Information Literacy
Librarians at Musselman Library are committed to collaborating with faculty to support our students’ development of key information literacy skills during their time at Gettysburg College.
Information literacy refers to the set of integrated skills, practices, and knowledge encompassing the discovery and interpretation of information; a critical understanding how information is produced, valued, and circulated; and the use of information to create new knowledge ethically.
Requesting Information Literacy Instruction
If you’re interested in scheduling a class session tailored to your class, please submit your request through our online form. Before you submit, please refer to our policies about attendance and advance notice.
Request an Instruction Session
LIB 014 classroom: LIB 014 is a flexible learning space. It features movable tables at its center and 5 group tables (seating for 4-5 each) with power outlets and a flat screen monitor that can display student laptops/devices or the instructor podium. Whiteboards are available throughout the space. Seating for 32, with room for additional tables and chairs.
Students will need to bring a laptop or other device with them. 3 Chromebooks are available for student use in the classroom. If you have questions, please discuss them with your assigned librarian or refer to the full classroom description.
Options for Course-Integrated Instruction
There are several options for librarian support in your course:
- FYS Class Sessions
- Librarians can design a class session tailored to a specific assignment or series of assignments. For the FYS, we focus on essential learning outcomes for students in their first semester, such as developing a research topic, designing an effective search strategy, or distinguishing between different types of information. Please see our FYS and 100-level specific information literacy outcomes for more examples.
- Single or Multiple Class Sessions
- We often deliver a single session to classes, designed to occur when students will be drawing upon information literacy skills for a specific assignment. Carefully sequenced and scaffolded sessions, of various lengths, are also an option for semester-long or multiple-step projects.
- Online Course Research Guides
- Course or assignment-specific online research guides can be requested. These may be used with or without a class session. Links can be added within Moodle or to your syllabus.
- Online Tutorials
- We have developed an online collection of tutorials, videos, class exercises, and assignments that are designed to be useful no matter how you are teaching – online or in-person, with a librarian or without.
- Assignment Design
- We are happy to discuss ways to design assignments and research projects that provide students with opportunities to develop information literacy skills. We have also identified guidelines for effective assignments and pitfalls to avoid.
Student Learning Outcomes
Librarians have developed student learning outcomes for information literacy at the FYS and 100 level, 200 and 300, and 400 levels. These provide a helpful guideline for course and assignment design.
JCCTL Information Literacy Grant
In collaboration with the Johnson Center for Creative Teaching & Learning (JCCTL), Musselman Library offers a $1,000 information literacy grant. It is designed for faculty members to collaborate with a librarian in order to redesign a course to include an emphasis on information literacy skill development. Grant guidelines, deadlines, and the application are available on the JCCTL website.