: In fall 2004, Mission College and West Valley College will present to the Board of Trustees our plans to implement the information competency proficiency requirements. By February, 2005 we’ll prepare the new text for the catalog and schedule of classes. Implementation will begin Fall 2005.

Staying informed ILI-L Information Literacy Instruction Listserv hosted on the ALA server, and sponsored by the Instruction Section of the Association of College and Research Libraries. Discusses Information Literacy Instruction, Bibliographic Instruction, Library Use Instruction, and Library Orientation. Subscription required: Send message to with "subscribe ILI-L your name" in the body of the message.

Attend workshops and network with your colleagues: CLA ( California Academic and Research Libraries ( California Clearinghouse for Library Instruction (CCLI) ( Southern California Instruction Librarians (

And don’t lose hope. We’re all in this together, and can help each other out.