Librarians as Information Literacy teachers

[Mrs.K Kavita Rao]

Information literacy is recognized as one of the cornerstones of higher education worldwide. Information literacy is a meta-learning outcome in the learning process. It is invoked anytime a student-learner attempts to learn anything, in any discipline, whether or not a library is involved in the information gathering process. Information literacy is invoked during the acquisition of all other learning outcomes that a higher education institution might incorporate in its curriculum. Information literacy as a learning outcome is usually discussed in literature under the following headings: student’s knowledge, skills and competencies; curriculum and instruction; and institutional resources and processes.

Research has proved that much of the information literacy teaching and learning occurs in libraries and classrooms. At present, librarians are challenged to link the library more closely to the educational and learning enterprise of the institution. They can prove themselves as information literacy teachers and contribute to the long term goal of achieving information literacy education in the higher education institutions.

Discussions are welcomed