Reports

1. Summary of recommendations (final report)
   1. Link the information literacy database to the BLC Page. Currently available at: http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/BLC/
   2. Determine who will host and maintain the information literacy database developed by this Task Force.
   3. Advertise and promote use of (and further additions to) the BLC Information Literacy Database - possibly through a BLC workshop/program.
   4. Solicit feedback from BLC members for improvements/additions to the database.
   5. Further investigate which institutions are offering information literacy classes (for credit). This could also be expanded to non BLC institutions in order to get many examples that could be used by BLC institutions
   6. Further investigate what institutions have developed in terms of faculty/librarian collaborations related to information literacy. How have they worked together to integrate information literacy into the curriculum. What models and examples can they share?
   7. Further investigate information literacy presentations done by BLC members and add to the database. This would include presentations given and presentations that are available online (such as Power Point, web, word etc.) Additionally, presentations that are not available online could be listed with the contact person's name.
   8. Add to the list of available speakers from within the BLC community, as well as those who are local who would be willing to collaborate with other institutions on developing (or presenting workshops) on particular information literacy issues. Examples of information literacy topics include: developing an information literacy curriculum, information literacy standards, collaboration with faculty, teaching techniques, campus wide information literacy curriculum or required course).
      
      
2. Background information
   This task force developed and administered a survey that was sent to all the directors of the BLC member institutions to disseminate to anyone involved in instructional services. The url for the survey is:
   http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/BLC/BLCSurvey.cfm. Of the 47 institutions surveyed, we received 43 responses; a 91% response rate.
   1. . A relational database using ColdFusion was then developed using responses from those surveys. The database currently resides at: http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/BLC/. The front page of the database includes background information, categories included in the database and charts representing the responses to various categories, including a break out of the types of instruction programs/classes offered at the BLC institutions.
   2. The members of the task force added subject headings and the type of tool (directory, listserv, research guide, teaching tip…) to each entry in the database for ease in searching.
      
      
3. Programs planned or implemented
   None implemented, although a workshop to BLC members to demo this database was on the list of desired outcomes for this year.
   
   
4. Resources used (how have BLC resources been used?)
   None to date
   
   
5. Activities (summary, include milestones and challenges faced)
   1. The task force met twice this year to discuss goals and projects. Most of the communication was done by e-mail and phone conversations.
   2. Milestones:
      1. Information Literacy definition was developed
      2. A list was developed of librarians in the area who had participated in the ACRL Information Literacy Immersion Program. Those individuals could be contacted to assist other BLC members in their efforts in creating or extending information literacy programs.
      3. An Information Literacy survey was developed for BLC members and administered.
      4. An information literacy database was developed (from the survey) that can be used by librarians to use as a resource for finding tutorials, subject and course guides, information literacy listservs, relevant web resources about information literacy, speakers, presentations and other information related to information literacy. This database also gives a snapshot of the types of instruction programming done at the BLC institutions.
   3. Challenges:
      1. Getting timely input from survey respondents. A second invitation to participate in the survey was sent to 5 institutions that had not responded. Only one of those eventually responded.
      2. Some of the questions in the survey didn't produce many responses, so those questions will need to be addressed again (in some other way).
      3. Getting work done for the task force according to timelines set. There were many demands on members' time and work for the task force was not always the first on the priority list.
      4. Who will host and maintain the database now?

1. Meetings held (virtually and/ or face-to-face)
   
   1. Numerous e-mail exchanges to accomplish our assigned tasks.
      
      
2. Activities/Accomplishments to date (list or summarize)

   1. Completion and dissemination of a survey to distribute to BLC members engaged in instructional services activities. The members of the BLC Information Literacy Task Force surveyed BLC instruction librarians in an attempt to gather resources that they have used and/or created related to instruction/information literacy.

      Goals of this project:
      
      
      • to create a searchable, relational database that librarians can use to learn of useful resources and strategies that can be borrowed/used pertaining to information literacy.
      • to assist librarians in the BLC area in locating individuals who may provide support, educational workshops, and collaboration on information literacy initiatives.
      • to provide instruction librarians, in the area, with some guidance relating to obtaining assistance in the practical applications of instructional methods.
        
        
   2. Results of the Survey
      1. The preliminary results page for the survey is posted at: http://webapps.lib.uconn.edu/BLC/
      2. To date 42 surveys have been received representing all but 5 of the BLC institutions. Further communication has taken place with those 5 institutions to solicit responses.
         
         
   3. Other Features on the Information Literacy Task Force Survey Results Page
      1. The survey summary page provides a search button to search the database; a button to view the BLC survey and results of the survey presented in charts by categories.
      2. For ease in navigation the summary page also contains a Quick Links Bar on the left to get to results for Web Tools, Presentations, Audience and Collaborations
      3. The links on the navigation bar lead to charts showing the representation of institutions offering the following: Academically Related Class Offerings (using classroom space); Training/Outreach (groups on campus that are not connected to a class); Outreach (not affiliated with the institution); and Librarian Collaborations (broken down by categories of collaboration);

         The task force intends to present the results of this survey, and the completed database at a future Boston Library Consortium Workshop. After completion, the database will be available through the BLC Web Site.

   4. Subsequent Work on the Database
      Members of the task force have been refining elements of information stored in the database (such as adding on Subject Headings, Type of Tool searched for each online tool submitted by each institution), as well as adding additional resources of related interest from institutions.

3. List of COI's with which you communicate
   The BLC information literacy COI
   
   
4. Requests
   1. Funding --For a program to demonstrate the database.
   2. Resources
   3. Board/ MC queries: Can we request a spot at a Boston Library Consortium Workshop at some future date (past May) in order to demonstrate this database?
      
      
5. Next Steps
   1. April/May
   1. Continue development/refinement of the database and investigation into which BLC members might be targeted first in relation to describing their models of information literacy and faculty/librarian collaboration.
   2. Meet again to discuss further steps related to our project and how we might begin bringing librarians together to collaborate on information literacy programs.
   3. Discuss how the database will be maintained.
      
      
   4. April
   1. Release the database to the BLC website?
   2. Plan the workshop to demo the database

1. Meetings held (virtually and/ or face-to-face)
   1. December 5 at Brandeis University.
   2. Numerous e-mail exchanges to accomplish our assigned tasks.
      
      
2. Activities/Accomplishments to date (list or summarize)
   1. Identification of an information literacy definition. Members of the group submitted a shared definition of information literacy to the BLC Board Members. This is the current version:

      Information fluent (literate) learners are able to recognize an information need, create appropriate search strategies, determine relevant sources, and locate, critically evaluate and ethically use and present information effectively in all formats.

      Goal: The goal of the members of the Boston Library Consortium is to foster information fluency (literacy) as an integral part of the services that we provide. Our mission is to:

      • Teach users to identify, access, critically evaluate and ethically use information resources through planned instruction.
      • Empower users to become independent, life-long learners.
      • Collaborate broadly with the user communities of the Boston Library Consortium to integrate use of library resources and information fluency (literacy) into their learning experiences.
      • Proactively work with faculty, programs, services and administrators at our campuses to incorporate information fluency (literacy) across curricula.
        
        
   2. Creation of a survey to distribute to BLC members engaged in instructional services activities. The members of the BLC Information Literacy Task Force will survey BLC instruction librarians in an attempt to gather resources that they have used and/or created related to instruction/information literacy.
      
      Goals of this project:
      • to create a searchable, relational database that librarians can use to learn of useful resources and strategies that can be borrowed/used pertaining to information literacy.
      • to assist librarians in the BLC area in locating individuals who may provide support, educational workshops, and collaboration on information literacy initiatives.
      • to provide instruction librarians, in the area, with some guidance relating to obtaining assistance in the practical applications of instructional methods.

      The task force intends to present the results of this survey, and the completed database at a future Boston Library Consortium Workshop. After completion, the database will be available through the BLC Web Site.

   3. The task force is finishing a cover letter to accompany the online survey. It will then be sent (online) the Margo Crist, the Director Liaison for the Information Literacy Task Force. She, in turn, will distribute it online to the other BLC directors for their disbursement to relevant individuals at their institutions. The goal for distribution is early February.
      
      
   4. A database using Cold Fusion was created by Kathy Labadorf of UConn (with input from the other members of the task force. It allows the survey to feed directly into it for later manipulation. This same database can then be queried by individuals interested in information literacy resources in our area.
      
      
3. List of COI's with which you communicate
   The BLC information literacy COI
   
   
4. Requests
   • Funding --For a program in May (or later) to demonstrate the database.
   • Resources
   • Board/ MC queries: Can we request a spot at a Boston Library Consortium Workshop at some future date (past May) in order to demonstrate this database?
     
     
5. Next Steps
   1. February
      1. Send out the Information Literacy Survey.
      2. Make changes to database as needed, based on responses from the survey
      3. Follow-up on survey responses (to get more responses if needed).
   2. March
      1. Continue development/refinement of the database and investigation into which BLC members might be targeted first in relation to describing their models of information literacy and faculty/librarian collaboration.
      2. Meet again to discuss further steps related to our project and how we might begin bringing librarians together to collaborate on information literacy programs.
      3. Discuss how the database will be maintained.
   3. April
      1. Release the database to the BLC website?
      2. Plan the workshop to demo the database

1. Meetings held (virtually and/ or face-to-face)
   1. In addition to the initial meeting on September 27, the group has corresponded extensively via e-mail to accomplish the first stage of our work plan (posted in the minutes)
   2. The next face-to-face meeting is scheduled for December 5 at Brandeis
   
   
   
2. Activities/Accomplishments to date (list or summarize)
   1. Identification of an information literacy definition. Members of the group shared their definitions of information literacy and commented on how we might modify and then synthesize these definitions into one definition for the whole of the BLC information literacy task force. We are in the final stages of this now
   2. Identification of fields to include in the BLC information literacy relational database. The members of the group identified possible fields for this database based on conversations from our first meeting and multiple e-mail correspondence. This database will serve as a clearinghouse database to serve the BLC members for ideas, models and resources related to information literacy. The group now needs to map out the database.
   3. Survey to BLC members. The group is designing a survey (using form mail) to send to BLC members that will ask questions about their information literacy program, tutorials used/developed, grant successes, training, needs, faculty/librarian collaboration, models, etc. Many of the questions asked will be based upon the identified fields from B. above. The content from the survey will be loaded into the database
   4. Identification of the ACRL Information Literacy Immersion attendees. A list has been created of immersion attendees from this area (not just BLC members) from the past two years. This information will be loaded into the database as these people can serve as contact/resources for information literacy training/programming and teaching
   
   
   
3. List of COI's with which you communicate
   The BLC information literacy COI
   
   
4. Requests
   1. Funding --possibly for a program in April/May (more later)
   2. Resources
   3. Board/ MC queries
   
   
   
5. Next Steps
   
   1. November
      1. Finalize the BLC information literacy definition
      2. Create the information literacy survey that will be sent to BLC members
      3. Discuss design of the relational database and begin mapping it
      
      
      
   2. December
      1. Meeting December 5 to finalize the mapping of the database
      2. Send out information literacy surveys to BLC members
      
      
      
   3. January
      1. Meet again to discuss developments with the database
      2. Follow-up on survey responses and soliciting more responses, if needed
      3. Continue development of the database and investigation into which BLC members might be targeted first in relation to describing their models of information literacy and faculty/librarian collaboration
      
      
      
   4. February
      1. Input data from surveys and other sources into the database