“What do you mean I can’t just use Google?” Information Literacy in an Academic Setting

Abstract

Information literacy has become one of the most crucial skills for the twenty-first century, yet many Canadians, including university students, are not information literate. Universities in Canada aim to prepare students not only as professionals in the workforce, but also to be responsible, informed citizens; yet information literacy is often overlooked when developing curricula and program goals. The responsibility of information literacy instruction often falls to academic librarians, as faculty do not have the time or interest. This paper will outline many of the methods used by librarians to teach information literacy skills to undergraduate students, also discussing the barriers and challenges faced by libraries and librarians when it comes to information library instruction. To conclude, potential future steps that can be taken in Canada, specifically by librarians, but also by universities, faculty, and national professional organizations, are identified and discussed.