In the wider context, information skills are important because it helps to increase information literacy. “Information literacy is the ability to think critically and make balanced judgements about any information we find and use. It empowers us as citizens to reach and express informed views and to engage fully with society.” (CILIP, 2018)
With information available in many formats, and of varying quality, it is essential that students have the skills to enable them to exploit the wide range of information resources available and to retrieve, evaluate and use that information effectively.
By empowering students to develop these skills, we can contribute to their academic success and help ensure that our TUS graduates become independent and successful lifelong learners.
The library at TUS Midwest offers a range of information skills sessions to every student in each Academic Department in the Institute. Subject librarians work in close partnership with teaching staff to develop, design and deliver information literacy skills programmes across each discipline.
Sessions can be once-off classes, project or course related instructional sessions or embedded modules. Best practice has shown that information literacy skills are best developed within the context of academic programmes.
Information skills sessions are available throughout the year and can be booked by students and staff via library website
Information Literacy CILIP Information Literacy Group
Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education ALA
Integrating Information Literacy into the Curriculum CONUL
The Library, Technological University of the Shannon: Midwest