1. LIBRARY
INSTRUCTION
Erin L. Nagel, Spring 2013

2. Information Literacy Outcomes
Recognize an information need and
formulate research questions
 Define an information need and develop a strategy
Efficiently access information relevant to the
identified need
 Know where to look
 Implement and refine search strategy
Critically evaluate information using
applicable criteria
 Evaluate information before you use it

3. Library research
What do I want to know?
How do I find it?
How do I know if it’s right for
me?

4. Evaluating Information
 Critically evaluate information using
applicable criteria

5. Evaluating Information
 Authority
 Currency
 Content
 Audience
 Purpose/Scope
 Objectivity/Bias
 Accuracy
 Quality
TIP: Trust no one!

6. Evaluate: Authority
Who wrote the information?
What are his/her/their credentials?
What affiliations, if any, does the author
have?
Is contact information provided?
Who published the work?
Who sponsored the work?

7. Evaluate: Currency
When was the work published?
Are there multiple editions?
Examine currency of references
NOTE: Old ≠ Bad!
ex: Historical information does not need to be
revisited as often as technological information

8. Evaluate: Content
Who is the intended audience?
What is the purpose?
What is the scope?
Examine objectivity
Examine for accuracy
Is the information verifiable?
Evaluate overall quality

9. Detailed Record- Article
Authority
Currency
Content
Content
Authority

10. Detailed Record- Book
Authority
Currency
Content
Content

11. Authority
Content
Detailed Record-
Multimedia
Authority
Content
Currency

12. Authority
Authority
Currency
Content
Currency

13. What if I still can’t find what I’m
looking for?
Give up
Switch topics
Drop out of school
Look in a LibGuide for tips and
suggested resources
Ask a librarian for help

14. Next steps
 Appropriately use information to fulfill the
identified need
 Go to:
http://clayton.libguides.com/ENGL1102 and
http://clayton.libguides.com/Research for tips
on citing sources and avoiding plagiarism