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Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies News

Purdue Libraries revamps information literacy statement

April 18th, 2016

Purdue University Libraries has developed a new information literacy mission statement to guide students, faculty and staff in fostering successful learning at Purdue.

The new statement is:

“Purdue University Libraries’ research-based information literacy programming empowers Purdue’s diverse communities of learners to use information critically to learn and to create new knowledge, fostering academic, personal and professional success.”

The Libraries revisited the mission statement to align it more closely with campus goals for learning. Beginning in fall 2015, the mission statement was developed through an inclusive process that gathered input from stakeholders in the Libraries and focus groups with faculty across the University.

Libraries faculty and staff partner across the University community to integrate information literacy into the curriculum and beyond.

During the last fiscal year, the Libraries collectively worked with 19,481 students on many information literacy-related efforts to foster effective learning and decision-making skills. Libraries faculty also work directly in the planning stages of unique Purdue projects, such as developing innovative learning environments for students in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and creating digital learning tools to teach Honors College students who are preparing to conduct original research.

Fundamental Libraries information literacy efforts include:

* Creation of the first endowed chair for information literacy, held by Sharon Weiner, professor of library science and the W. Wayne Booker Chair in Information Literacy.

* Libraries faculty teaming with other campus units and Purdue instructors to revamp courses through the IMPACT (Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation) program, and serving in key roles on the committees developing and implementing Purdue’s core curriculum.

* Libraries faculty working closely in planning and design of new Purdue projects in the Purdue Polytechnic Institute and Honors College.

* Libraries faculty and staff creating and implementing engaging activities to connect new Purdue students with the libraries during Boiler Gold Rush.

* University Libraries leading the academic research library profession in the development of data literacy education.

* The creation of a new Graduate Resource Information Portal (G.R.I.P.) to connect graduate students with the services and resources available through the Libraries.

The mission is grounded in research. The continued contributions to information literacy research by faculty have been highlighted in a bibliographic study conducted by researchers at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication & Information at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.

The extended version of the new mission statement is available on Purdue Libraries’ website.

For more information, contact Shannon Walker, director of strategic communication for Purdue Libraries, at walker81@purdue.edu or Clarence Maybee, assistant professor and information literacy specialist for Purdue Libraries, at cmaybee@purdue.edu.