1. Information Literacy in the
Workplace
Laura L. Leavitt, MSLIS
Labor Relations & Business Librarian
Michigan State University
SLA Annual Conference - June 14, 2010
2. Research Questions
Do the skills we impart (via information
literacy instruction) extend to the
workplace?
Are they the skills that employers want
and employees need?
If not, how can we realign our
instructional strategies?
3. “Our fundamental competitiveness is at
stake. And a cynic would say that the only way
you’re finally going to get into the end zone on
this issue is for some of our important industries
to lose competitiveness globally. The fact is, this
is already happening in a number of cases…”
W. James McNerney, Jr.
Chairman, President, and CEO
The Boeing Company
Source: Susan Stewart (2009), “Will You Want to Hire Your Own Kids? (Will Anybody Else?),”
The Conference Board Executiveaction Series, No. 313
4. Some Definitions
• Information Literacy
• Business Information Literacy
– Financial Literacy
• Workplace Information Literacy
5. Recent HS Graduates
40% of High School Graduates Not
Prepared for College or Workforce
• Math & Science
• Writing
• Reading comprehension
• Conducting Research
…and students AGREED!
6. Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, (2005) Rising to the Challenge: Are High School
Graduates Prepared for College and Work? Conducted for Achieve, Inc.
http://www.achieve.org/files/pollreport.pdf
7. Source: Peter D. Hart Research Associates, (2005) Rising to the Challenge: Are High School
Graduates Prepared for College and Work? Conducted for Achieve, Inc.
http://www.achieve.org/files/pollreport.pdf
8. Recent College Graduates
Source: Casner-Lotto, J., Rosenblum, E. & Wright, M. (August 2009) The Ill-Prepared U.S.
Workforce, Exploring the Challenges of Employer-Provided Workforce Readiness Training, The
Conference Board Research Report.
9. 7 Survival Skills:
The Competencies Workers Need and Schools
Don’t (Adequately) Teach
• Critical thinking and • Effective oral and
problem solving written communication
• Collaboration across • Accessing and
networks and leading analyzing information
by influence • Curiosity and
• Agility and imagination
adaptability • Initiative and
entrepreneurialism
Source: Tony Wagner, 2008, The Global Achievement Gap, p.67
10. Employer Initiatives
• Ford Motor Co.
www.fordpas.org
• Boeing
• YUM! Brands
http://www.yumcareers.com/culture/yum-university/
• American Express
11. Houston…
We Have a Problem!
Public education system, colleges /
universities and employer-based
training programs are not improving
the situation very much….
12. LIR 823: The Assignment
Research a company and present the
information you find.
• Corporate Strategy
• Competitors
• Financial performance
• External environment
• Assessment of future prospects
Recommended d/bases and resources
14. LIR 823: Results
• Librarian “interventions”
– Research guides and quick in-class tutorial
– Feedback on two practice rounds
– Group meetings
– One-on-one meetings
• Assessments – Students Improved
• Alumni/Employer feedback
15. Lessons Learned
• Preliminary instruction on “basic skills” needed
• Analysis and synthesis of information was most
difficult
• Previous work experience seemed to give
some students an edge
• Social aspect of learning was important and
might need to be leveraged more in the future
• More improvement is needed to meet employer
expectations
16. Next Steps / Future Directions
• Online tutorial on business research
• Evolving pedagogy & rubrics
• Further interviews and survey of human
resources professionals / alumni
• Increased collaboration with faculty, career
services and HR professionals necessary
• Advocacy
17. Thank You
Laura L. Leavitt
Labor Relations/Business Librarian
Gast Business Library
Michigan State University
50 Law College Building
East Lansing, MI 498824-1300
517-355-4647
leavitt9@msu.edu
