Information Literacy - From Preschool to High School

Learn how to conduct information literacy instruction for all ages from preschool to elementary school to middle school and beyond.  Participants will be encouraged to examine their local schools’ and state’s requirements pertaining to library skills, and to develop methods of using the library to complement those requirements.  Participants will learn about examples of successful programs, appropriate skills for appropriate ages, creation and presentation of programs as well as marketing of those programs; also, participants will discuss ways that information literacy instruction can be a useful “outreach” tool to increase library and database usage and develop their own information literacy instruction program. 

Empirical evidence indicates that information literacy does lead to increases in library usage, and participants will be encouraged to develop evaluations for determining their own results based upon the programs they develop (and hopefully!) present at their libraries. Through course readings, class lectures, group projects and individual “research,” participants will acquire the skills they need to prepare and present their own information literacy instruction courses for whatever ages they choose to instruct.

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:
  • List the local school and state requirements pertaining to information literacy and/or library skills
  • Create ways libraries (school and public) can collaborate with educators to present information literacy instruction
  • Define ways that children of varying ages can grasp library skills appropriate for their ages
  • Develop and implement an information literacy program and course for varying ages (from preschool through middle school) at their library 
     

Who Should Attend

Children’s and young adult librarians in public libraries and schools; library paraprofessional and support staff who are working with students, parents and teachers.

Course Level & Prerequisites

This course is open to library staff of all experience levels; no prerequisites are required.

Instructor(s)

Maryann Mori, Iowa Library Services, District Library Consultant.

Date(s) & Time(s)

This is a six week Moodle course run asynchroniously, meaning you will never need to login to a class on a certain date/time. This course will begin the week of April 8, 2013.

Credits &/or CEUs

This course is certified to provide 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to students who pass the course.  A certificate of completion will be sent to each participant upon successful completion for each course taken.

The American Library Association (ALA) has been certified to provide CEUs by the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET).  Individual courses must pass a rigorous certification process by ALA's office of Human Resources Development and Recruitment to be able to provide students with CEUs.  If you have questions about CEUs or course certification, please contact Jenny Najduch in the ALSC office by email (jnajduch@ala.org) or phone 800-545-2433 ext. 4026.

Fee

Class size is limited to 30 students.

ALSC Personal Member: $115
ALA Personal Member: $165
Nonmember: $185

Member rates apply to personal memberships only.  Interested in joining ALSC?  Click here to learn more about ALSC and how to join.

Technical Requirements

Computer, internet connection, web browser.

How to Register

Registration is now open!  Visit the ALA Registration page to register online, or fill out the registration form and mail it in.  You can also register by calling ALA Member and Customer Service at 800-545-2433 ext. 5.  Course space is limited.

Contact

If you have questions about the course material, please contact the course instructor Maryann Mori.

If you have questions about registration, please contact ALA's Member and Customer Service Department by email or by calling 800-545-2433 ext. 5.

All other inquiries, including sponsorship questions, can be directed to Jenny Najduch, ALSC program officer, via email or by calling (312) 280-4026.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be made in writing and postmarked or faxed to the ALA/MACS department by no later than seven days before the class starts.  Cancellations will result in a full refund less a $35 processing fee.  NO phone cancellations will be accepted.  Refunds will be processed two weeks after the start of the course.  ALSC reserves the right to cancel a course for reasons including insufficient numbers of students. Cancellations after the course has begun will not be accepted.