Information Literacy Program Goals and Outcomes

What is information literacy? Information literacy is identifying, finding, evaluating, and using information effectively. From effective search strategies to evaluation techniques, students learn how to assess resources' quality, credibility, and validity and give proper credit. 

Why offer library instruction? Library instruction is one of the best ways to introduce students to the Library and develop research skills. Students with the skills to find, evaluate, and use information are more successful in their classrooms and will be successful life-long learners. 

Galveston College Library Instruction Mission Statement

The David Glenn Hunt Memorial Library at Galveston College supports the educational mission of Galveston College to provide an open door to learning, extend accessible educational opportunities to students, and provide high-quality educational programs and services.

Working collaboratively with the faculty, students, and college community, the Library's Information Literacy Program promotes student success through outreach and library instruction by teaching core competencies in information literacy. The information literacy sessions aim to empower students to find, evaluate, manage, apply and ethically use information in their academic research assignments, future educational endeavors, careers, and as lifelong learners in an information-driven society.

The goals of the program are to:

• Promote student use of information resources.
• Address information literacy outcomes through library instruction.
• Coordinate information literacy needs for courses and programs.
• Offer diverse learning opportunities for students to achieve their goals.
• Encourage effective use of information resources in course assignments.
• Support students in reaching their information literacy learning outcomes.

Following library instruction, students will achieve program learning outcomes aligned with the Association of College and Research Libraries Framework for Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education, enabling them to:

• Identify, select, and access library and information resources relevant to an information need. Address information literacy outcomes through library instruction.
• Identify library resources and availability of resources to complete a research assignment.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the research process and use it to develop and support a thesis statement or complete a research assignment. 
• Evaluate the quality, credibility, and appropriateness of information sources.
• Identify the elements of plagiarism and use information ethically and legally.