"Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It enables learners to master content and extend their investigations, become more self-directed, and assume greater control over their own learning."

• Locate and intelligently use information sources.
• Distinguish between scholarly and popular sources.
• Effectively search the Internet and evaluate what they find.
• Use primary materials.
• Learn interdisciplinary research skills.
• Employ critical thinking skills.
• Credit sources appropriately and ethically.
• Write well-researched papers and create better projects.
• Feel comfortable in any information situation.

• Brainstorm with a librarian on information literacy goals for your course, and consult with a librarian during course preparation.

• Work with librarians behind the scenes, in your class, or in the library. These subject specialists can suggest good topics and resources in your discipline. Examples of contributions librarians have made to courses include:

• collaborative development of research assignments
• introductions to a library or special collection
• single classes on specific tools (databases, etc.)
• classes on effective library research strategies
• quarter-long course-integrated information literacy instruction

• Consult with a librarian on your own research processes and share the outcomes with your classes.

• Share with librarians your students’ progress on their assignments and feedback on librarians’ contributions.

" … thanks for last week’s session. I cannot tell you the raves you got in class. My students really enjoyed [and] got a lot out of their time with you. Said one, ‘Why didn’t I ever learn about any of this before?’" – Instructor’s feedback to a UW librarian

• Keep you apprised of the latest developments in information technology and related software applications.
• Help you make use of new databases and other information sources.
• Place items on reserve or e-reserve for your classes.
• Purchase library resources to support your teaching.
• Develop subject area web pages in support of a course.
• Help you find useful web sites for classes and research.

To get started ...

Determine which librarian to contact:

• Subject Specialist for your area
• Odegaard librarians for lower division courses
• UW Tacoma librarians
• UW Bothell librarians

Schedule an appointment, stop by a reference desk at a library, or visit the following web resources:

• Introduction to Library Classes: www.lib.washington.edu/help/instruction/
• Checklist for Effective Library Assignments: www.lib.washington.edu/help/guides/design.html
• Subject Librarians: www.lib.washington.edu/help/reference/selectors.html

You can also visit CIDR for help with your questions on course design, teaching, and assessment of your courses: http://depts.washington.edu/cidrweb/